Microwave Christmas pudding

For all you folk who have yet to get your act together for Christmas, here is a quick and easy Christmas pudding that is cooked in the microwave. I know some people think cooking a steamed pudding in the microwave is an abomination, but this actually works very well and tastes pretty good. I've adapted it from a very old Sainsbury's microwave recipe book from back in the day when microwave ovens were a New Thing. It's obviously designed with catering for a crowd in mind; my first adaptation was to halve the ingredients, and you will still need a very large mixing bowl.

In a very large mixing bowl, mix

80g shredded suet

90g fresh breadcrumbs

225g mixed dried fruit

50g chopped mixed peel

90g plain flour

25g ground almonds

110g soft dark brown sugar

1tsp ground cinnamon

2tsp powdered ginger

1 tsp ground mixed spice

pinch of salt

one large finely chopped cooking apple

grated peel and juice of one orange

grated peel and rind of one lemon

1 tbs brandy

3 eggs

2tbs black treacle

Don't forget to make a wish!

Pour mixture into a large pudding basin, cover with cling film, and microwave on high for 10 minutes. Leave to cool. Reheat for serving for about 4 minutes. Simple.

If you don't have a pudding basin, then a casserole dish works too. You can also divide the mixture between two small pudding basins.

As well as a short cooking time, this pudding can also be made and served on the day, although it will keep in the fridge for a few days, or in the freezer for up to a year (trust me, I have done this when I made the original humungous recipe).