Okay, so I’ve always wanted to try making a traditional Australian Christmas pudding. You know, the kind you see in movies, all dark and rich and full of fruit? This year, I finally decided to go for it. I found a recipe online, and let me tell you, it seemed a bit intimidating at first!
Gathering the Ingredients
First things first, I had to get all the ingredients. And there were a lot of them. We’re talking mixed dried fruit, breadcrumbs, suet (which I had to go to a special butcher for!), brown sugar, spices, eggs, and of course, some brandy. It was a bit of a shopping adventure, I must admit.
The Mixing Marathon
Once I had everything, it was time to start mixing. I dumped all the dry ingredients into a massive bowl – the fruit, the breadcrumbs, the suet, the sugar, everything. Then I added the wet ingredients, including a good glug of that brandy. The smell was already amazing, all warm and Christmassy.
The recipe said to mix everything really well, and let me tell you, it was a workout! My arms were actually aching by the end. I think I mixed for a good 20 minutes, making sure everything was thoroughly combined.
Steaming Time
Then came the steaming. I greased a pudding basin (which I also had to buy specially!), spooned the mixture in, and covered it tightly with baking paper and foil. I put the basin in a large pot with simmering water, making sure the water came about halfway up the sides of the basin. Then it was just a matter of waiting… and waiting… and waiting.
- It steamed for a long time, like 8 hours!
- I had to keep topping up the water in the pot to make sure it didn’t boil dry.
- It felt like it took forever, but the smell filling the house was incredible.
The Big Reveal (and the Flambe!)
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pudding was ready! I carefully took it out of the pot, let it cool a bit, and then turned it out onto a plate. It looked… well, like a big, dark, fruit-filled pudding! Just like it should.
The best part? We doused it in more brandy and set it alight! It was quite a spectacle, with blue flames dancing around the pudding. And the taste? Rich, fruity, boozy, and utterly delicious. Definitely worth all the effort!
I will do it again next year!
