(Mostly) Aunt Aggie’S Christmas Pudding

• For the pudding:
• 45 grams (generous 1/4 cup) all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon mixed spice (in Britain), or an extra pinch of nutmeg and ginger and a pinch each of cardamom and mace
• 1 small lemon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (generous)
• 115 grams fresh breadcrumbs
• 115 grams grated or ground suet Editors' Note: We used butter
• 140 grams chopped tart apples (I like Pippins and I don't remove the skins, but you can)
• 30 grams golden raisins
• 90 grams chopped almonds
• 60 grams candied citrus peel
• 60 grams pitted prunes
• 115 grams raisins
• 115 grams moist brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons brandy, plus more for flaming
• 1/4 cup stout (I use Guinness)
• Hard sauce, for serving (see recipe below)
• For the hard sauce/brandy butter:
• 115 grams (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, slightly softened
• 115 grams confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons brandy

1. Butter the pudding basin liberally and press a round of parchment or wax paper into the bottom and slightly up the sides of the bowl/basin.
2. Mix the flour, nutmeg, ginger, mixed spice, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Grate the zest of the lemon directly into the bowl to capture the spray of lemon oil along with the zest. Add breadcrumbs, suet, apples, raisins, almonds, candied peel, prunes, currants, raisins, and brown sugar. Mix thoroughly with you hands. Either cover the bowl and let the mixture rest overnight, or just carry on with the recipe now...
3. Cut and squeeze the juice of half of the lemon in a medium bowl. Whisk in the eggs, brandy, and stout.
4. Scrape the egg mixture over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly to make a sticky lumpy batter.
5. Turn the batter into the prepared basin/bowl and pat it level. Place a round of parchment or wax paper on top of the batter. Cover the bowl with a large cloth napkin or square of foil. Let the napkin drape over the sides of the bowl; for foil, press down the sides to cover the rim with plenty of margin. Tie a piece of string under the rim of the bowl to hold the napkin or foil in place. If you have used a napkin, tie the ends as follows to make a handle: Bring two opposite corners to meet on top of the bowl and tie them together, repeat with the two remaining corners.
6. Set the bowl in a large pot and fill it with water about halfway up the sides of the bowl. Cover and steam 4 to 5 hours (or for 8 if you want to reduce final steaming time to 1 hour). Let cool and store in a cold place (a larder in England, or a fridge in California). Steam for another 4 to 5 hours before serving (or for 1 hour if you have already logged 8 hours). Serve hot.
7. To serve, unmold the pudding onto a warmed serving platter. Peel and discard the paper liner. Ask someone to kill the lights in the dining room while you warm 2 to 3 tablespoons of brandy in a small saucepan. Set the brandy on fire with a match and pour it over the pudding before entering the dining room.
8. Beat the butter and confectioners' sugar together until blended. Beat the brandy in gradually. If the mixture curdles, beat in a bit more confectioners' sugar or 1 or 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Refrigerate until serving.

generous, freshly grated or ground nutmeg, ground ginger, mixed spice, lemon, salt, breadcrumbs, tart apples, golden raisins, almonds, candied citrus, prunes, raisins, brown sugar, eggs, brandy, stout, sauce, hard saucebrandy butter, unsalted butter, confectioners, brandy

Taken from food52.com/recipes/39694-mostly-aunt-aggie-s-christmas-pudding (may not work)