I have to admit to something that many of you will find hard to believe. I never tasted a homemade Christmas pudding until I met my husband ( he was 16 and I was 17, we were childhood sweethearts and still are 50 years later).My mum was a baker but she always bought a Christmas pudding, they were black and the fruit was bitter and gritty is there any wonder we never wanted a second serving.
My husband’s mum Val Stones (yes two of us called Val Stones) made Christmas puddings following her mum’s recipe. Once I had tasted Grandma Hetherington’s delicious rich fruity pudding I never again ate a bought one but made my own.