Christmas Parsons Pudding Recipes

CRANBERRY PUDDING

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 2-quart metal pudding mold or a clean 1-pound coffee can. Pick over whole cranberries; wash and drain.
• Sift together the flour and salt; dredge cranberries in flour mixture.
• Dissolve soda into boiling water and add molasses. Stir and allow to foam up.
• Add to the flour and cranberry mixture. Mix together until well blended. Spoon into prepared mold or pan; cover with a double layer of aluminum foil and fasten with heavy elastic band or string.
• Place into a deep saucepan and fill with water up to about the halfway mark on the pudding can. Cover saucepan and place over high heat. Bring water to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour. Remove from water and allow to cool.
• Prepare the sauce by mixing together the sugar, butter and cream. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
• When ready to serve the pudding, invert pan or open bottom of can and push through. Slice in 1/2-inch pieces. Pour sauce over individual slices of pudding.

TRADITIONAL NEWFOUNDLAND STEAMED MOLASSES PUDDING

Steps:

• Traditional Newfoundland Steamed Molasses Pudding Beat egg and add molasses, then dissolve baking soda in water and stir into mixture. Stuff together flour, ground clove and salt, fold into mixture. In a small bowl add raisins or currants, and toss in 1/4 cup flour, this will help keep them from sinking to the bottom while steaming. Fold the raisins into mixture, then add oil, continue mixing until combine. Grease a pudding mold or mold of choice, pour batter into mold and cover. Place in a boiler with 1/4 of water, start to boil and add pudding mold inside. Let steam for 1 1/2 hours then remove and serve with a hot sauce and thick cream, or jigs dinner with gravy. WHITE CREAM SAUCE: -2 tbsp butter to margarine -1/2 cup warm water 1/8 tsp nutmeg Orange Zest -1/2 cup milk - 1/2 tsp almond extract lemon zest 1/3 cup white sugar - 2 tbsp flour or corn starch with 1/4 cup cold water ( mix in mason jar ) In a small saucepan add butter, milk, water and sugar let warm and stir occasionally. In a mason jar add flour and cold water, shack together until no lumps seen. Slowly mix in with saucepan hot mixture, until it starts to go thick. Remove from heat add almond extract, nutmeg, lemon and orange zest continue stirring. Cover put to the side for pouring over easter pudding, while hot.

CHRISTMAS PARSON'S PUDDING

Steps:

• Mix above together with nuts and dates as desired.
• (I usually use about a cup of chopped pecans and a cup of chopped dates - use more or less according to your own tastes) Pour pudding mix into a can or mold and steam for 3 hours.
• When done, it is cake-like in texture. For the sauce: 2/3 cup butter mixed with 1 1/2 cup sugar and 2 Tbsp boiling water.
• Beat in 3 (very fresh) egg yolks.
• Add beaten whites last. Flavor with vanilla (about 1/2 tsp - again, to your own taste) Serve the sauce with the Pudding.
• Some people also like a "hard sauce" (brandy-flavored) on their pudding.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 1/4 cups of the heavy cream, the sugar, corn syrup and butter. Cook, stirring often, until a dark amber color, about 40 minutes. Carefully add the remaining 1 1/4 cups heavy cream. IT WILL BUBBLE UP AND IT IS HOT!
• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease seven 1/2 cup ramekins and set aside.
• Combine the dates and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan and cook until the dates are softened, about 15 minutes. Puree in a blender and cool. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla, egg, zest and date puree. Stir in the dry ingredients. Divide into the prepared ramekins and bake about 20 minutes. Cool slightly and remove the cakes from the ramekins. Slice the cakes in half horizontally. Rinse out the ramekins. Pour a little toffee sauce in the bottom of the ramekins and top with the bottom layer of the cake. Add more toffee sauce, place the top cake layer on top and cover with more sauce. Heat slightly before serving invert onto plate and yes ...cover with more sauce. Serve with whipped cream.