Christmas puddings

I really enjoy Christmas pudding its just delicious and some thing to look forward to as part of the Christmas feast.  As a home made Christmas pudding they are so fruity and indulgent yet light, not like the supermarket counter parts which are like eating a brick after your Christmas dinner making you feel sick and sleepy. 

This year i planned to make 2 as i heard that if you store one it matures over the year and tastes even better the next year, but im not so sure the little extra one is going to make it, it smells so good and is calling my name to eat it.

After the Christmas cake was made i added lots of figs and dates to my boozy fruit to soak up the rest of the boozy from the bottom of the tub and to boost up the rest of the fruit that was still getting merry from soaking.

After putting 600g of my boozy fruit in a bowl with 75g of flour, breadcrumbs, demerara sugar, 100g of vegetarian suet. Sophie was busy grating 1 brambly apple and a carrot to add, while i went to town with 2 tsp of mixed spice, 1/4 of fresh grated nutmeg , 1 tsp ginger, cinnamon, Sophie helped whisk up 3 eggs to add to the mix and i added lots of chopped pecans and almonds, last off we put almost a whole can of Mackeson stout. 

Next came the fun part where Mummy, Daddy and Sophie took turns stirring and making wishes for the year ahead.  Sophie wished for yoghurt, so she got her wish granted, as she was such a good little helper and was really good at stirring.

 Next the mix got put in the bowls covered with foil and placed inside large pans with water that came 3/4 of the way up the basin and it simmered for 7 hours with lids on, till they were done, of course you have to go back and check that they haven't boiled dry.  After the 7 hours the heat was turned off and they were allowed to stand until the they were cool to take out. They are covered and now waiting patiently for the special day where they will be crowned in brandy set alight and gobbled up with cream.  Poor little puddings, but it is so nice having something so special to wait for that you have made yourself. Roll on Christmas.