I’ve been onerous at work on a 12-part collection I’m calling Please Move the Fruitcake. And I do imply HARD at work. Individuals, I hope you’re appreciating these posts.
A lot of the recipes I’m that includes contain not less than a number of hours of labor (if not days), translating unusual recipes and elements, and a number of journeys to the shop. (Are you feeling appreciative but? Sure? Good!)
In case you missed them:
- Roast Chestnuts
- Yuletide Log
- Sugar Plums
I used to be notably excited to make immediately’s recipe: figgy pudding. It’s referenced within the remaining verse of We Want You a Merry Christmas...
Oh, deliver us a figgy pudding;
Oh, deliver us a figgy pudding;
Oh, deliver us a figgy pudding and a cup of excellent cheer
We received’t go till we get some;
We received’t go till we get some;
We received’t go till we get some, so deliver some out right here
Now I don’t find out about you, however I discover it greater than a bit bothersome that the carolers would mainly demand figgy pudding. Not even one please in that stanza. And the bit about not going till they get some is mainly a hostage scenario. So replicate on this the subsequent time you suppose Christmas Previous was all about spreading cheer and less complicated occasions.
In fact, I needed to be taught extra about what meals could possibly be sooo scrumptious you’d orchestrate a flash mob for it.
Sarah discovered a reasonably incredible recipe at Good Housekeeping. Begin with about 10-12 ounces of figs. Guess what? I already had some readily available from my fig characteristic in October! I used to be capable of buy these in bulk at WinCo meals.
Prepare dinner them in 2 cups of water and produce to a boil. Then, take away from warmth and allow them to sit for a number of hours, till mushy.
When that’s finished, you can begin in your cake. You’ll need to take away the figs with a slotted spoon. Then, deliver the reserved fig juice to a boil with 1 cup of sugar. Take away from warmth and add 1 tablespoon of orange-flower water.
I had no clue what that is, so I simply took some orange peel, orange juice and a contact of brandy and strained it. I’m nonetheless not sure that is what I used to be after, however there you’ve got it.
Take a field of carrot cake combine, and observe the directions besides substitute the water for a similar quantity of reserved fig juice. Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.
Subsequent, you’ll need to hand chop the figs.
The recipe I’ve says to combine in a meals processor. This appeared odd to me, and once more, I don’t personal a meals processor, so I simply rigorously added my cake combine, figs and all, right into a blender. I left the figs kinda chunky, however not fully pureed.
I put again into the blending bowl and added with 1/3 cup of raisins that I’d soaked in brandy and 1/2 cup of sliced almonds. Then add the grated peel of 1 orange and a heaping dollop of orange marmalade. Viola.
Now you’re going to need to bake this pet in a big bowl lined with foil and closely sprayed with non-stick spray. Guarantee that the foil extends past the rim of the bowl, making a collar. Prepare dinner at 350 levels for half-hour, then decrease the collar to cowl the cake. Prepare dinner as much as an hour and a half extra, till a skewer comes out clear. I discovered mine was utterly finished totally 20 minutes before the really helpful prepare dinner time!
Let it cool utterly (ideally in a single day), after which invert onto a platter.
Take the final of the reserved fig liquid and warmth with 1/3 – 1/2 cup of rum or brandy. Drizzle on prime of the cake. You may ignite if you want and serve flambe, however I omitted this.
Drizzle the rummy figgy sauce on prime.
This cake is extraordinarily dense. It jogged my memory a little bit of fruitcake, with out the neon-colored fruit. Given how heavy it’s, I do suggest you serve with a beneficiant heap of freshly made whipped cream.
This cake was scrumptious. I had two helpings of it. (Severely, this collection is changing into the 12 kilos of Christmas – no joke!!) I feel it will be a spectacularly enjoyable recipe to point out up with in your firm vacation occasion or household Christmas gathering. Given the denseness, a bit goes a good distance. I believe the figgy pudding I made would simply serve 10, presumably 12 or extra.
The opposite factor I want to add, in case it wasn’t clear, this cake will probably take you all day (or extra) to make. I began mine yesterday morning at about 10 am, and loved my first chew at about 9 pm later that evening.
So you probably have carolers pounding down your door, insisting they won’t depart till you make them figgy pudding? Higher pull out the hide-a-bed and get cozy. It’s going to be awhile.
PS, is it simply me, or does a figgy pudding appear extra like a cake than a pudding?