Aunt Carries Indian Pudding Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Grease a shallow 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish with butter.
• For the pudding: In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and butter, and warm over low heat until the butter melts. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk a little of the milk-butter mixture with the molasses; whisk this into the cornmeal mixture. Add all of the cornmeal mixture to the saucepan and whisk until the ingredients are fully integrated. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in some of the cornmeal mixture to temper the eggs. Pour everything back into the saucepan and gently whisk in the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and raisins. Empty the saucepan into the prepared baking dish and bake until the pudding looks like a slightly moist cornbread or a steamed pudding, 2 hours.
• For the apples: Cut each of the apples into 8 to 10 equal-sized wedges. Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the apples and stir to coat. Sprinkle with the brown sugar and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon from time to time, until the apples are tender and yield slightly when pierced with a knife tip. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and ginger, and stir to blend. Keep warm while the pudding cooks.
• Once the pudding is cooked, set it aside to cool. Top with the apples and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Steps:

• Using a non stick (or heavy bottomed) sauce pan add milk and heat on medium heat until nearly bubbling at the edges and steaming.
• Slowly whisk in the meal and whisk slowly until the meal is suspended in the milk, meaning none hanging out at the bottom of the pot. Continue whisking off and on until it reaches a medium thick hot cereal consistency. Again you *can* walk away and whisk every 5 minutes or so.
• Turn stove to low heat and continue to whisk off and on while it thickens. No need to be afraid. I have left it unattended for over 10 minutes and it will not scorch, lump or stick.
• When it reaches 'thick hot cereal' stage, stir in remaining ingredients. I usually whisk. Mix well to combine evenly.
• Leave pudding on low, stirring/whisking occasionally until thickened a bit more; 10-15 minutes approximately.
• Turn off heat and let the pan sit until it has cooled down half way, then cover with the lid and let it 'set.' Times will vary with setting. Last night it was 15 minutes or so and in 2 hours I could upturn the pan. Refrigerate and reheat gently; I use the microwave for individual servings.
• I used the high end of the cook time and will depend on your corn meal, heat of stove, etc -- I have seen many recipes making this pudding appear scary; stand at stove and never stop whisking the entire time. Fiddley sticks!