Quick and Easy Christmas Pudding
Preparation 20 Minutes
Cook 30 Minutes
Serves 8-10
Method
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Place fruit and brandy in microwaveable bowl and heat for 1 minute or until warmed through. Set aside to cool, stirring occasionally.
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Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Sift flour and mixed spice over butter mixture, then stir in breadcrumbs and fruit mixture. Mix well.
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Grease and flour a 1.5L microwaveable bowl. Spoon mixture into bowl and smooth top. Cover with a pleated, double-layer of baking paper secured with kitchen string.
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Cook in microwave on defrost setting (300W) for 30 minutes, rotating the bowl after 20 minutes. Test with a skewer inserted into pudding. If it doesnβt come out clean, microwave at 5 minute intervals until done. Leave pudding to stand for 10 minutes before turning onto a plate. Serve with custard.
Ingredients
375g Sunbeam Mixed Fruit
100g Sunbeam Australian Raisins
100g Angas Park Dates
1/2 cup brandy
150g butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 free-range eggs
1/2 cup plain flour
2 tsp mixed spice
1 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
custard, to serve
Recipe Collection
Lamb Rogan Josh
- Heat half of the oil in a large frying pan, add onion, garlic and ginger, cook for 3-4 minutes until tender. Add rogan josh paste and cook a further minute until fragrant. Add to the pot of a slow cooker.
- Using the remaining oil, sear lamb in batches until well browned. Add to the slow cooker with the tomatoes and water. Cook on low heat for 8 hours. Stir in garam masala and season well.
- Serve lamb with almonds, coriander and papadums.*For a faster cooking time, cook on High heat for 4 hours.
Rum and Raisin Fudge
Lightly grease and line base and sides of a 20cm square baking tin.
Combine raisins and rum in a small bowl and allow to soak for 10 mins.
In a medium saucepan combine sweetened condensed milk, butter, sugar and golden syrup and constantly stir over a low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil.Β Β Reduce heat to low, stir constantly for about 8-10 mins until the temperature reaches between 113-115ΒΊC.*
Remove pan from heat, add chocolate melts and soaked raisins and stir to combine.Β Β Transfer to prepared tin using a spatula to smooth the surface then allow to cool at room temperature for 5-6 hours until firm.
Cut into 5cm long slices then cut each slice into 8 rectangles.
If you donβt own a candy thermometer, you can also check if the fudge is ready by taking a small amount and dropping it into a glass of cold water.Β Β When the mixture sets into a soft ball that doesnβt stick to your fingers when gently pinched, the fudge is ready.Β Β This is referred to as βsoft ballβ stage.
Golden Fruit Cake
Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. In a large bowl add Sunbeam Almond Meal, sugar the butter and egg and combine until a breadcrumb texture. Spoon into a greased 23cm (base measurement) fluted loose base tart tin. Press mixture to line the base and sides of the tin. Making sure you have made even base and sides, the palm of your hand for the base. Freeze for 15 minutes. Place the tart shell on a baking tray and bake for 25 β 30 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.
Mini Choc Raisin & Hazelnut Puddings
- Preheat oven to 170ΒΊC. Place raisins, sultanas and rum in a bowl and set to one side.
- Cream butter and brown sugar, until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
- Sift flours, mixed spice and cinnamon.
- Add breadcrumbs, finely chopped hazelnuts, chocolate, buttermilk, rum soaked fruit and butter mixture and mix well to combine.
- Prepare 8 pudding basins (200ml capacity): spray pudding basins with oil and line the bottom with baking paper.
- Divide evenly between prepared pudding basins.
Steaming Instructions
Place basins into a baking dish, and pour in enough boiling water to Β½ fill the baking dish, cover with foil. Steam bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake for a further 20 minutes.
Microwave Instructions
Cook in microwave on defrost setting (300W) for 15 minutes, check if a skewer inserted into pudding comes out clean. If not cooked, microwave at 5 minute intervals, until skewer comes out clean. Stand for 10 minutes before turning out. Repeat with remaining mixture. (Note: Do not use foil in microwave).
Beef & Apricot Tagine
1. Heat half of the oil in a large frying pan, add onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender. Add spices and cook a further minute until fragrant. Add to the pot of a slow cooker.
2. Using the remaining oil, sear beef in batches until well browned. Add to the slow cooker with the stock, tomatoes, cinnamon and orange peel. Cook on low heat for 8 hours.
3. Add the apricots and chickpeas in the last 30 minutes of cooking time. Season well. Serve beef with almonds and coriander and accompany with rice and yoghurt.
*For a faster cooking time, cook on High heat for 4 hours.
Last Minute Christmas Cake
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.Β Β Add the sugar and stir over the heat for 3-4 mins until combined.
Add dried fruit, bicarbonate of soda, rum, cognac and 125ml water and stir well to combine.Β Β Increase heat to high and continue to stir until the sugar dissolves.Β Β Reduce heat to medium then cook for a further 4 mins without stirring.Β Β Remove from heat, cover and allow mixture to cool overnight.
Preheat oven to 150ΒΊC (130ΒΊC fan).Β Β Grease and line a 23cm square baking tin.Β
Add eggs to the cooled mixture and stir.Β Β Add flour and spices and stir well to combine.Β Β Allow the mixture to sit for 10 mins before spooning into the prepared tin and smoothing the surface.
Decorate the top of the cake with blanched almonds then bake for 2 to 2 Β½ hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.Β Β Check your cake every hour to ensure it is not browning too quickly on top.Β Β If it is, cover with foil for the remainder of the cooking time.
Allow the cake to cool completely in the tin before inverting to remove.Β Β To serve, brush with a little apricot jam that has been warmed in the microwave.
This cake can be stored for up to 3 months in the fridge β cover the cooled cake in 2 layers of plastic wrap and foil.
