4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[missuscluck]

Ok, feeling a little Christmassy today!!

 

I hear that Christian is the master of the Christmas pudding in these parts

Im sure we must have someone on here who is the Christmas cake queen.

 

I hold my hands up and admit that I have never cooked either.

 

Please can someone give me some guidance and a tryed and tested yummy recipie. I have got 15 for Christmas dinner and want it to be FAB!!

[hillfamily]

Here's Christian's Xmas Pud recipe - I'm making these tomorrow and I know Christian has been using this recipes for a few years :D

 

This recipe makes 12 250ml mini puddings or 3-4 larger puddings.

 

150g raisins

150g currants

150g sultanas

150g chopped dates

150g chopped prunes

100ml (ish) cointreau

100ml (ish) brandy

grated zest and juice 1 large orange

175g butter

175g molasses or very dark brown sugar

3 eggs beaten

75g Self raising flour

1 TBSP mixed spice

1 TSP ground cinnamon

75g grated carrot

150g white breadcrumbs

75g toasted and chopped almonds

75g chopped pecans (i use a mixture or cashews and pistachios)

 

Soak the dried fruit in the alcohol for 24 hours (i do it for a few days, adding more booze if it seems dry)

 

Oven 160c (for fan - 180 for non)

 

Whisk the butter and sugar until light and fluffy

Add the beaten eggs

Fold in the flour

Add everything else!

 

I then grease some pudding basins and line with a large square of butter muslin.

 

Put the mixture into the basins until they are just below the lip.

 

Tie up the muslin with string, then wrap foil around to seal it.

 

Steam for hours and hours until pudding looks cooked. To give you a rough idea, I steam a 1 pint pudding for 6 hours.

 

I then let them cool and wrap them in greaseproof paper and then foil. Pop then back in the (clean) basins and keep somewhere cool until needed. To reheat, remove the foil and paper and steam for 1 hour or remove the muslin too and microwave for 3-5 mins (depending on size).

 

 

I use an old family recipe for my Xmas Cake that's been handed down over the years - if I get a mo tomorrow I'll write it out and post it here

[missuscluck]

WOW, thanks for taking the time and trouble to type it out. I have some questions??

 

If you wanted to make it no alcoholic what would you soak the fruit in??? Apple juice may be???

 

When you say steam. Is that in the oven in the basin or steamed as in in a pan???

 

How long do these 'keep' can they be kept in a airtight tim or do you then freeze them?

 

If you wanted to make mini puds whats the best type of continer to make them in??

 

Sorry...questions, questions???!!!

[hillfamily]

WOW, thanks for taking the time and trouble to type it out. I have some questions??

 

It's stored on my computer so I only had to cut and paste - that's why there's no Christmas cake recipe yet

 

If you wanted to make it no alcoholic what would you soak the fruit in??? Apple juice may be???

 

I've never made a non alcoholic version but I would have thought apple juice would be OK

 

When you say steam. Is that in the oven in the basin or steamed as in in a pan???

 

this is a better explantion of the steaming which is in an oven - Stand basin in a deep roasting tin and pour in 3 pints of boiling water. Cover basin with circle of foil and secure edges. Transfer to oven and cook for 6 hours.

 

How long do these 'keep' can they be kept in a airtight tim or do you then freeze them?

 

I know Christian still has one of last years batch and it's ok - he didn't freeze it

If you wanted to make mini puds whats the best type of continer to make them in??

 

I'm making mini puds and am using *these*

 

Sorry...questions, questions???!!!

 

this is my first go at making these - but I've questioned Christian very closely

 

[chickencam]

We always make Delia's classic Christmas cake and traditional Christmas pud. and her mincemeat, I have tried others but these are the only ones which really hit that Christmassy spot. The pudding recipe makes two puddings and we have one of last years which we will eat this year so I only make puds every other year and they keep really weel as does the mincemeat, but I usually make a half quantity of that each year.

[Chooks Aloud]

I've got a fantastic Christmas cake recipe at home, really easy, moist and works everytime I'll try and remember to dig it out tonight and post tomorrow.

 

Karen

[Chooks Aloud]

I knew there was something I had to do last night - sorry, I'll try and remember it for next week when I next log on.

 

Karen

[missuscluck]

Thankyou. Tried and tested recipies are always the best ones.

[AMS]

I made a couple of Christmas puddings using Christian's "not-so-secret" recipe last month and we taste-tested it today when my parents, my aunt and my father-in-law came to dinner. They all said it was the best Christmas pudding they had ever eaten. My aunt is now taking the second pudding back to Canada with her and I am going to have to make some more!

 

Alison

[Christian]

 

Hello, I'm here!

 

Only just spotted this thread. Glad Pam gave away all my secrets

 

I have 2 puds from 2 years ago that are still ok

 

I have made 6 so far this year, including a massive one that took 12 hours steaming

[..lay a little egg for me]

We always make Delia's classic Christmas cake and traditional Christmas pud. and her mincemeat, I have tried others but these are the only ones which really hit that Christmassy spot. The pudding recipe makes two puddings and we have one of last years which we will eat this year so I only make puds every other year and they keep really weel as does the mincemeat, but I usually make a half quantity of that each year.

 

I use Delia's cake for the basis of my Xmas cake but reduce the currants and increase the sultanas as I don't like currants much. Made my cake yesterday and will now start feeding it brandy...I'm sure that is the most important part of the recipe!

[chickencam]

We don't tend to use many currants either becuase they always have too many pips, we just make up the amounst with raisins and sultanas.