Thursday, 18 May 2006

Honor Blackman's Golden Sponge Pudding

Actress Honor Blackman loves this sticky but delicious pud

'This is my favourite of all favourites.'

Serves 4 good portions

Ingredients

175g/6oz butter or best margarine
75g/3oz caster sugar
1 egg, beaten
A little golden syrup
175g/6oz self-raising flour
A little milk

Method

1 Put the butter or margarine, which must not be hard from the fridge, or runny, into a mixing bowl with the sugar and beat together to a light cream. Work in the beaten egg, little by little.
2 Grease a 700ml/1¼pt pudding basin, add a generous dollop of the golden syrup and work it right round the sides of the basin with the flat of a knife. Use more syrup if necessary – on no account stint it.
3 Give the mixture another quick beating, then fold in the flour and work in enough milk to give you a 'dropping' consistency. Scoop the mixture into the pudding basin, cover it, and steam for at least 2 hours.
4 Turn the lively, light pudding out on to a serving dish, and as you lift off the basin, see the lovely molten syrup trickle down the sides of the sponge to anoint it with golden glory.

Recipe taken from Cooking For Life compiled by Louise Robinson. For more information about this book, call 020-7793 4500 or visit www.wateraid.org.