A rich and moist Christmas Pudding taken from The Dairy Book of Home Cookery.
Ingredients
110g (4oz) plain flour
½ tsp mixed spice
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
225g (8oz) breadcrumbs
200g (7oz) shredded suet
225g (8oz) dark soft brown sugar
350g (12oz) raisins
350g (12oz) sultanas
50g (2oz) chopped mixed peel
50g (2oz) walnut halves or blanched almonds, chopped
Grated rind of 1 small orange
4 eggs, beaten
50ml (2fl oz) brandy or dry sherry
½ tsp almond essence
150ml (¼ pint) milk
Directions
Sift flour, spice and nutmeg into a bowl. Add breadcrumbs, suet, sugar, dried fruit, peel, nuts and rind and mix thoroughly
Combine with eggs, brandy or sherry, almond essence and milk. Mix well
Divide between two greased and base-lined 1.25 litre (2 pint) pudding basins
Cover with buttered greaseproof paper or foil. Pleat once to allow pudding to rise. Secure with string, using extra for a handle
Place in a steamer over a saucepan of boiling water and cover. Alternatively, place on a metal trivet in a large saucepan and add boiling water to come half way up the sides of basin. Add pudding and cover