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MY GRANDMA’S FAMOUS
XMAS PLUM PUDDING

 

Every Xmas my Grandma would make this beautiful Xmas pudding and every Xmas she would have saved a bit from the year before and bring it out being very proud of the fact that it had lasted 12 months, it is super moist.

This is my Grandma’s recipe so some things that are done I am not quite sure the logic of, but this is how she made it and so this is how my mother always makes it too – it feels nicer to maintain the integrity of her recipe to the last cherry. We always do a double burn of brandy on the night as this is meant to bring good luck.

If water does get into the pudding it will fall apart. It will still taste great but you will be lighting a pile of pudding rather than a well formed one. It has been tried in cloth but water gets into it this way so ONLY cook this in a pudding bowl.

So if you do make this recipe I am sure you will love it as all of my family members have.

INGREDIENTS​

  • 1kg packet of mixed fruit, I take out the Glacé cherries

  • 2 peeled cooking apples, I buy granny smith

  • 250gm grated butter, I put in deep freezer as easier to grate

  • 5 cups white bread crumbs

  • 1 ½ cups white sugar

  • 6 eggs

  • 1 teaspoon white Self raising flour. (weird I know)

  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 good pinch salt

  • ½ cup brandy

METHOD​

  1. Place breadcrumbs in a large bowl.

  2. Add sifted flour, spices and shredded butter add fruit and sugar.

  3. In a separate bowl beat eggs into a froth and add brandy

  4. Add egg/brandy to the large bowl and mix all ingredients thoroughly. Use your hands.

  5. Prepare a pudding basin by buttering it and spoon mixture into basin. Also add water to a pot on the stove so your pudding can be placed into it. Remember the water level must not come up more than ¾ up the basin.

  6. Put the butter packet on top of the mixture and cover with greaseproof paper – I use 2 sheets – and then cover with calico.

  7. Tie this securely with string

COOKING

  • Place pudding into boiling water and boil for 6 hours.

  • Top pot with boiling water if need to.

  • Please note that this recipe DOES NOT like water so it is very important thatyou do not have water boiling into the pudding at any time.

  • After the 6 hours take the pudding out of the water immediately and remove string and cloth but not the butter paper.

  • When the pudding has cooled pierce some holes into it and add a little brandy by for good luck – this is optional.

HEATING ON THE DAY

  • Boil for 2 – 2 ½ hours the day the pudding is to be served.

  • Ensure you have fresh greaseproof paper on pudding and cloth.

  • Don’t forget to tie securely and please no water in the pudding

  • Place the pudding into boiling water and top with boiling water ¾ up the basin.

  • When you are re topping ensure you put the water down the outside of the bowl as water will get in if you pour water over the top.

  • Once time up take out of pot and leave for 30 minutes. Taking off cloth and papers. This helps the pudding to form.

  • Don’t forget to add a little brandy to a pot heat, pour over pudding and light a match.

  • Serve with brandy custard and/or ice cream.

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Hello Breakfast

DR MIKE’S POWER PORRIDGE

I bought a rice cooker with a porridge cooking option. I love a kitchen gadget. It is enabling me to get turmeric into my body and play around with yummy breakfast recipes.

Here is my favourite combo
of ingredients.

• 1/2 cup whole oats

• 1 tsp Turmeric,

• 1 tsp Cinnamon,

• 1 tsp Nutmeg,

• 1 cup of Water. 

Method: When the porridge is cooked I add: 1 punnet Raspberries and Strawberries,  Almond Yoghurt, 8 almonds, honey, figs and dates for an extra sweet explosion.

YUMMY. TURMERIC AND BERRIES ARE POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANTS SO EAT MORE OF THEM.

HEAVENLY HUMMUS

Ingredients:

• 200g/7oz canned chickpeas
• 2 tbsp lemon juice or more.
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed 
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• Pinch salt
• 1 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)

• 4 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil.

Method: Blend it all together. For a twist blend in coriander and sweet chilli sauce.

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Here's Lunch or Dinner

DR MIKE’S SOOTHING SOUP

Ingredients:

• 2 onions

• 4 garlic cloves

• 400g veggies mixed colours

• 1 tin peeled tomatoes

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• salt and pepper to taste

• 100g gluten free pasta

• 2 tins lentils/kidney beans

• 3 vegetable stock cubes

• 50g olive oil

Method: Cut up onions and garlic and sauté in olive oil. Then add the rest of the ingredients and 600g water and
simmer till cooked.

IT IS SO YUMMY AND WHOLESOME. 

ANTOINETTA’S WINTER 

SILVERBEET AND POTATO SOUP

My Mother’s neighbour Antonietta used to make this yummy traditional Italian soup.

I used to and still love it.

It is so simple and so tasty

Ingredients:

 2 litres vegetable liquid stock

• 3 vegetable stock cubes

• 2 bunches Silverbeet
(seems a lot but it shrinks when heated)

• 3 big onions

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 5 garlic cloves

• 10 cubed potatoes

•Salt and Pepper

Method: Caramelise the onion and garlic and add to the stock.Add Silverbeet chopped up and potatoes then salt and pepper and simmer for an hour. When I put it into my bowl I add more salt to taste.

Enjoy this Winter warmer.

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"MMMM" Smoothies

DR MIKE’S POWER SMOOTHIE

I love smoothies because it is an opportunity to mix a lot of different ingredients together that detoxify and nourish. 

Here is what I suggest to fill your body with a range of health supportive ingredients:

• 2 cups almond milk

• 1 cup frozen mixed organic berries or
   mixed fruit and veggies

• 1 tbsp Coconut oil

• 2 tbsp Chia seeds

• 1 scoop G Tox express detoxifying
   powder

• 8 almonds

• 2 tbsp almond yoghurt

YUM!

DR MIKE'S BANANA OATS SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Rolled Oats

• 1/2 cup Yogurt

• 1 banana, cut into thirds

• 1/2 Almond/rice milk

• 2 tbsp honey (optional)

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• add 8 almonds, 

• 1 scoop G Tox powder and

• 1 tbsp Coconut oil

Method: Combine blend all the ingredients. Top it off with a pinch of cinnamon and drink immediately.

De-licious

ENERGY BOOST SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice milk

• 4 tbsp peanut butter

• 2 frozen bananas/frozen berries

• 2 tbsp cacao powder

• 4 tbsp rolled oats

• 4 pitted dates

• Handful of mixed nuts

• 2 tbsp chia seeds

• Honey to taste

Method: Whip it up in the blender

and get energised! 2 servings

SPICY SMOOTHIE WITH TUMERIC

I love experimenting with smoothies. 

My latest creation is incredibly yummy!

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of water

• 1 cup frozen berries

• 1 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg and turmeric

 • 8 Iranian pitted dates
(the secret ingredient) 

• 2 tbsp vanilla rice protein powder
• 1 tbsp chia seeds. 

• Half a banana makes it creamy!

Turmeric and berries are powerful antioxidants that reduce joint inflammation.

So just blend, pour and drink up

BERRIES HELP CLEAR THE ARTERIES

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