PLUM DUFF / PUDDING

Ingredients........2 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of sugar, 3 cups of mixed dried fruit, 1 dsp of bicarbonate of soda, 1 and 1/2 tbs of melted butter/ marg, 1 cup of strong black tea, brewed and cooled OR you can relace the brewed and cooled tea with 1 cup of Apera ( cream sherry). Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Flour a medium sized piece of boiled and dried calico/ cotton cloth and have baking twine on hand to enclose the duff in the cloth. Mix together the flour and bi carb of soda, add the sugar and fruit and mix together well. Make a well in the centre and add the butter/ marg and the strong black tea/ creamed sherry. Mix together thoroughly with a wooden spoon. To boil the pudding / duff sprinkle flour over the prepared cloth Spoon the mixture in the centre of the floured cloth, gather up the edges and tie with baking twine. Leave a large loop of twine at the top so the pudding is easy to hang. OPTION 1.... Boiled Duff/ Pudding. Place the pudding/ duff into the large pot of boiling water, cover and boil for 2 hours. Then remove and hang the duff/ pudding to dry completely. OPTION 2....Steamed duff/ Pudding. Spray a pudding bowl with cooking spray and then spoon the mixture in. Place a round piece of baking paper over the top of the steamer and securely fasten the steamer lid on. Place the steamer bowl into the large pot of boiling water , making sure the water comes up 2/3rds of the pudding bowl. Boil slowly for approximately 2 hours , checking often to top up with boiling water. I always make the plum duff/ pudding well before Xmas. When using the boiled method, make sure the pudding /duff has hung for 24 hours to dry out properly. Then remove from cloth and wrap well in cling wrap and a layer of foil. Place in your freezer till Xmas Eve. Allow it to thaw and heat in your microwave on 20 sec increments to warm through. If you prepare your / pudding by the steaming method, remove the prepared duff/ pudding from the steamer, cool, wrap in foil and freeze till Xmas Eve. Then on Xmas day heat in 20 second increments in your microwave on a serving dish. Best served with custard.

I have 3 plum duff/ puddings already prepared in the freezer, just a thought these also make a very welcome Xmas gift for family and friends. Enjoy.