Christmas pud help please!

seraphina

Right, my mother in law hasn't been well at all, bless her, and she hasn't got around to doing her usual Christmas pudding'n'mince pie cooking fest. So my sister and law and I said we'd give her a hand and I blithely agreed to make the Christmas pudding.

Now I've just realised what I've gotten myself into and could do with a few hints and tips:o

1)Do the puddings really need to be boiled for 8 hours?:eek: I have a Delia recipe which says cook for 8 hours first and then boil for 2 hours just before you eat it...

2)I only have a plastic pudding basin - not a ceramic one - will this withstand 8+hours of boiling?

3) any other advice appreciated - I don't want to ruin everyone's christmas dinner!

Thanks!

razra

I think some people cook them in the slow cooker
what about the microwave, the shop bought ones (not very MS I know) only take a few mins on high to cook

Penelope_Penguin

seraphina wrote: »

Right, my mother in law hasn't been well at all, bless her, and she hasn't got around to doing her usual Christmas pudding'n'mince pie cooking fest. So my sister and law and I said we'd give her a hand and I blithely agreed to make the Christmas pudding.

Now I've just realised what I've gotten myself into and could do with a few hints and tips:o

1)Do the puddings really need to be boiled for 8 hours?:eek: I have a Delia recipe which says cook for 8 hours first and then boil for 2 hours just before you eat it...

2)I only have a plastic pudding basin - not a ceramic one - will this withstand 8+hours of boiling?

3) any other advice appreciated - I don't want to ruin everyone's christmas dinner!

Thanks!

Hope you MIL is better soon

Yes, you do need to steam for 8 hours - sorry Apparently they can be cooked in the microwave, but I (and many others on here) won't recommend this. Steaming is the only way to get a rich, moist pudding. I think thriftlady said this week that she steams hers in the slowcooker - I don't as my SC is too small.

I use plastic basins. You need to make sure that they are stood on a trivet, or old tea towel, as the plastic will melt if it's in contact with the bottom of the pan.

I'm sure you'll enjoy them, and your guests will be full of praise for you when they're eaten.

Penny. x

CRANKY40

I bought a very cheap ceramic pudding basin from Wilkinsons last year. It's on it's second round this year and it's doing fine.

stefejb

I do have a recipe for a pud that doesn't need to be made months in advance (says only to keep for a month) and takes 45 mins in the microwave. Its from a bbc book - would it be against copyright to type it here

ellie2912

hi i was wondering the same thing last week.but can safely say after steaming my first ever puds in the slow cooker for 8 hours in a plastic bowl. it defo looked the part and smelled fab. i put some foil under the puds and they were fine.

the mixture before steaming looked and smelled horrid (especially with brandy in which is what i used in mine _pale_ ) but after 8 hours it looked and smelled like well erm christmas pud :T

Horace

You could cheat and buy one from Aldi (beat all in a recent taste test that I saw somewhere). Then if the recipe is asked for, say you can't remember. A little fib never hurt once in a while especially when it comes to cooking!

Olliebeak

If you have a pressure cooker - you can do the Christmas Puddings in that. Would really reduce that 8 hour cooking time!

moanymoany

The initial cooking is to steam for ever. However I did a taste test between a final cooking of steaming for 2 hours and microwaving for a few minutes and no-one could tell the difference!

My mil gave me a pudding that she had made and it had gone mouldy. I replaced it with a bought bog standard pud from Tescos, she couldn't tell the difference and she never found out. I now buy a pud.

bertha

I find Christmas puddings really quick and easy to make and everyone can have a stir and make a wish. I cook it in the slow cooker for about 12 - 14 hours, then put it in again first thing Christmas morning - no danger of it boiling dry and hassle free!

I also make mincemeat, again quick and easy and much lighter and fresher tasting than shop bought. Again I cook it in the slow cooker.

Both mincemeat and puddings just require ingredients to be weighed thrown in a bowl, given a good stir and that's it. Amounts needn't be too exact and can be varied slightly according to taste eg if you don't like peel, leave it out and add more dried fruit or cherries or you could add less raisins and currants and include dried apricots. No real cooking skills involved!

Merry Christmas!

seraphina

Righto, thanks for all your replies and reassurance!

I'm going to give it a bash this weekend - that way I've still got time to pop out and buy one if it all goes horribly wrong!

If I can find a cheap ceramic pudding basin between now and then I'll buy it, otherwise I'll use my plastic one with an upturned saucer in the bottom of the pot.

I've had a read of a few recipes and Bertha is right - it does just seem to be chuck ingredients in a bowl and mix!

As for steaming (I don't have a slow or pressure cooker), I just pop the pudding in a large saucepan of boiling water - how far up should the water come on the pudding?