Brits...I need a pre-metric recipe for Christmas Pudding

[doowdniw]

Mom and Dad used to make them every year and it was a tradition growing up to have a stir and make a wish. They are both gone and I never was able to find the recipe they worked from. It had been written on an old piece of paper and passed down from my grandmother. Went through all Mom's old cook books looking for it but it wasn't there.

Most places over here have never even heard of suet, let alone actually have any, but I have been lucky and found just a couple who do.

I know there are currants, raisins, sultanas, but have no measurements or what else goes into it.

Any help would be appreciated. Yes, I know there are some recipes in some of the new cook books, but I'm looking for traditional family recipes.

 

[butters]

not tonight, but i'll try to see if i can find the one my mum wrote down for me many years ago, handed down from her mum. it makes a really dark, incredibly rich pudding. i stopped making xmas pudding or even buying it years ago as no-one else in the family even liked it (even the bought ones,, so not the recipe!)

it's on a piece of blue notepaper but i've not seen it for years. i have very fond memories of helping to stir and making a wish.

 

[Aquagal]

I don't know what kind of pudding has suet in it but I've always gotten it from the butcher man.

 

[oggbashan]

Mary Berry's recipe is dual measurements. Use one or the other measurements. Don't mix them up.

http://www.lovefood.com/guide/recipes/17866/christmas-pudding-recipe

Or this one for a microwave:

http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/microwave-christmas-pudding.html

 

[RobDownSouth]

Suet? As in....bird feed?

 

[Aquagal]

Suet? As in....bird feed?

Suet is ground up animal fat.

 

[Que]

How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

 

[unregistered]

 

[Aquagal]

I think pudding is very different across the pond.

Looking at that recipe it sounds like fruit cake.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Aquagal]

I bet you're right... A few of my family members love fruitcake. I don't get it.

I'm stumped why fruitcake would have suet in it though.

 

[Aphro]

No suet in this one.

http://australian.food.com/recipe/christmas-plum-pudding-41555

 

[Mr Noone]

Haven't any of you read "A Christmas Carol"? There's a whole scene where the small Cratchits talk about the pudding, "singing in the copper" and Mrs Cratchit worrys about the quantity of flour.

Silly Yanks.

 

[Mr Noone]

I'm stumped why fruitcake would have suet in it though.

Because it's not a cake, it's a pudding.

 

[doowdniw]

Thanks to all for your replies. Christmas pudding and fruit cake are two very different things. I love Christmas pudding (there isn't much middle ground; either you like it or you don't) yet cannot stand fruit cake (absolutely loathe the stuff).

 

[doowdniw]

No suet in this one.

http://australian.food.com/recipe/christmas-plum-pudding-41555

I do remember now the stout, and a nip of something or other. I'll have to check my stock of brandy, but I'm sure I have some. If not, I'll throw a bit of scotch in.

Thanks for the link. I don't know if leaving out the suet will change much, besides perhaps cutting down on the cholesterol (but I have pills for that anyway).

I'll have some brandy for flaming it at the end. We used to make a big production of turning the lights out and watching in awe when Dad brought it through the door ablaze, with a sprig of holly stuck in the top.

 

[doowdniw]

Mary Berry's recipe is dual measurements. Use one or the other measurements. Don't mix them up.

http://www.lovefood.com/guide/recipes/17866/christmas-pudding-recipe

Or this one for a microwave:

http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/microwave-christmas-pudding.html

Ogg, thanks for your links. I don't know about the microwaved version. Somehow it just doesn't seem like Christmas pudding if not steamed for hours on end.

 

[Skiddles2014]

Take some vanilla pudding and add some christmas and a pinch of nutmeg.

S&P TT

 

[Fata Morgana]

Are you having it with custard or brandy butter? I'm going out for a Christmas dinner in a couple of weeks and they are serving it with rum & raisin ice cream. Odd.

 

[DesEsseintes]

I made Nigel Slater's a couple of years ago, which tasted pretty traditional. But the OP has missed Stir up Sunday already.

 

[doowdniw]

I made ... the OP has missed Stir up Sunday already.

I figure better late than never. Don't think we ever put quince in, of ginger either. I love ginger and may have to give it a try.

Are you having it with custard or brandy butter? I'm going out for a Christmas dinner in a couple of weeks and they are serving it with rum & raisin ice cream. Odd.

My preference has always been custard, although brandy butter is pretty good, too.