Picked up the sherry. Pedro Ximenez from Sainsburys. I plan to use what's left over in the punch as I've found a recipe that uses sherry amongst its ingredients.
Baking tin ordered via Amazon. Ordered a deep one with a 20cm diameter as per Mr Martin's instructions.
For the cake if I choose Brandy I'll probably go Remy Martin as I have plenty of that. Have Hennessy too though, and an unopened bottle of something called Asbach Uralt which is a German drink and supposedly rather good.
If I go spiced Rum I have Sailor Jerry, Cap. Morgan's Gold and Bacardi Oakheart. Not sure though.
Straight rum-wise have Bundaberg and Myers's (sic) Plantation Punch.
Well folks - it's fruit soaking day. Anyone following Nigella's recipe will be putting the pudding ingredients into the sherry for next week's Stir Up Sunday.
Sherry added (175ml) and swilled around a bit. After this clingfilm applied over the bowl, lid clipped on, and into a cupboard for next week. Sherry smells glorious.
We have acres of worktop actually. We lived with next to nothing for nearly 15 years and went over board with the next kitchen. Our island is 12 feet long. We now admit to ourselves that we spent a bit too much.
Haha, it's worth it mate.
I have space for another worktop in my kitchen, probably two or three cupboards length but that would double the space I have available.
Might do it when I change the worktops.
It's the one room we have spent a lot of money on. We have no intention of selling and don't care about investment (though the value has gone up appropriately according to the bank valuation) - this is our house until we croak or downsize.
Anyhoo - pudding steam next week. And a davyK first - Christmas cake - those remaining raisins and sultanas will be used in that.
Well boys and girls...I got the pudding started on Sunday but for logistical reasons had to put the cake off until today.
Just a couple of pics for each - before and after shots.
Pudding ingredients (breadcrumbs missing from the shot - I just bought a packet from Tesco)..I don't want to figure out how much this is all costing me. I probably should though...
Cake ingredient assembly. I've opted to play safe and go for Remy Martin.. Raisins, Sultanas, Cranberries, Cherries and Dates. Have halved the dates and some of the cherries.
And in the oven (20mins to go as I type - have to feed it some Brandy when I take it out of the oven. Double wrapped with baking paper inside and newspaper outside as per Mr. Martin's instructions.
Fed the cake some more brandy over the weekend. Will leave it a week or so before applying marzipan and icing.
The cake is ever-so-slightly crusty on the top so I'll remove that before icing. It's recommended to do that anyhow so you have a nice flat top and bottom.It smells great. The cupboard I keep it in smells of cake even through the clingfilm.
Several glasses of the remains of the pudding sherry were consumed weekend before last (daughter's 18th).