Impress Friends and Family By Stirring A Bowl and Tying Some Knots  

I made Plum Pudding for the first time this year, and was surprised how easy and tasty it was (if a little time-intensive). First off, the ingredients:
1 cup granulated Sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
1 1/2 cups raisins, finely chopped
1 cup dates, chopped
1/2 cup nuts, chopped
3 tablespoons candied orange or lemon citron, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups chopped apples
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

What's that? There's no plums in Plum Pudding? Well, the old definition of "plum" was essentially "raisin." Language is a strange, fickle thing. Up next, take all your ingredients and stir them together.

I don't own any pudding molds (just like every other person I know), so I greased two 8-cup Pyrex bowls with some butter, and split the batter between them. Next, I covered the top with parchment paper and secured it with some twine. (Make sure your thread is not made of nylon or a synthetic plastic fiber, since this could melt during the cooking process.) Cut off any excess paper with scissors. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil (seam up), and use more twine to wrap around the bowl and create a loop handle, since you don't want to burn the crap out of your hands when you take it out of the crock pot.

Place the bowl into the crockpot, making sure the edge of the bowl is at least 1/2 inch from the walls of the crockpot basin. Add water to the crockpot until it reaches three-quarter ways up the pudding bowl. Close and secure the crockpot. Cook on High for one hour, then on Low for five hours. Check water levels halfway through; If the water level is very low, add some boiling water. Do not add cold water as this will slow down the cooking process.

Using an oven mitt and the twine loop handle, remove the pudding and let sit (still in the wrapping) for 2 additional hours.

Finally, remove the aluminum foil, twine, and parchment paper. Place a plate over the bowl with the serving side towards the pudding. Turn the plate and pudding over and let them stand for a few minutes. Gravity will take over, releasing the pudding onto the plate. (I had a little pudding stuck to my bowl, so it's not as smooth and beautiful as some) Serve warm. Bask in the adoration of your peers.

Pudding cat tax

Original recipe: https://whatscookingamerica.net/Cake/plumpuddingTips.htm

Steaming instructions: https://www.irishamericanmom.com/2011/11/15/how-to-steam-a-christmas-or-plum-pudding-in-a-crockpot/