PLUM PUDDING

Plum Pudding image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Serves 10 to 15

Number Of Ingredients 22

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1/2 pound dried currants, plumped with 2 tablespoons cognac and enough hot water to cover
1/2 pound dried raisins, finely cut
1/4 pound candied kumquats, finely diced
1/4 pound glazed orange peel, finely diced
1/4 pound glazed lemon peel, finely diced
1/4 pound citron, finely diced
1/2 pound walnuts, finely chopped
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon mace
1/2 pound ground suet
3 slices thin-sliced bread, soaked in 1/2 cup apple juice
1 cup dark brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup black currant jam or preserves
1/4 cup brandy or cognac
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup cognac
Hard Sauce, for serving (optional)

Steps:

Oil a 2-quart steamer mold or pottery bowl very well with vegetable oil and let it stand as you make the pudding.
Combine the fruits and nuts in a large bowl. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and spices into the fruit and nuts. Add the suet, bread, brown sugar, eggs, and jam and blend well. Beat with a wooden spoon to lighten the mixture. Pour into mold. Cover with circle or parchment paper and put on a rack in a large kettle with enough water to come halfway up the sides. Cover and keep water boiling, replenishing as necessary. Steam for 6 hours.
Uncover pudding and pour brandy over it; put a piece of waxed paper over pudding; replace parchment and set in a cool place or on low shelf of refrigerator to ripen.
To serve, steam for 2 more hours and invert on a serving platter. Add the 1 teaspoon sugar to the cognac, heat, pour over warm pudding, and flame with a match. Serve with hard sauce.