Delicious Australia - (12)December 2020

I LOVE...

KEEPING

IT REAL

MattPreston’s perfectChristmas?Makeit

simple, plan ahead and keep an eye on that bird.

CHRISTMASPUDDING BOMBE ALASKA

SERVES8-10

Begin this recipe 1 day ahead. You will need a sugar thermometer.

100ggood-qualityglacecherries,chopped

(^3) / 4 cup(120g)blanchedroasted almonds, chopped
60gcandiedorangepeel
(^1) / 2 cup(75g)driedcranberries,chopped
(^1) / 2 cup(85g)raisins,chopped
(^1) / 2 cup(80g)sultanas, chopped
2 tspmixedspice
1 tspeachgroundnutmegandcinnamon
2 tspbrandy(youcanuserum,Frangelicoorvanilla extract)
1Lgood-qualityvanillaicecream,softened
2 x 450gstore-boughtmadeiracake, crust removed, cut into
5mm thick slices, lengthwise
MERINGUE
11 / 2 cups(330g)caster sugar
6 eggwhites
(^1) / 2 tsp cream of tartar
Greasethebaseandsideofan 8-cup (2L) pudding pan or mould
andlinewithplasticwrap.
Placealltheingredients,excepticecreamandmadeiracake,in
a largebowlandmixwelltocombine.Addthesoftenedicecream
andmixwelluntilcombined.Transfertothepreparedpudding
panandpressfirmlytoensuretherearenoairpockets.Smooth
top.Freezefor8 hoursorovernightuntilveryfirmandset.
Linea largeoventraywithbakingpaperandplace2 slicesof
madeiracakeontop.Inverticecreampuddingontomadeiracake.
Cutawayexcesscakesoit linesthebase.Coversideofpudding
withslicedmadeiracake.Tearorcutthecakewherenecessary
tocompletelycoverthecake.Presscakegentlyintothepudding
tomakeit stickandfreezeuntilreadytocover in meringue.
Preheattheovento250°Cfan-forced.
Forthemeringue,placesugarwith200mlwaterin a small
heavy-basedsaucepanoverhighheatandbringtotheboil.
Reduceheattomediumandbrushsidesofthepanwitha wet
pastrybrushtoremovesugarcrystals.Cook,withoutstirring,for
10-12minutes,untilsyrupreaches115°Cona sugarthermometer.
Placetheeggwhitesandcreamoftartarin thebowlofa stand
mixerandwhiskonmediumspeedtosoftpeaks.Whensugar
syrupreaches121°C,increasemixerspeedtohighand,withmotor
running,graduallypoursyrupintotheeggwhites and whisk for
12-15minutesuntilcool,thickandglossy.
Workingquickly,spoonthemeringueoverthepuddingand
spreadandswirlwitha smallcrankedpaletteknifeuntilcompletely
covered.Bakefor4-5minutesuntilbrownedandlightlygolden.
Serveimmediatelyor,alternatively, it can be placed back in the
freezer until ready to serve.
THISWASGOINGtobemyminute-by-minuteguidetoplanning
theperfectChristmas,butI’vejustreada dozenarticlesonthe
subjectandI’vegonefromrelativelycalmabouttheupcoming
festivitiestofreakingthef***outin about 20 minutes.
NowI feelguiltythatI haven’tyetsetmygoalsfor‘theChristmas
I want’,testedtheChristmaslights,andresearchedtheavailability
andcostofthatorganicbird.ButthenI remindmyselfwhyour
Christmaslunchis thesameeveryyear:1) it works,2) it’sless
stressful,and3) it makesconnectionwithmemoriesfarclearer.
Infact,Christmasclarityformecomeswithjusttworules:1) be
realisticand2) don’tovercookthebird.Butevenif youovercook
thebird,nooneis goingtomindthatmuch.Thepointof Christmas
isn’tthemeal– that’sjusta focalpointforgettingtogether.
Beinga Christmasrealistmeansacceptingyouaregoingtohave
toplanin advance– orderthosethingsthatmaysellout(that
organicturkey,thebigprawnsfromtheSpencerGulf,thosereally
goodcharitybonbons),orthatyoumayforget(milk,newgas
cylinder,ice).Andbepreparedtodelegatetaskstoguests,from
makingthebrandycustardtowashingup.Thisalsohelpsyour
senseof realismandtodisperseanygrandiose,off-the-cuffideas.
Thereis anidea,particularlystrongat themoment,thatthis
Christmas,traditionwillbeespeciallyimportantaftertheyear
we’vejusthad.So,whileI’venothingagainstyouwantingtotear
upthefestiveroadmap,whynotjustsaveit foranotherparty?
YournewChristmasrealismwillalsobehelpedbyplanning,so
makelists– manylists.Thinkshoppinglists,to-dolists,preplists
anda timeline.If thismeanstheturkeyis defrostedwhenyouwant
toputit in theoven,yourememberedthecranberrysauceand
youdon’tovercookthebirdbecauseyoucheckedthekitchen
thermometerwasworking,thentheseareworththetime.
Realism,andthoselists,meansyou’llhopefullyprepwhatyou
canthedaybeforeandsetthetablethenightbefore.Formany,
beingrealisticthisyearwillalsomeankeepingwithina budget.
Seethisasa bonus.You’llprobablyeatbetter,wastelessandfeel
goodafterwards– especiallyif yousubstitutea good-sized chook
forthegiantturkeythatis oftenovercooked.
Beingrealisticalsomeansclearingthefridgetomakeroomfor
allthefestivefun,likethisbombeAlaska,butit alsomeansyou’ll
start 2021 withoutmysteriousUFOsin yourfreezer.Nooneneeds
toheadintothenewyearwiththeseUnidentifiedFrozenObjects.
If youdowantMattPreston’sweek-by-week,day-by-day guide to
Christmas planning, head to delicious.com.au. PHOTOGRAPHY
BRETT STEVENS
STYLING
KIRSTEN JENKINS
62 delicious.com.au
I’M LOVING.