I'm cooking the annual plum pudding for Christmas today.

[riderinthestorm]

I'm actually late - should have had this done weeks ago but it just got away from me.

The raisins, currants etc have been soaking in Gran Marnier for the past week and today I added the rest of the ingredients. Its got to steam for 6-7 hours. I put it together at 9 am and now the house smells fantastic! Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, Gran Marnier- yum!

This year's charm is a Sacajewea dollar coin baked into the pudding (traditionally the person who gets the slice with the charm will have the luckiest year ahead).

This is the start of the season for me! Anyone else doing something "different" to kick start the holiday spirit?

[Brother Buzz]

1. I'm inspired

Carrot pudding was the tradition in our house. Grandma made it in old Lipton tea tins. I inherited the tins and I have her handwritten recipe. Time to dig them out.

Kings Cake trinkets in a pudding? Cool. She Who Must be Obeyed has both a ceramic Bean and Baby, perhaps I'll have her secret them in.

[riderinthestorm]

2. The kids love it!

Last year I found a small antique silver bell. Finding the right charm is part of the fun.

That's very cool you have the original recipe. I have no such luck. My Irish mum never made it from scratch, nor did her sisters so l use James Beard's recipe from Epicurious. Over the years its the one every one prefers.

Good luck!