Christmas Pudding

Orange-Pecan Pudding

(Will need a six-cup steam pudding mold with lid for this recipe.)

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3 large eggs

3/4 teaspoon grated orange rind

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

1/4 teaspoon allspice, ground

dash of cloves, ground

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

one small cooking apple, peeled & cored, & grated

1 cup pecans, chopped

1 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

3 Tablespoons minced crystallized ginger root*

Citrus Hard Sauce (recipe follows)

*Most often found in Asian cooking section of general grocer

Beat butter at medium-high speed of an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in orange rind.

Combine 2 cups flour (reserving 1/2 cup) and next 4 ingredients. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with milk and orange juice concentrate, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix well after each addition.

Chop crystalized ginger root. Toss apple, pecans, chocolate minis, and ginger with reserved 1/2 cup flour; fold into batter. Spoon batter into a well-greased 6-cup pudding mold. Before covering tightly, DD delicately places an English coin, wrapped in foil, into the batter. Place mold on shallow rack in a large, deep kettle with enough boiling water to come halfway up mold. Cover kettle; steam pudding 3 hours in continuously boiling water, adding boiled water if needed. Remove mold from water and cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides and unmold directly onto a serving platter. Serve with Citrus Hard Sauce.

Citrus Hard Sauce

1/2 cup butter, softened

1-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1-1/2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier or orange-flavored liqueur

Beat butter and sugar at medium-high speed of an electric mixer till smooth. Gradually add Grand Marnier, beating until blended. Cover and chill. When served over a warm dessert, slowly melts-as shown in picture.

Make no mistake this is a very rich dessert. Although the recipe suggests eight servings, many more are easily satisfied.

And, don't forget to inform your guests of the hidden surprise...that will bring to the finder good fortune in the New Year.

Recipe credit to Oxmoor House, Inc/American Country Christmas 1993