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Emily Bell's Christmas pudding

Stephanie Alexander
Stephanie Alexander

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Emily Bell's Christmas pudding.
Emily Bell's Christmas pudding.Julian Kingma
Time:1-2 hoursServes:Makes 2 puddings, each of which will serve 6 people.

One is usually advised to make puddings and cakes well before Christmas, mostly to avoid that feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. But one year I made puddings only 10 days before Christmas and they still tasted very good.

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Ingredients

  • 360g grated suet

  • 180g plain flour

  • 180g fresh white breadcrumbs

  • 360g seedless raisins

  • 360g currants

  • 180g sultanas

  • 125g candied peel

  • 180g dark brown sugar

  • grated zest of 1 lemon

  • 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 4 eggs

  • 100ml brandy

  • 600ml milk

Method

  1. Mix all ingredients together in a large basin. (Everyone should have a stir and a wish!) The mixture should be fairly wet. Increase milk a little if necessary. Leave overnight.

    Next day, eat a bit and see if it has enough spice for your taste and adjust if necessary. Pack mixture into two, 1-litre buttered basins, then cover with a disc of greaseproof paper and a doubled sheet of foil. Tie securely under the rim of the basin with a doubled length of string. Stand each basin on a wire rack inside a stockpot and add boiling water to come two-thirds up the sides of the basins. Boil for 5-6 hours, topping up water as needed. Cool and store in a cool place until Christmas Day.

    The puddings will take at least one hour's boiling on Christmas Day to be really hot, but can boil away for longer without coming to any harm.

    Serve with almond custard or ice cream, or flame the turned-out pudding with warmed brandy.

     

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Stephanie AlexanderStephanie Alexander is an Australian cook, restaurateur and food legend.

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Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/goodfood/recipes/emily-bells-christmas-pudding-20111019-29v2w.html