Plum Duff - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 cup white breadcrumb, pressed down firmly
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon mixed spice, heaping
1 1/2 cups sultanas and currants
2 tablespoons golden syrup
125 g melted butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup milk, to mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
essence of 1 lemons or the rind of a lemon, grated

Preparation

Mix all dry ingredients except baking soda and make a well in the middle.
Add golden syrup and melted butter.
Dissolve baking soda in milk, add lemon rind or essence and mix together.
Scald a pudding cloth and flour generously.
To do this you will need a piece of calico or a cotton tea towel at least 65cm in diameter.
Scald the cloth in boiling water then wring out and lay cloth out on a flat surface.
Sprinkle both sides lightly with flour.
Place the cloth over a large bowl and push it into the bowl from the center to form a lining.
Or you can use a greased pudding basin.
Add mixture, then tie up the cloth but not too tightly.
Have a pot of water boiling and place a plate, such as a saucer, upended in the bottom to keep the pudding off the base of the pot and add the pudding.
Boil for 3 hours.
The flour on the cloth should give pudding a lovely thick skin.
This plum duff is delicious with custard or cream.