Sift together the flour, mixed spice and ground nutmeg.
In a large bowl, combine the sultanas, raisins, currants, mixed peel, glace cherries, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, apple, ground almonds and the flour-spice mixture.
Add the melted butter and orange juice to the dry ingredients. Add the eggs, and the almond and vanilla essences. Mix roughly with hands, making sure all dry ingredients are wet.
Transfer the mixture into greased pudding basins (you may require 2 basins). Cover the top with greaseproof paper and kitchen foil. Stand in a large saucepan of boiling water (water 1/2 way up the side of the pudding basin) and simmer for 7-8 hours, topping up the water in the saucepan as required.
When cooked, replace the greaseproof paper and kitchen foil.
To serve, steam again for approx 1.5 hours (same method as for cooking). Serve with brandy sauce, brandy butter or chilled vanilla cream or ice-cream.
In a large bowl, combine the sultanas, raisins, currants, mixed peel, glace cherries, brown sugar, breadcrumbs, apple, ground almonds and the flour-spice mixture.
Add the melted butter and orange juice to the dry ingredients. Add the eggs, and the almond and vanilla essences. Mix roughly with hands, making sure all dry ingredients are wet.
Transfer the mixture into greased pudding basins (you may require 2 basins). Cover the top with greaseproof paper and kitchen foil. Stand in a large saucepan of boiling water (water 1/2 way up the side of the pudding basin) and simmer for 7-8 hours, topping up the water in the saucepan as required.
When cooked, replace the greaseproof paper and kitchen foil.
To serve, steam again for approx 1.5 hours (same method as for cooking). Serve with brandy sauce, brandy butter or chilled vanilla cream or ice-cream.