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Getting the pud made at least a month before the big day allows plenty of time for the flavours to develop - before it's enjoyed at Christmas lunch.

Often you need to soak the fruit for at least 12 hours before putting in the dry ingredients, so the whole process is better started on the Saturday, if you want to get done before Sunday evening!

INGREDIENTS

100g Sultanas听 /听 100g Raisins听 /听 100g Currants听 /听 25g chopped peel
70ml Barley Wine or Cider听 /听 70ml local beer or stout听 /听 2 tbsp Brandy
50g Self-raising flour
1 tsp mixed spice听 /听 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg听 /听 1 tsp cinnamon
100g breadcrumbs (white or brown)听 /听 100g suet shredded听 /听 200g dark brown sugar听 /听 25g ground almonds
75g cooking apples, peeled and chopped听 /听 Grated zest of half an orange听 /听 Grated zest of half a lemon
2 eggs

METHOD

1. On SATURDAY, place all the dried fruit and candied peel in a mixing bowl; soak overnight with the barley wine, beer and rum.

2. Sift the flour with the mixed spice, nutmeg and cinnamon.
3. Add breadcrumbs, suet and sugar to the flour.
4. Drain the fruit from the alcohol. Add to the flour along with the almonds, apple and grated zest.
5. In a separate basin, beat the eggs with the alcohol.
6. Add the dried fruit to the flour, mix thoroughly.听听听 Here is where the family helps - they have to help with the stirring - and so we have 'Stir It Up Sunday'!!
7. Pack into a lightly greased basin (1 litre). Remember that the pudding will swell as it cooks so don't fill the pudding basins too full.听 Cover with a sheet of silicone and aluminium foil. Secure well.
8. Steam well for 5 hours at normal atmospheric pressure.
9. Remove from steamer and allow to cool, remove foil and silicone and replace with fresh.
10. Allow to mature, serve with rum and brandy sauce.

....and the Sixpence??

Everybody remembers that an old coin is cooked in the pudding; it will (they say) bring riches to whoever finds it.
An old silver sixpence or threepenny bit is the traditional coin, but a 10p piece will do. Add it in the stirring.

Remember to wash the coin; some modern cooks even think you should wrap it in clingfilm for extra hygiene.听 Just make sure everyone knows it's there!