Christmas cooking

My Christmas cooking this year got way behind schedule.  I usually start making my cake and puddings months in advance.  This week we had the hottest December days on record, so I suppose that must mean it is time to cook!

This years pudding is a steamed one instead of the traditional boiled puddings I made back HERE  2011
and HERE 2010
All these ingredients go in the pan together :-
500g mixed dried fruit, 120g raisins, 120g chopped dates, 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup each of brown sugar and white sugar, 125g butter.
cook them together, until it all melts, and then boil for 8 minutes.  Take it off the heat.

Add one teaspoon of carb soda and it all froths up!  Let it cool.

Add 2 eggs, 1 cup plain flour, and 1 cup SR flour, 1 teaspoon mixed spice, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of rum or brandy.  Mix it all together.

pour it all into a greased pudding bowl.  I put it into this metal one, but later transfered to an earthen ware bowl, as this one was too big.

 Cover with cooking paper and foil, tie it down with string

and lower it into a pan of water.  The water needs to come about 1/2 way up the bowl.  Put the lit on the pan, and boil for 5 hours.  Top up the water if it starts to evaporate.

 Now the best part - once the 5 hours are up, take it out of the water, untie the strings, let in cool.  Does it not not look wonderful?  And, you should smell it!

Then turn out onto a plate.  Voila!  You can now eat it with custard or cream, or wrap in plastic and keep in the fridge..  You can reheat in the microwave for around 10-12 minutes.

We had a huge storm here last night.  We are all ok, but my daughter has no power, and huge tree has landed in her backyard and smashed the trampoline.  They are at least 12 hours without power.  I have no mobile phone coverage, but that is minor compared to many.