Little Jack Horner: Plum Pudding

Little Jack Horner, sat in the corner

Eating his Christmas Pie.

He stuck in his thumb, and pulled out a plum,

and said "my, what a good boy am I."

Plum Pudding ( Adapted from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook)
10 slices of white bread
1 cup hot milk
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs, separated
1 1/3 cups raisins, lightly floured
1/2 up finely chopped figs
3 Tbsp finely chopped citron
3/4 cup shortening
3 Tbsp brandy
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp mace
1 tsp salt

1. Butter a 2 qt mold with a lid.  Heat water in a pot large enough to hold the mold.
2. Crumble the bread and soak it in the hot milk.
3. Cool and add the sugar, the egg yolks, the raisins, figs, and citron.
4. Add the shortening.
5. Stir in the brandy, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mace, and salt.  Beat until well blended.
6. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.  Stir a third of the whites into the pudding mixture, then gently fold in the remaining whites.
7. Spoon the mixture into the mold and cover.  Put in the large pot and steam for 6 hours.  Remove from pot and let cool for 10 minutes before unmolding.