Ingredients

Traditional christmas pudding

250g/9oz

vegetarian suet

350g/12oz

organic sultanas

350g/12oz

organic raisins

250g/8oz

organic currants

50g/2oz

organic almonds

100g/ 4oz

organic mixed peel

75g/3oz

organic glace cherries, snipped with scissors

75g/3oz

organic crystallised or stem ginger, snipped with scissors

350g/12oz

Dark Muscovado sugar

2 grated

eating apples

250g/9oz

fresh white breadcrumbs

175g/6oz

plain flour, sieved

1tsp

Steenbergs organic Fairtrade mixed spice

1tsp

Steenbergs nutmeg powder

½tsp

fleur de sel

6free-range

organic eggs

Grated rind and juice of 1 lemon

Grated rind and juice of 1 orange

1tsp

Steenbergs natural almond extract

150ml/¼ pint

stout

We love Christmas pudding at the Steenbergs house, although it doesn't tend to be finished on the day, it gets eaten over the next few days. The main debate is whether to have it with brandy butter or white sauce....

This recipe does 2 x 1.2 puddings, so if you want only the one pudding, simply halve the quantities. (So that's one Christmas present done)

Method

Toast the almonds in an oven for 5 minutes or so. Mix all dry ingredients together. Beat the eggs; add lemon, orange, Steenbergs almond extract and stout. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in all other ingredients and stir thoroughly.
Now make a wish! Cover and leave somewhere cool overnight.
Turn into greased basins, cover with butter papers and a double layer of cloth. Sneak a silver coin into the mixture; I wrapped a cleaned 20p or 50p piece in some baking paper and pushed it into the mix. Tie securely with string going right round the bottom of the bowl to make a strong handle to lift the bowl.
Steam for about 7 hours.
On Christmas Day, steam again for about 1½ hours or until heated right through.
To flame the Christmas pudding, place the cooked pudding on a plate with a decent curve. Then warm 2 – 3 tablespoons of brandy or whisky (I use whisky) without boiling. Pour over the Christmas pudding then set alight with a match, being very careful not to set yourself alight!