FOR YEARS, the lengthy process
of cooking the Christmas plum
pudding has been a favorite holi-
day tradition. Now, tradition
meets the ‘80s with a delicious
plum pudding cooked in the mi-
crowave oven in less than 15
minutes.

Traditionally, wonderful aromas
wafted through the kitchen while
the pudding steamed slowly for
hours. Today’s busy cooks, how-
ever, need a quicker method to suit

a more demanding lifestyle. With
the help of some plastic wrap, this
new method is here.

A covering of plastic wrap pro-
vides the tight seal necessary for
steaming, so instead of the usual
four to six hours on the stove, a
tich and delicious plum pudding
can be created in minutes.

The pudding batter is poured in-
to a lightly greased mould — a
four-cup (1 L) glass measuring cup
works beautifully — covered tight-

NEWS photo submitted

THE TRADITIONAL Christmas pudding can now be prepared in
minutes with the help of your microwave oven.

From page 27

Continuing last year’s story, the
show features four international
skating stars performing on plastic
ice.

“It’s geared toward children,”’
Warwick explains.

Also, this Christmas will mark
the fourth anniversary of the
Angel Tree program. Shoppers buy
and wrap children’s presents then
label them with gift information —
age, boy or girl — and place the
boxes under the tree.

Before Christmas, the gifts are
given to needy children on the
North Shore.

And what is Christmas without
Santa Claus? The jolly elf arrives
Nov. 29 amid all the pomp and
splendor befitting a man of his
stature,

ly with a piece of pleated plastic
wrap and cocked in the microwave
eight to 10 minutes. The pleating
allows extra space as the pudding
may rise slightly higher than the
top of the measuring cup.

The following recipe yields ap-
proximately I] cups of batter,
enough for three to four tradi-
tional-size puddings. Because the
cooking time is so short, several
can be made up and given away to
family or friends. Or, use some of
the batter to make up individual-
size puddings in muffin pans or
custard cups and give them away
to guests as they leave Christmas
gatherings.

Steamed Christmas Pudding
4 cups (1000 mL) flour
1% cups (375 mL) sugar
i cup (250 mL) dried bread
crumbs
1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon
% tsp (2 mL) ground cloves
’ tsp (2 mL) nutmeg,
2¥%2 cups (375-gram package)
raisins
Ys Ib (250 grams) candied
cherries, diced
V2 th (250 grams) mixed peel,
diced
2% cups (227 gram package)
chopped walnuts
eggs
cup (250 mL) orange juice
cup (250 mL) apple juice
cup (175 mL) brandy
cups (500 mL} finely
grated carrots
cup (250 mL) molasses
tsp (5 mL) baking soda

Stir together in a six-quart mix-
ing bow! or large pot the flour,
sugar, bread crumbs and spices.
Stir in raisins, candied cherries,
mixed peel and nuts until evenly
coated with flour mixture.

In a separate bowl beat eggs.
Blend in juices and brandy. Stir in
grated carrots. Add liquid mixture
to dry mixture and mix well. Cover

Sea Make
Page 31

Norwood
Wood Stove

O64. 3008

984-3032

Open Mon.-Sat.
8AM-5PM

Special Contractor
Pricing

From page 29

good suit would be all right, too.”’

Organizers want to recreate the
traditional type of ball where
whole families join in the fun.
Reflecting this, the music should
appeal to everybody from grand-
parents to teenagers, Pike explains.

“There will be a good dance
band and a rock group,"’ she says.
“‘We hope the old folks will dance

and the young folks will dance.”

Eighteen years ago, Pike went to
the Vancouver Family Ball with
her children. Then, the event was
divided into two ballrooms, one
for the older folks and one for the
teenagers. ‘‘They really could
dance,’’ she remembers.

Pike is hoping entire families
will be at the ball. ‘There are no
age restrictions at all,’’ she says.

of California

sw ELIEVABLE

FINAL
BLOWOUT
SALE

Leather upper
ladies walking &

Many siyles
and colours.
AA, BB, DD.

Reg. $60-$65
SHOE FACTORY OUTLET

229 Mountain Hwy. (Main & Mtn. Hwy.)

986-6566

Once again proving we offer unbeatable footwear value

dress shoes

Mt. ‘Sey

Mour

Resorts Lid.
Wecomes You

to the

IV86-8/7-

Season

CANADIAN SKI
INSTRUCTORS ALLIANCE
LEVEL ONE
NOV. 30-DEC 6 FEE $150

CALL NOW FOR REGISTRATION
AND MORE INFORMATION

986- 2261 or 986- 4121 |

STRAT US LY st aA