It is fine to use just the one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. You can use any dried fruit in place of the raisins in this recipe such as dried apricots or peaches. Note

This recipe is also nut-free and gluten-free Note

Rose petal jam is available from Middle-Eastern foodstores and delis. Note

Italian arborio rice from supermarkets will hold its shape better than locally grown arborio. Canned caramel filling is found in the baking aisle in supermarkets. Any sweet sherry is fine, however one of the nicest is Pedro Ximénez, a sweet dark sherry with a rich raisin-y taste. Note

You can substitute the almond meal for hazelnut or pecan meal if you prefer. The orange caramel sauce is best served immediately once prepared because it will separate on standing. Note

You will need 3 large overripe bananas (690g) for this recipe. Note

Standing the custards in a dish filled with ice cubes keeps the custards from melting while the sugar is caramelising under the grill. Of course, if you have a cooking blowtorch, use that instead. Note

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. This recipe is suitable to freeze. Note

Peanut butter sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead. Leftover sauce can be used over ice-cream. Note

If plums are not in season, use a 1kg (2-pound) jar of whole plums. Drain, halve and seed them before using. Note

You can use lemon, lime or blood orange marmalade or your favourite jam instead. Note

Panettone are easy to find around Christmas time, at other times they may not be as readily available. You can use brioche instead, adding a handful of sultanas, or thick-cut fruit bread. Note

You will need a 60cm square of unbleached calico. If the fabric is new, soak in cold water overnight, then boil for 20 minutes; rinse well before using. Use day-old breadcrumbs for this recipe. Chop all the fruit to the same size as the sultanas. Wrap the pudding in plastic wrap, seal tightly in a […]

You don’t have to use fruit bread, ­you could use white bread, croissants or panettone. Croissants are particularly delicious with the strawberry jam. Note

A mint pattie is a round chocolate-coated confectionery with a soft peppermint centre. It is available from most supermarkets. You may also use Griffin’s mint treat bites if mint pattie’s are not available. Note

Sago and tapioca, while similar, are not the same and can’t be substituted for each other. Sago may be found labelled as `seed tapioca’ on some packets. It is available from most health-food stores and supermarkets. Note

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. Recipe not suitable to freeze. Note

When dissolved gelatine is added to a mixture, both should be roughly the same temperature. Note

When they’re in season, this pudding also works well with quince. Prepare 4 small quince (800g) as for the pears in step 1, cooking them for 30 minutes until softened. Note

You need six 30cm (12-inch) squares of unbleached calico and six 1m (1 yard) lengths of kitchen string. Note

You will need to cook 350g pumpkin for the amount of mashed pumpkin required in this recipe. Note

This pudding recipe is suitable to freeze. Note

Top puddings with a slice of glacé orange. It is available from gourmet and health-food stores. If the six 30cm squares of unbleached calico have not been used before, soak them in cold water overnight. The next day, boil them for 20 minutes then rinse in cold water. Puddings can be cooked in two boilers […]