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 doesn’t 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
Chutney for Glazed Ham
Put the vinegar and sugar in a large pan and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
Put the remaining ingredients in the pan and bubble on high for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
The chutney is ready when the mixture looks sticky and thick, and a wooden spoon leaves a brief trail on the bottom of the pan.
Leave to cool, then pour into sterilised jars
Christmas Slice
Preheat oven 150°C (fan-forced).
- Line a loaf tin (20cm x 10cm) with baking paper.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined.
- Spoon mixture into prepared tin and bake for 40mins. Allow to cool. Dust with icing sugar and slice thinly.
Macadamia and Cacao Balls
- Blend or process dates until smooth
- Combine macadamia meal, cacao and dates in a bowl.
- Use wet hands to roll tablespoons of mixture in balls. Roll in coconut.
Lamb Mince, Sultana & Pistachio Sweet Potato Boats
Preheat oven to 200°C. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork, arrange on a rimmed oven tray, and cover pan tightly with foil. Bake 1 hour. Remove foil, brush potatoes with 2 tsp oil, and bake a further 15 – 20 minutes – or until potatoes are very soft when pierced with a sharp knife.
While the sweet potatoes roast, place a heavy-based skillet over medium heat. Add remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp oil, diced onion, and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook 5 – 7 minutes, until onions have started to soften.
Add garlic, cumin, paprika, and harissa or tomato paste, to the onion. Stir for 1 minute, then add lamb mince and break up with a spatula.
Cook a further 3 – 5 minutes, until lamb mince is golden and cooked through. Remove from heat and stir through sultanas.
Remove sweet potatoes from the oven and cool slightly. Slice in half lengthwise, and scoop out flesh, leaving a 1 cm border of potato in the skins. Return potato halves to the tray, and add sweet potato flesh to the lamb mince. Roughly mash larger pieces of potato and stir to combine with mince. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Transfer lamb mixture to the hollowed sweet potato halves, and bake a further 10 – 15 mins, until crisp on top and warmed through.
Top stuffed sweet potatoes with a dollop of yoghurt, toasted pistachios and fresh herbs. Serve with a simple rocket salad or steamed green veg.
Tips
• Sweet potatoes can be microwaved until tender, then brushed with oil, transferred to a baking tray and roasted in a 200°C oven for a further 5 – 7 minutes to crisp skin. Continue from Step 5 above.
Walnut Cheese Log
Cheese to room temp.
In a bowl, mix cheese & alcohol in a processor with salt and pepper until smooth.
Mix chilli with herbs and nuts, then sprinkle on a 30cm piece of plastic wrap, leaving a 2cm border.
Spoon cheese along one end of herbs. Lift wrap and roll cheese away from you into a log, pressing gently to coat well in herbs, shape the mixture into a log, then wrap and refrigerate for about an hour, until the mixture is firm.
Serve with crackers
Christmas Bomb Alaska
Make a small approx 13cm base from Sunbeam fruit cake and set aside. (Match the base diameter to your mould base size)
Remove Ice-cream from the freezer & stand in the fridge for 20 min to soften; do not melt completely.
Line a tall dariole mould or similar with plastic wrap
Put the fruit mince in a large mixing bowl, add the softened ice-cream & gently stir to combine.
Return mould to the freezer & freeze for 5 hours or till firm.
Beat egg whites and sugar until stiff peaks form.
Remove ice cream from mould, add ice cream to cake base and coat with meringue mix. Use a blow torch to toast. Serve Immediately.
