I made my own pudding for the first time last year, and the advatage of this recipe is you can make it a week before Christmas. I must confess I bought one this year as I have been too busy making hams, cheese bacon etc
Christmas Pudding
by Frank Bordoni
from Great Food Live
For a great finale to Christmas dinner, try this dark, delicious and boozy Christmas pudding with creamy Armagnac custard from Frank Bordoni
* Servings: 8
* Level of difficulty: Intermediate
* Preparation Time: 45 minutes, plus 5 days soaking for fruit and 2-3 weeks standing time for mixture if desired
* Cooking Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Ingredients
* 150g raisins
* 150g sultanas
* 220g currants
* 150g mixed peel
* 20g pureed prunes
* 125ml Irish stout
* 125ml Brandy
* 75ml rum
* 150g dark brown sugar
* 90g caster sugar
* 60g flaked almonds
* 150g fresh white breadcrumbs
* 45g plain flour
* 1/2 lemon, zest and juice
* 1/2 orange, zest and juice
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 150g suet
For the cr�me anglaise
* 100ml Milk
* 100ml double cream
* 1 vanilla pod, split
* 4 egg yolks
* 40g Sugar
* 25ml Armagnac
To decorate
* icing sugar
* small punnet Redcurrants
* mint leaves
Method
1. Put the raisins, sultanas, currants, mixed peel and prune puree into a bowl and add the stout, brandy, rum, and dark brown sugar. Cover and leave in a cool place for 5 days.
2. When you are ready to cook the puddings, place the caster sugar, almonds, breadcrumbs and flour into a large bowl. Stir in the soaked fruit.
3. Add the lemon and orange zest and juice. Stir in the eggs and the fold in the suet.
4. Spoon the mixture into a 900g pudding bowl, cover tightly with a well-fitting lid or aluminium foil secured with string, and steam for 3 hours.
5. To make the cr�me anglaise, bring the milk, cream and vanilla pod to the boil.
6. Beat the eggs and sugar together.
7. Add the boiled cream mixture to the eggs, a little at a time. Return the mixture to the pan and stir over a gently heat, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
8. Strain the mixture and stir in the Armagnac.
9. Turn out the Christmas pudding and dust with icing sugar. Decorate with redcurrants and mint and serve with the cr�me anglaise.