XMAS FARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19798, 19 November 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

XMAS FARE.

THE XMAS PUDDING. As many of our readers may not have a good recipe for a rich Christmas pudding, wo aro including ono on which they may rely with the certainty of its being a success: lib. flour, lib. suet, §lb. peel, currants, ljlb. sultanas, 2|lb. raisins, J,- gill brandy, 6 eggs, lib. brown sugar, 2oz. sweet almonds, 2oz. bitter almonds, |lb. breadcrumbs, £ teaspoonful grated nutmeg, teaspoonful ground cinnamon, tho juice and rind of 2 small lemons. Prepare tho fruit, shred and chop the suet finely, and grate the lemon rind. Prepare the bread-crumbs, blanch and slice the almonds. Mix all the dry ingredients thoroughly in a large basin. Beat tho eggs and add the lemon juice and brandy. Make a well in the centre of the basin, add the liquid and stir well. Stand for twenty-four hours. Put into good-sized basin, boil for 6 hours or steam for 8. Recover with a clean cloth and hang or store in a cool dry place. ALMOND ICING. Required: half a pound of ground almonds, half a pound of castor sugar, two yolks of eggs, juice of half a lemon, a

few drops of essence of almond. Mix all tho ingredients together very thoroughly, kneading well with the hands until the mixture is pliable and will mould easily without cracking. Place this on top of the cake and press it well evenly over. Smooth with j. hot knife round the outside, leaving tjie edges sharp and even. Tho top may be carefully rolled with the rolling-pin to ensure it being quite fiat. WATER ICING. Mix quarter pound of icing sugar with three tablespoonfuls of water or lemon juice. Mix thoroughly and pour this evenly over the cake, and allow to set before decorating. PLAIN XMAS CAKE. Ingredients: Jib. Hour, £lb. currants, 4oz. sultanas, raisins, £lb. castor sugar, £lb. butter, 4oz. mixed peel, one tablespoonful mixed spice, a little allspice, 5 eggs, 2oz. almonds. Plean the fruit, stone the raisins, shred the peel, and pass the flour through a sieve. Blanch tho almonds and cut

them into slices. Cream the butter and sugar together well, add tho eggs, one at a time. Stir in the fruit, flour, and spice, peel, and almonds, and mix thoroughly, four into a cake tin, lined with a douMe paper, and bake in a moderately hot oven for about 3jj hours. MINCEMEAT. Required: beef suet, brown sugar, -Jlb. biscuits (crumbed), jib. lemon peel, ,}lb. apples, Jib. orange peel, citron, 1 cup wine, l|lb. currants, 2 tablespoonfuls brandy. Put down in jars, tie up liko jam, and it will keep good for a year. Should not be used for a, month sifter it is made.,