Steamed Syrup Sponge

Even though this pudding takes 2 hours to cook, that isn’t as awkward as it sounds. You can assemble it all very quickly, and if you’re serving it for a dinner party on a working day, just get started the minute you get in, before you’ve even taken your coat off, and then you should have no problems about timing.

Not being particularly good with my hands, I don’t go in for all that foil-pleating farrago: I just use a plastic pudding basin which is manufactured for the purpose and co