Christmas pudding

[Jeanied]

Alison - be brave! The flames off alcohol are not so bad as those off solid fuel! My warnings were based on a shallow pudding dish doused in burning alcohol being carried to the table and burning my fingers!! If you like the flavour of cointreau with cream, just warm a small ladleful of cointreau as you serve, put the hot pudding on the table, pour the warm liqueur over and apply the match / lighter. Immediate OOH and AAH from guests. Blow out the flames and bow to the applause!

[smallblueplanet]

Its Delia for us, but not 'til Stir-up Sunday (it's Sunday 22nd November this year)!

Traditional Christmas Pudding - Sweet - Recipes - from Delia Online

[northepaul]

I have never made one, but wanted to do it this year..
The only thing is, I hope this doesnt sound silly, I dont really understand how you boil it, the recipes I have seen seem to be a bit vague about this important part.

[scarey55]

I have never made one, but wanted to do it this year..
The only thing is, I hope this doesnt sound silly, I dont really understand how you boil it, the recipes I have seen seem to be a bit vague about this important part.

Not silly at all I use a pressure cooker for mine and I usually do small ones for about 45 minutes. I think you can steam them but it takes ages - according to the Delia recipe put up by Manda (smallblueplanet) it takes up to 8 hours Once they are cooked, you just need to warm them through in the microwave.

[smallblueplanet]

We do ours in a the top of a steamer - gently steaming away, makes all the difference to the flavour. Then steam them again for a couple of hours on xmas day.

[HeyWayne]

Given that my Mum and I ar the only ones in our entire family (both sides) that likes Christmas pud I don't bother making them. I did one year, but it was an awful waste.

Now, by popular demand I make a few of the Jamie Oliver chocolate ones - with a whole orange inside. T'is reet tasty.

I'm sure I read a tip somewhere that suggested using Vodka rather than Brandy for the flambe' bit. We tried it one year, but I'm not sure it made much difference.

On past expereince can I suggest the following precautions:

1. Remove your highly flammable paper hat before lighting the pud - especially if you are the lighter of the pud.

a. Do ensure you heat the alcohol first and light straight away - do not just pour a ladle full of brandy/vodka over the pud, then go to the kitchen to find a flame, then return and discover the pud won't light, so pour over another ladle full of.......hic........alcorol.....

[scarey55]

a. Do ensure you heat the alcohol first and light straight away - do not just pour a ladle full of brandy/vodka over the pud, then go to the kitchen to find a flame, then return and discover the pud won't light, so pour over another ladle full of.......hic........alcorol.....

And that's a problem because??

[HeyWayne]

And that's a problem because??

You've then got to try and cut it.

[scarey55]

Lol @ Wayne - one glass of pudding or two

[HeyWayne]

Lol @ Wayne - one glass of pudding or two

Not sure if "half cut" refers to the pudding, or the pudding cutting the pudding.

[binley100]

Looks like the firemen might be busy!

[shirlthegirl43]

Do people set fire to their puddings then? Not something I've ever seen done and I just assumed it was one of those "just for TV" things.

We always light the pudding (even the ones I have been making recently to find a recipe we like if you are not a fan of brandy, Drambuie heated and lit is lovely too. I put all the dishes on the table and light a candle, make sure the pudding comes to the table really hot (zap in the microwave if it has cooled down) then all the lights are switched off and we are left with just the light from the candle. I put brandy (or Drambuie) into a ladle and heat this over the candle flame - tilt the ladle to set fire to the warmed liquid and pour the lovely blue flames over your pudding. The challenge in our house is to cut the pudding while it is still burning

I have never made one, but wanted to do it this year..
The only thing is, I hope this doesnt sound silly, I dont really understand how you boil it, the recipes I have seen seem to be a bit vague about this important part.

Another way to steam your pudding is in a slow cooker (if you have one). Wrap your pudding well (although most recipes say greaseproof paper and foil, clingfilm does the job just fine), put the bowl into your preheated crockpot and fill with boiling water to about halfway up the bowl. Cook on high for an hour then turn to low and leave overnight. You can reheat in the slow cooker or microwave.

[northepaul]

Thanks for all the tips

I will look into all of them!

[Alison]

Another way to steam your pudding is in a slow cooker (if you have one). Wrap your pudding well (although most recipes say greaseproof paper and foil, clingfilm does the job just fine), put the bowl into your preheated crockpot and fill with boiling water to about halfway up the bowl. Cook on high for an hour then turn to low and leave overnight. You can reheat in the slow cooker or microwave.

I usually do mine in the slow cooker but don't bother heating the water first and all that phaff. Simply put a heat proof saucer in the bottom of the crock pot, add the pudding (with a large circle of greaseproof paper and silver foil on the top (with a crease so it can expand) and tied with string in addition to a circle of greaseproof staight on top of the pudding. Fill with water upto about 1/2" below the top of the pudding. Turn on low and leave for 12 hours (ish). Let the water go cold, remove the pudding, replace the foil and greaseproof paper and store in the cool and dark till Christmas. Repeat the process for about 4 hours on Christmas day, microwaving just doesn't seem right but is probably fine.

[scarey55]

I think I will try the slow cooker method for mine this year. The pressure cooker method is fine but as some of you have said it tastes better for being steamed for a long time, I might try it.

Perhaps I will try both methods and do a taste comparison.