Maryland Boiled Christmas Pudding

Ingredients:

1/2 pound butter

Two cups brown sugar

Five eggs

One tablespoon treacle

Two 1/2 cups plain flour

One teaspoon bi-carb soda

One teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

One teaspoon mixed spice

One teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 cup rum

One pound raisins

Two packets mixed fruit

Directions:

Soak fruit and rum overnight. Cream butter and sugar. Add well beaten eggs and treckle, then dry ingredients (sifted), then fruit. Dip calico square in boiling water and cover with flour. Spoon pudding mixture onto cloth. Pull corners tightly and firmly to give pudding good round shape. Tie firmly with string about one inch above top of pudding (this allows room for expansion). Twist string around cloth about ten times to give firm seal. make handle from string ends for easier removal. Boil for five hours in large boiler with lid. Replenish water every twenty minutes, or so. When cooked, hang freely until completly cold. Store in fridge until needed. Boil one hour before use and untie as quickly as possible.