Christmas pudding questions

ClaireLR

Hi everyone.

Last year I made some christmas puddings (6 small ones in all) around this time and wrapped them in cling film and foil and left them under my dads stairs (nice and cold) but when I came to unwrap them they were mouldy, yuck!

How can I prevent this from happening this year? I steamed them for a long while in a saucepan on the hob, can't remember exactly how long (was following a recipe though so timing must have been what the recipe said).

Also, if someone has a real old fashioned yummy Xmas pud recipe I could have for this year, one that includes nuts and plenty of booze I'd be very grateful!

Thanks :A

dND

Not too sure and I'm certain there are lots more knowledgeable people on here who will help but I would guess at the cling film. Things tend to sweat inside cling film and that would encourage mould.

Also was the recipe and old fashioned type, one with lots of sugar and lots of booze both of which are good at preserving food

ClaireLR

From what I remember there was a fair amount of booze in there but no sugar.

Didnt think about the cling film actually, would wrapping them in some sort of paper be better do you think, allowing them to breathe perhaps??

Also, my pudding bowls have lids (they're plastic) could I just leave them in there after I've steamed them do you think?

Thanks.

thriftlady_2

Freeze them I see that's what Delia advises in her Christmas book.

ClaireLR

thriftlady wrote: »

Freeze them I see that's what Delia advises in her Christmas book.

Oh why didn't I think of that! Then just take them out the day before you need them I assume.

Now has anyone got a good recipe for Xmas pud, when is stir up Sunday this year, 25th November???

kethry

can't answer the mouldy question. I've never had one go mouldy, to be honest.. i even have half a christmas pud left in the fridge from last christmas and that's still fine. in the past when i've kept one for a year, its either been in a plastic bowl with a lid, or a glass bowl which i've covered with greaseproof paper and tin foil, tied on with string. It wasn't kept anywhere special - on a windowsill in a - at times - hot kitchen. i suspect its the lack of sugar combined with the clingfilm that did it, personally.

you asked for a boozy nutty christmas pud recipe: this one is very boozy and has chopped almonds in it. I suppose you could replace some of the fruit with other nuts if you liked. this is the one i use every year, have done for the last 12 years or so, and have - a couple times - kept a pudding for a year or so to have the following year from this recipe and its been fine. there's sugar in this recipe!

HTH

keth
xx

Seakay

I think that the cling film is the culprit - old fashioned method is greaseproof paper and a pudding cloth over the basin with the pudding in ie protection from dust and insects etc but breathable. I have kept puddings in a basin like this for over a year, and also in a plastic basin with a lid.

THIRZAH

They freeze well so just pop them in the freezer until Christmas eve and you won't have to worry.

I make my pudding in the slow cooker. The water doesn't need topping up every half hour, the kitchen doesn't end up full of steam and I can reheat it in the slow cooker on Christmas day which gives me an extra hot plate free for veg etc.

jannyannie

Hi

Last year I made three Xmas puds in October. We ate the last one at Easter. i usually keep mine in the fridge covered in foil. Also you need the sugar to stop it going off.:A x

ClaireLR

I need some more help please!

I'm making 7 1/2 pint puddings in plastic basins, do you think it would be ok to cook these in the microwave? I haven't got a proper steamer so I would have to cook each one in a saucepan otherwise which is going to take forever!

My microwave is 700W, how long would I need to cook each pudding for if I did them all separately?

I know they probably wont be as good as if I did steam them but 7 puddings X 3 hours steaming each = whole Sunday taken up steaming puddings!

Thanks