Serves 8 – Can be made on the day!!
Ingredients:
6oz (175g) Self Raising Flour, sifted
A pinch of salt
4oz (110g) Butter, softened
4oz (110g) Soft Light Brown Sugar
1 medium Cooking Apple, peeked, cored, & chopped small
2 Eggs size 1
3 Rounded Tablespoons Mincemeat
1/3 tsp Ground Mace
1 tsp Lemon Juice or juice from a whole lemon, depending on your taste!
The grated zest of 1 small Orange
The grated rind of 1 small Lemon
2 pieces Whole Candied Orange Peel
2 pieces Whole Candied Lemon Peel
1 piece Candied Citron Peel
You will need a 2 pint (1.2 litre) Pudding Basin – the rounded based sort is best.
METHOD:
Prepare the basin by buttering it lightly.
Arrange the candied peel in the base.
First snip the Citron Peel into 1/2 inch (1 cm) strips, and arrange these in an overlapping circle, in the centre of the base of the basin – you need something that resembles a flower Then, using a sharp pair of scissors, snip the whole Candied Peels lengthways into strips, but leaving the end intact.
Imagine five fingers attached to a hand and you’ve got it!
Now arrange these around the ‘flower’ spreading out the strips as much as possible.
NOW FOR THE PUDDING:
Simply beat the Sugar and Butter with an electric whisk, until the mixture is pale and creamy, and drops off the spoon easily, with a sharp tap.
Then beat the eggs in a jug and add these a minute amount at a time, whisking well after each addition.
When all the liquid egg is incorporated, carefully fold in the sifted flour, mace, and salt, followed by the Lemon Juice, Grated Lemon and Orange Zest, chopped Apple, and finally the Mincemeat.
Now spoon the mixture into the basin, being careful to leave your artistic arrangement intact.
Tie a double piece of pleated foil onto the basin, place it in a steamer over boiling water, and steam for 2 1/2 hours.
When the pudding is completely cold, you can turn it out, wrap it well, and freeze it until needed.
Take it out if the freezer late on Christmas Eve, and re-steam on Christmas Day for 1 1/2 hours.
Serve cut in slices and serve with whatever sauce like Custard, Rum Butter, Brandy Sauce etc you fancy!
George Hill Allotments 