Spotted Dick recipe

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

I find I have time afterall for this recipe, as my husband is now 
glued to the football. (Man Utd. v Bayern Munich)

Sorry it is in g/oz - my recipe book does not give quantities in cups.

Ingredients.
300g/10oz plain flour
10g/ 1/3oz baking powder
150g/5 oz shredded suet
75g/3oz caster sugar
10g/4oz currants
Finely grated zest of 1-2 lemons
185-200ml/6-7fl oz milk

Mix together all the dry ingredients with the currants and lemon 
zest.  Pour in 185g of the milk and stir together adding more milk if 
necessary to give a binding/dropping consistency.  The wetter the 
mix, the moister the sponge.  Roll the mix into a 15-20x5cm diameter 
cylinder, wrap it in buttered greaseproof papter, with a fold to 
allow space for the sponge to rise, and tie the paper at both ends.  
Put it in a hot steamer and cook for about 1 hour.
Remove the paper and slice the pudding into portions.

Taken from Gary Rhodes' Modern British Classics.

You can also wrap the pudding in at least a double layer of muslin, 
or, with a wetter consistency, pile into a pudding basin, seal with 
foil or greaseproof paper, and steam.  (If you want to tie the 
pudding in muslin, the best way is to suspend it over the water, from 
a wooden spoon, so it doesn't touch, just steams).

Best served with custard and/or some Tate & Lyles golen syrup, 
melted/warmed in a saucepan and poured over at the end.

Catherine