Chocolate Christmas Puddings

Preparation time: 30min plus cooling Cooking time:

1hr 5min

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

55g dairy-free margarine 55g self-raising gluten-free flour

75g dried dates, chopped 85g dark brown sugar

65g soya yogurt

25g cocoa powder

½tsp bicarbonate of soda 1½tsp ground mixed spice 125g mixed dried fruit

10g cornflour

300ml soya milk

Grease and flour 4 x 150ml pudding basins with 5g margarine and flour. Put the dates in a small saucepan with 75ml water. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 5min until ver y soft. Beat until smooth, and leave to cool completely.

Mix the remaining margarine with 50g sugar, yogur t and the cold date mixture until well blended.

Sieve the flour, 15g cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and spice on top. Add the fruit and gently mix ever ything together.

Divide between the basins, smooth the tops, cover with baking parchment and secure in place with a layer of foil. Place in a steamer over gently boiling water, cover and cook for 1hr until firm to the touch. Just before ser ving, put the cornflour and remaining sugar and cocoa in a saucepan. Gradually blend in the soya milk and heat gently, stirring, until boiling, then cook gently for 1min. To ser ve, turn the puddings on to warmed plates and ser ve immediately with the hot chocolate sauce.

Preparation time: 40min Cooking time: 35min

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

250g sweet potato, peeled and cut into 2cm thick chunks

225g baby potatoes, halved

2 red peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks

2 courgettes, thickly sliced 3tbsp olive oil

½ -1tsp dried chilli flakes