Today it is my turn to post as part of the 2010 Virtual Advent Tour. This is a tour that I co host with Kelly from The Written World, where the participants share some aspect of their holiday celebrations!Today other stops on the tour include Ana @ things mean a lot, Chris @ Stuff as Dreams are Made on and Boof @ The Book Whisperer. To find links to some of the other amazing posts we have had so far during the tour, then click here to visit the Virtual Advent Tour blog.
I was struggling a little bit to think of something to post about this year. I've talked about so many things over the five years that we have been running the tour! And then it came to me, I would share my sister's recipe for Christmas Pudding.
My sister started making these puddings years ago, and they are a real hit with everyone who gets one! Part of the reason why I thought about posting about them is that today was the last day for kids who attend government schools here in Victoria for this school year. For the past few years, I have been giving these to each of my son's teachers as the end of year gift, and to the people who worked in his before and after school care program. When he changed school at the beginning of Term 4 this year, when the carers in the program were saying goodbye to us, one of them commented "Does this mean we won't get a Christmas pudding this year?", they looked forward to them so much each year!
On Christmas Day itself, she will make a big pudding that we will share together, served warm with ice cream, custard and cream! Yum!
Oh and in case you are wondering, yes, she does know that I am sharing her recipe! She has made so many of these now (it wouldn't be surprising if she made 100 or more each year) that she was able to tell me the instructions without even referring to her recipe book!
Christmas Puddings (makes 12 small puddings)
750g mixed fruit
200g macadamia nuts
Zest of 1 lemon, grated
150g self raising flour
125g chopped apricot pieces
125g breadcrumbs
3 large eggs
Bottle of stout
Cup of brandy (optional)
Tspn ground nutmeg
Combine dry ingredients (mixed fruit, nuts, lemon zest, apricot pieces, breadcrumbs) in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs, and then add the stout and mix to combine.
Add egg and stout mixture to the dry ingredients and mix to combine thoroughly. Then add brandy, mix and then leave to stand overnight.
Grease 12 ramekins and then fill with pudding mixture to just under the lip of the ramekin.
Cut circles of baking paper so that they cover the top of the pudding on the inside of the ramekin, and then cover the top of the ramekin with a larger piece of foil and tie off with string.
Place the filled ramekins in a large deep sided baking tray, and fill the tray with water until it is approximated three quarters of the way up the side of the ramekins. On your lowest heat setting on your cooktop, simmer for 5 hours, continually topping up the water to the same level.
Remove from the heat. Once cooled, tip puddings onto a wire cooling try. Wrap in cling film, and then wrap in calico with a Christmassy ribbon tied around and hand out as gifts to lucky recipients!
In order to reheat, place in microwave for just over 1 minute!
Enjoy!
In England, we always have Christmas puddings. My in-laws live there and they usually prefer a traditional meal. I find it very rich, but it's something that you can't do without at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe. I may make this myself sometime! Though not this year.
Sounds good but I certainly wouldn't have the brandy be just optional! :--)
ReplyDeleteYUM! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I actually hate cooking and have hardly done any baking but this year we are staying for a week in a remote cottage in Scotland for the holidays and I have promised myself that I will do some baking while I have the time and I think I may go for this recipe! :)
ReplyDeleteI love how you wrapped it up! I bet it tastes as good as it looks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the recipe. It's so interesting to hear about tradiditons from all around the world. I will give this recipe a try to add something new to our traditional Christmas goodies. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletethat's a fun tradition--I can't imagine making that many puddings, lucky recipients. Merry Christmas and thanks for hosting the tour.
ReplyDeleteMacadamia nuts! Adore them! Must squirrel this recipe away to be used next year. (This year's pudding is based on a recipe used by Emily Dickinson.) Thank you to your sister for sharing it and to you for blogging about it, Marg :-)
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've never actually had Christmas pudding! Portuguese Christmas treats are pretty different :P The recipe sounds yummy, though, and you've made me want to try it.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I bet these are delicious! I've never had a Christmas pudding, but I've read about them in books and heard about them in songs so much that it's about time I try one. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
ReplyDeleteYummy!!!! I have never had a christmas pudding before :D I totally need to try this out!
ReplyDeleteWow - Yum. I always have a shop bought pud - but I am very tempted to try making these - look like something even I could do!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great treat for the teachers and friends and family. They sound really, really good. Hummmm, I wonder if I could manage to make a batch before the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great present for the teachers! Thanks for sharing the recipe and I hope that maybe next year i might have a go at making one. Happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if a pudding over there means what a pudding over here means....It sounds a bit different. Wish I could see a photo....
ReplyDelete