1 c stale breadcrumbs
1 c brown sugar, firmly packed
50g butter, chopped
1 c hot water
3 c mixed dried fruit
1 1/4 c plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsps mixed spice
Custard, to serve
Lightly grease a pudding steamer (6-cup capacity).
Combine breadcrumbs, sugar and butter in a large bowl. Stir in water and stand for 5 minutes. Add mixed fruit and mix well.
Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl. Stir in fruit mixture until combined. Spoon into prepared steamer. Cover with greased paper and foil then secure with a lid or string. Place steamer into large saucepan with enough boiling water to come halfway up side of steamer. Cover with tight fitting lid.
Steam pudding for 3 hours, replenishing with boiling water as necessary, during cooking. Remove basin from saucepan.
To serve, loosen edge of pudding from steamer. Turn onto a serving plate. Serve pudding with custard.
Notes
Pudding will keep up to one month. Store in refrigerator