Getting into the Christmas Cooking Spirit this afternoon.

First time I have cooked a steamed Christmas Pudding for many years and this one seems to have turned out pretty good.  Has 1.2 kilograms of fruit in it.  She’s a big one.  It rose up and nearly pushed to top off the pudding bowl.

The recipe is Michael Patch’s one that he used to win at the Millmerran Camp Oven Festival.

Also made a double batch of weet bix rum balls. 

I am a bit late this year but never too late.   ::)

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Hi Derek
Your baking etc looks very good. enjoy the feast.
Our christmas   new year period will be taken up with the old medical appointments.
Kev

Decided to see what the pudding was like out of the bowl.  It’s a nice light pudding, colour is good and the smell is divine.

Big question is can I be not tempted to taste until Christmas.   ;D

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A bit late with the Christmas cake this year but getting there.  In the bowl is:

300 gms sultanas
300 gms raisins
200 gms mixed peel
200 gms glacé cherries
100 gms dried figs
100 gms semi dried prunes
100 gms dried apricots
1/2 cup brandy.

Will leave it sit a few days.  The main liquid will be pure orange juice for this one.  I will also add a big heap of chopped walnuts to the mix. 

Going to be a rich one.   :)

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Added a little more brandy to the fruit mix today.

Finished the cake off today.

After marinating in the brandy I soaked the fruit in 600ml of orange juice and left it overnight.

To the fruit I added:

2 1/2 cups self raising flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons nutmeg
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice

Would normally only use 2 cups flour but the addition of the brandy and the orange juice made it too sloppy a mix.

In the oven at 160 degrees for 3 hours.

Smells divine.

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Molly’s effort for the last couple of hours. Have had 2 kilo of mixed fruit soaking in sherry for the past 4 weeks then the good wife produced her magic.

In the oven for a few hours the smell will be delightful. Cheers

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I've gone all out this year.

I have just put a jelly in a lunch box in the fridge  :D :D ;D ;D

;D ;D ;D ;D

Ok, you've guilted me into it...

My usual Camp Oven Condensed Milk Fruit Slice all gussied up for Christmas with the addition of:

1/2 tsp Cinnamon;
1/2 tsp Nutmeg;
1/2 tsp Mixed Spice; and
A generous splash of Jamaican Rum.

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I can taste it from here.
Love those flavours.

Cooked a chunk of corned beef this morning.

Not doing a hot meal Christmas Day this year.  Cold cuts of ham, corned beef, chicken and prawns with assorted salads.

Having some family over tonight and am doing a baked dinner with duck and chicken.

The Christmas pudding turned out to be one of the best I have ever eaten.  It was amazing.

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YUM ;)
Kev

Noice.

Mail some my way.
Looks full of goodness.

The fruit cake has been travelling with us and eaten sparingly.  It wasn’t cut until well after Christmas and the last slice was eaten a week ago at our friends place in Old Junee.

The extra brandy certainly kept it well.  Has just been in a container all this time in the pantry.