Perfect Christmas Pudding

• 24 each figs dried
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 cups bread crumbs soft, lightly packed
• 3/4 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons tapioca quick-cooking
• 1 1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 13 cup molasses light
• 1 cup walnuts chopped, toasted
• 3 each egg whites

1. With scissors, snip stems from figs.
2. Then snip figs into small pieces.
3. Heat them in milk in top of double boiler until figs are soft (about 20 minutes).
4. Remove from heat, stir figs thoroughly until mashed.
5. Add shortening, bread crumbs, sugar and tapioca.
6. Sift and measure flour, and sift again with other dry ingredients.
7. Add with molasses and chopped walnuts.
8. Fold in stiffly whipped egg whites.
9. Turn into generously buttered 2-quart mold, cover tightly and steam, covered, for 3 hours on a rack in hot water that must come half-way up side of mold.
10. Or steam in individual molds.
11. Serves 8-10.

milk, vegetable shortening, bread crumbs soft, sugar, tapioca, flour, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, salt, molasses, walnuts, egg whites

Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/perfect-christmas-pudding-454 (may not work)