
A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Serve hot with sauce made of drawn butter, wine and nutmeg.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
0 notes
Sign in to share your thoughts and connect with the community
Sign In to CommentLoading notes...
Warm a pint of molasses and a pint of milk, stir well together
Beat four eggs and stir gradually into molasses and milk
Add a cupful of beef suet chopped fine, or half a cupful of butter, and corn meal sufficient to make a thick batter
Add a teaspoonful of pulverized cinnamon, the same of nutmeg, a teaspoonful of soda, one of salt, and stir all together thoroughly
Dip a cloth into boiling water, shake, flour a little, turn in the mixture, tie up, leaving room for the pudding to swell
Boil three hours
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
The combination of soda and acidic molasses creates a chemical leavening reaction that produces carbon dioxide, allowing the dense cornmeal batter to expand during the long boil. Boiling in a floured cloth creates a protective barrier that prevents water absorption while allowing steam to gently cook the pudding from the outside in. The beef suet or butter provides fat globules that tenderize the cornmeal and create a moist, cohesive texture rather than a crumbly one.
The batter can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead and kept at room temperature, covered, but should not be refrigerated as the soda will begin losing effectiveness. The fully cooked pudding can be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerated. Reheat by returning to the cloth and boiling for 30-45 minutes until warmed through.
Store leftover pudding wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or slice and pan-fry in butter until crispy on the outside. The pudding can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The batter can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead and kept at room temperature, covered, but should not be refrigerated as the soda will begin losing effectiveness. The fully cooked pudding can be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerated. Reheat by returning to the cloth and boiling for 30-45 minutes until warmed through.
Store leftover pudding wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or slice and pan-fry in butter until crispy on the outside. The pudding can also be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.