I know it's early but....anybody got a decent christmas pud recipe

[hennipenni]

that's not Jamie or Delia's?

This is the one I use, it's from Prima Christmas supplement.

ChristmasFiggyPudding

Serves 12

225g/8oz ready to eat figs, roughly chopped
125g/4oz raisins
125g/40z prunes, roughly choipped
100ml/3 1/2fl oz brandy
75g/3oz plain flour
75g/3oz breadcrumbs
125g/4oz light suet
125g/4oz dark brown sugar
50g/2oz brazil nuts, chopped
2tsp ground ginger
1tsp ground cloves
2 eggs, beaten
1tbsp black treacle

You will need a 1.1 ltr/2 pint pudding bowl, greased, with a circle of greaseproof paper in the base.

1. In a bowl, add figs, raisins and prunes, and add brandy. Cover and leave to soak overnight.

2. In another bowl, mix flour, breadcrumbs, suet and sugar. Add nuts, spices, eggs and treacle, and mix well. Tip infruit and stir until combined - it should be a moist dropping consistency. If it's a bit dry ass a splash more brandy or orange juice. Pile mixture into prepared pudding basin and use a spoon to level top.

3. Add a layer of pleated greaseproof paper over mixture and top with a sheet of pleated tin foil that overlaps the rim of the basin. Tie a double length of string around rim to secure the foil, adding a loop over the top to form a handle.

4. Place basin in a large saucepan and pour in enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the basin. Cover with a lid and boil gently for 3 hoours, topping up the water a necessary,

5. Remove and re-top with a clean layer of greaseprof paper and tin foil, and store in a cool dry place until Christmas.

6. To reheat, steam pudding in a large pan of water for 2 hours or microwave individual slices on medium power for 1 minute.

This recipe is really popular in my family, it's really moist and not overly rich.

I am making one for everyone this year as part of a homemade Christmas hamper

Nigella's "non conformist Christmas Pudding" from Feast. It is fabulous - even the family members who don't like Christmas Pudding liked it. NB: It feeds 12 so halve the ingredients if you want it for less!

Can't post it now but will if you like. It's lighter than normal pud but still comfortingly stodgy if that makes sense

its never too early for christmas pudding.

Actually, I'm pathetically excited about the prospect of making mine. In fact, I may well order my ingredients from Tescos this week It uses butter, not the traditional suet.