December 18, 2009

Steamed Christmas Pudding

What do cilantro, anchovies, fruitcake and liver & onions have in common?

It seems that people either hate 'em or love 'em.  Me, I love them all.  Where do you stand?

If you don't like fruitcake, you're probably not going to like Christmas Pudding.  It's similar in that it has dried fruit, but this Christmas Pudding is different in that you get to add whatever you like!  If you don't like those little neon red and green candied cherries, don't use them.  If you love dark raisins but hate golden raisins, use all dark raisins!  If you've really got a thing for apricots, or prunes or cranberries... make your Christmas Pudding with those alone!

Can't go wrong with this recipe... let's have some fun!
I will pretty much eat anything ... not  a picky eater!  I started with one-half cup each of golden raisins, currants, dried prunes, dried apricots and dried cranberries.  Look at all those shriveled little bits of fruit.
Oh, I didn't tell you... I drowned them in brandy and let them soak overnight.  Look at those glistening, plump pieces of goodness!
Here's the pudding mold (mine has a 1-1/2 quart capacity).  Since this pudding is steamed, the mold should sit up off the bottom of the pot.  I placed a small trivet inside the pot, then placed the pudding mold in the pot while I ran water about half-way up the mold.  I put the water on to boil while I made the pudding.

Basically, the recipe calls for creamed butter and brown sugar; the addition of eggs, prepared mincemeat, pumpkin puree, orange juice and the brandied fruit (plus the brandy it was soaking in).  A little flour is added along with some baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and walnuts.
This the pudding after it was mixed up and placed into the mold (which had been sprayed with non-stick spray).  It's a fragrant, gloppy mess of a batter with more fruit than flour.  I was so excited to get it into the steamer!

I put a piece of parchment and then foil over the mold  to ensure no water got into it, and then clamped the lid on.
This pudding steamed for three hours.  This is what it looked like when I removed the lid.
This is just chock full of fruit and so moist!  It smelled heavenly!
I think this pudding is best warm.  It can be warmed either by wrapping the pudding well in foil and putting it into a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or so... or, individual slices can be warmed in the microwave.

This is wonderful with a spoonful of hard sauce (a delectable mix of butter, powdered sugar and vanilla), but for the sake of today's photography, I whipped up a bit of cream sweetened with a little brown sugar.

I made two of these this week.  One to make sure it would work, because I chose my own ingredients, and one to send to a dear friend who loves Christmas Pudding as much as I do!

Merry Christmas, George and family!  It wasn't until I'd taken this picture and decided it was the one I would use as the final picture, that I realized that George had given me this Hummel "Ride Into Christmas" as a gift one year!


15 comments:

  1. Oh, I love all of them, too! Your pudding looks amazing...so moist and inviting...YUM!

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  2. Your pudding looks yummy, Karen! I've never had steamed pudding, but it looks so much better than any fruit cake I've ever had.
    I'm not really picky; I love liver and onions, but my hubby doesn't, so they are a thing of the distant past. :)

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  3. I've actually never tried Christmas pudding but it looks wonderful and I would sure love a taste!

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  4. I love all of them too! That looks fantastic,Karen!

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  5. I'm not a picky eater either, but just can't seem to like Liver and Onions. I try it every 5 years or so just in case.

    This pudding looks wonderful. This one is definatly getting bookmarked.

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  6. I had no idea that this was how it was all done. I am not a fruit cake fan becuase I don't think I have ever had one done the right way. Most of the ones I had were very dry and flavorless, not enough alcohol probably! I think I would eat a piece of yours-gladly!!

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  7. Looks beautiful, but I'm in the Hates Fruitcake crowd. Please give my share to someone who will enjoy it.

    Now cilantro---almost veggie is better with cilantro!

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  8. a good fruitcake is very underrated... And i would certainly like to try a taste of this

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  9. Soaked in brandy overnight, I am a lover of this.. Looks fantastic, Karen.

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  10. I love puddings of all kinds so I absolutely know I would love this. It looks so festive!

    As for the other things on your list - cilantro - love, liver - not so much, anchovies - depends on the day, and onions - can't live without them.

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  11. That Christmas pudding looks nice and moist and good!

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  12. Hmmm, liver & onions, not so much but fruitcake? Well I think that little bit of holiday goodness is just about the best thing since, well, sliced fruitcake! This looks & sounds wonderful & I'm sure your friends are going to enjoy every last bite!

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  13. So glad I found your blog. I am so going to be looking through your recipes. I've always thought Christmas pudding was something in one of the old Christmas stories, and I certainly had no idea that it would be something like this. I actually like most fruitcake, so I'm sure I would enjoy this. The pictures are great!

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  14. I have wanted to make this for a long time. Next year I must buy the mold and just do it!

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