Christmas Pudding

Total Time: 3 hrs Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup grape juice
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup virgin olive oil
• 1 large egg
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 cup dates, chopped
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup currants
• 1 cup walnuts or 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 cup mixed fruit (packaged fruitcake-style)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (optional, it makes a lighter pudding)
• whipped cream or ice cream

Recipe

• 1 in a medium bowl, dissolve baking soda in boiling water. add grape juice, molasses, oil and egg. stir.
• 2 in a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients, including fruit. stir in wet ingredients, which should be fairly easy to pour. if necessary, add more flour or water to final mixture.
• 3 wrap mixture in a cheesecloth leaving room for expansion. place in a steamer over hot water. bring water to a boil; reduce heat to very low. steam for 3 hours.
• 4 serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.