Christmas Plum Pudding

Ingredients

• 3 cups crumbs from good quality white bread lightly packed (about ½ loaf)
• 1 cup each raisins, yellow raisins, currants chopped
• 1⅓ cups sugar
• ½ tsp each mace, cinnamon and nutmeg
• 8 oz butter melted
• 4 large eggs lightly beaten
• 1 dash almond extract
• ½ cup bitter orange marmalade

For serving

• ½ cup rum or bourbon heated slightty before serving
• 2 cups zabaione sauce
• holly sprigs to garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Toss the crumbs in a large mixing bowl along with the two types of raisins, currants,sugar and spices.
2. Then toss with the melted butter and all remaining ingredients except for the holly, rum/bourbon and zabaione.
3. Taste for seasoning and add more if needed.
4. Pack mixture into the container and cover with round of wax paper and lid.
5. Set the container on steaming device and add enough water to come up ⅓ up the sides of pudding container.
6. Cover kettle tightly bring to a simmer and let steam for 6 hours,checking water level now and then.
7. Pudding is done when dark walnut brown in color and fairly firm to touch.
8. Let pudding cool and then store in a wine cellar or the fridge.
9. At least two hours before serving resteam the pudding.
10. Unmold onto a hot flameproof serving platter and decorate with the holly.
11. Bring to table along with the warmed booze and pour booze around pudding.
12. Ignite and let flame.
13. Serve with the zabaione.