Has anyone ever made a Delia Christmas Pudding?

[boomie]

Have mixed togther all the ingredients and have to leave overnight. The recipe says that it has to be steamed for 8 hours - 8 HOURS!!! Now, I'm not one to question Delia but it does seem a long time and other pudding recipes only steam them for about 3 or 4 hours. Just wondered if anyone has ever made a Delia pudding and did it turn out OK?

Yes, but I've always made half the quantity (which still fills 2 of the small sized pudding basins) and I pressure cook them, thus halving the time. My mum said that the longer you cooked them the better they would be, but if you steam them you run the risk of the water boiling dry some time during the eight hours and ruining pan and pud!

I've used Delia's recipe for years and most excellent it is. But I steam them in the oven, not on the hob.

Place the puddings in a deepish container (eg roasting tin.) Pour in some boiling water, at least half way up the side of the tin. Then cover the entire thing with foil, tucking it carefully round the sides, making a tent over the puds. Steam in the oven at about Gas Mark 3.

You may want to open the tent to check the water level but it's never steamed itself dry, ime. It also means your kitchen isn't filled with steam and you can go out and leave it for a bit. HTH!

Brilliant idea, steaming the puddings in the oven. It should also help clean the oven! I shall remember this for next time round (cooked mine on Sunday)

Thanks Lilymaid & suedonim. Ive got two puddings to cook tomorrow (& only 1 steamer!) so I'll steam one and steam the other in the oven - thanks for the tip!!

If you've a big enough container you can cook them both at the same time in the oven, Boomie. My mouth is watering at all this talk of Xmas pud......

suedonim - would you still steam in the oven for 8 hours?

I reckon six is plenty, I don't really understand why she says eight hours. Maybe I'll experiment one year!

I boil mine (water half way up sides). Also thought 8 hrs was waaaay too long and tried 6 one year (after much discussion with mother, aunts etc) - it wasn't cooked. This year I went for the full 8 hrs and when I changed the paper the following day it still felt a bit too soft on top but I'm sure it'll be fine. Have used leftovers in mini-basins last year and this and steamed for the prescribed time ... beautiful! Next time round I might try your idea, Suedonim!