With pastry blender or 2 knives, cut ? cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add raisins, prunes, almonds and fruit peel; toss until fruit is well coated with flour mixture.

Add bread crumbs and brown sugar; mix well. Stir in brandy and eggs; mix well. (Mixture will be very thick and almost crumbly)

Spoon mixture into greased and lined mold, packing firmly with back of spoon as mold is filled. Cover tightly with lid or heavy-duty foil; tie foil in place, if necessary.

Place rack in bottom of Dutch oven or 6-quart saucepan. Add water until it reaches top of rack. Bring to a boil. Set mold on rack; carefully pour hot water around mold until about half way up mold. Return to a boil.

Reduce heat to low; cover Dutch oven. Simmer 2 ? to 2 ? hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Add boiling water as needed.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine all hard sauce ingredients; beat until smooth. Line a 10 oz custard cup or decorative mold with plastic wrap. Spoon hard sauce mixture into lined cup. Cover; refrigerate until serving time.

Remove pudding from Dutch oven; cool in mold for 1 ? hours. Turn out of mold; carefully remove cheesecloth. Place on serving plate.

Unmold hard sauce onto small plate; remove plastic wrap. Top each slice of pudding with small slice of hard sauce.

Makes 8 servings.

About The Author

Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
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