Steamed Christmas Pudding With Hard Sauce

Grrrrrgh!
Course : Puddings
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 16
 

Ingredients:

2 cups milk
6 cups coarse soft bread crumbs
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 cup candied citron -- chopped
1 cup seedless raisins
2 tablespoons lemon peel -- grated
---HOLIDAY HARD SAUCE---
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar -- sifted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sherry
 

Preparation:

1. Pour milk over bread crumbs in large mixing bowl. 2. Melt butter; cool slightly; blend into bread mixture with molasses. 3. Combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice and cloves; stir in citron, raisins and lemon peel. 4. Add to bread crumb mixture; blend thoroughly. 5. Pour into well-buttered 2-quart pudding mold with center post. Grease inside of cover to mold; cover; steam 3 1/2 hours. (To steam: Place rack in large kettle tall enough to accommodate mold. Place filled and covered mold on rack. Pour boiling water into kettle so that it comes halfway up height of mold. Cover kettle tightly. Keep water boiling over low heat to steam pudding recommended time or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.) 6. Remove cover; let rest 10 minutes. 7.Invert onto serving plate; serve very hot with Holiday Hard Sauce. Holiday Hard Sauce 1.Cream butter until fluffy; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, vanilla and sherry. 2.Cover and refrigerate; let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before servin