My Great Aunty Dots' Christmas Pudding | Lunch Lady Lou

Ingredients

• 1 kg mixed dried fruit
• 250 g raisins (Yep, more fruit. Total fruit is 1.5kg. Raisins and dates are traditional - knock yourself out with the 1kg above)
• 250 g dried dates (chopped)
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar – lightly packed
• 1 tsp salt
• 250 g butter
• 2 tsp bicarb soda
• 3 eggs
• ¼ cup rum or brandy
• OPTIONAL: Small packet almonds - I’ve never used the almonds
• 2 cups plain flour (sifted)
• 2 cups self raising flour (sifted)
• 2 tsp mixed spice - Mixed spice is also called Pudding Spice. It’s a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg. I think you could experiment with tiny amounts of ginger and vanilla bean too.
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla bean
• Water
• A big stock pot that fits your pudding basin
• A handful of coins (to put in the bottom of your stockpot)
• Foil (to wrap up your pudding basin and ensure water doesn’t get into your pud)
• String to tie up your basin