Instructions: MAKE PUDDING: Mix the dry ingredients and set them aside. Grease completely three large (25-oz) tin cans, such as the kind used for tomato puree. Do NOT use the plastic-lined variety. Alternatively, grease one large steaming mold, with a hole in the center. Or improvise.

Add the potatoes. Mix well. Then, in turn, add the baking soda, the carrots, the bread crumbs and the Crisco, making sure that you mix well after adding each ingredient. This matters, so do it! You may have to get some help from King Kong to blend adequately after adding the shortening.

Add, in sequence, the brown sugar, the beaten egg, the lemon extract and the vanilla, mixing well after each addition. Now, add the dry ingredients mixture, a bit at a time. The mixture will be extremely thick and very difficult to mix. Add the walnuts and the raisins. Mix them in. Go ahead.

Youre strong enough.

Push the mixture into the tins, with each about 3/4 full, or a little more.

Seal the tins with aluminum foil and use a rubber band to hold the foil on

(the pudding should not be exposed directly to the steam). Steam 1 1/2 to 2 hours, (until the pudding seems uniform. You cant overcook it, so err on the long side, please!) and cool if youre not going to serve it right now.

Make the sauce by combining all of the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and heating until it bubbles and all ingredients are dissolved. To serve, reheat by steaming for at least 45 minutes, or serve out of the original pot.

NOTES:
* An old Welsh steamed carrot pudding - This is a good steamed pudding, despite the list of ingredients that are "good for you". The sauce

(following the recipe) is not a necessity for good taste, only for authenticity, although I LIKE it with the sauce. Some add rum to this sauce. Suit yourself. I like it both ways.

This is a very old recipe, I gathered it from my grandmother, who would have been 101 (sniff) this year, who learned it from her Welsh mother, who learned it from her... (in Wales), ergo its at least 200+. Given its similarity to some late Medieval puddings, one might suspect that its origins are much earlier. I determined the quantities listed here by measuring what my grandmother tossed into the pot.

Yield: makes about 5
pounds.

* This stuff keeps in the fridge nearly forever (at least a month) as long as you dont let it dry out.

* Decant or spoon out (depends on if you want to be fancy or not) and serve with sauce. Then, dont eat for two days to make up for the calories.

Difficulty: moderate (considerable physical work required); Time: 1 hour preparation, 3 hours steaming; Precision: no need to measure.

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