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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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

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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

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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.

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IT IS SO YUMMY AND WHOLESOME. 

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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!

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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

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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

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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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