Ladies' Column.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 December 1914, Page 4

Ladies' Column.

WONDERS OF A SMATJ.. FRT/T.T. I I« it not obvious that the fruit which gives character to such a noble preparation as the Christmas | pudding must be something more than ordinary ? The Christmas pudding' of the British Isles is? ■ world-famous—and justly so. Imagine what it would be like without I currants. The mere suggestion makes i one shudder ! That famous institui lion owes its fine flavour to the ! presence of currants. Other well- | known sweets similarly indebted j are the mince-pie, the Eccles cake, ( the currant cake, and a host of jo' hers. A general principle that holds good in all circumstances is that where there are currants there is sweetness—arid what a sweetness, what a charming, caressing flavour is in the fruit ! Of course the use of the fruit is most beneficial to heai:h, to say nothing of the economy of it. The following seasonable recipes have been specially prepared by a leading expert in domestic cookery ' — CHRISTMAS PUDDING. 21b. raisins, 21b. currants, 21b. /lour, 21b. beef suet (choopetl finely) lib. breadcrumbs, six eggs, 1 Jib. treacle, one teaspoonful ginger. Method.—Warm the treacle and j add to it a gill of milk-. Mix this with all the other ingredients thoroughly, the fruit being- carefully prepared previously. l Jour the mixture into greased basins or moulds, .and boil from four to six hours. MINCEMEAT. Three large lemons, three large tart cooking apples, £lb. stoned raisins, lib. currants, lib. finely-chopped beef suet, fib. moist sugar, loz. minced candied peel, one gill rum or brandy, two tablespoonfuls orange marmalade. Method. —Grate the "rind of the lemons, squeeze out the juice, and strain into a basin. Boil the remainder of the lemons in until tender enough to pulp. Bake the apples and pulp them also. Add the ..remaining ingredients to the I first pulp, and mix them all together, (•'ill the mincemeat into jars, cover each closely with parchment paper, and tie up. Keep in a cool but dry place, and use as required.