Desserts

Ingredients:
* 250g mixed dried fruit
* 125g pitted prunes
* 1/4 cup cold tea
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon mixed spice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/4 cup brandy
* 1 cup plain flour
* 1/3 cup brown sugar
* 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (preferably made from 1-2 day old bread)
* 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
* 2 eggs, lightly beaten
* 2 teaspoons canola (or vegetable) oil

Brandy Sauce:
* 1 egg
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 2 teaspoons plain flour
* 1 cup hot low-fat milk
* 2 tablespoons brandy

Ingredients:
For the pastry:
* sweet short crust pastry case (or a packet of ready made sweet short crust pastry with 40g / 1 1/2 oz crushed pecans mixed in)

For the filling:
* 450 g/1lb prepared weight pumpkin flesh, cut into 1 in / 2.5 cm chunks
* 2 large eggs plus 1 yolk (use the white for another dish)
* 3 oz/75g soft dark brown sugar
* 1 tsp ground cinnamon
* 1/2 level teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
* 1/2 tsp ground allspice
* 1/2 tsp ground cloves
* 1/2 tsp ground ginger
* 10 fl oz/275 ml double cream

Ingredients:
* 1500 ml strong tea brewed with lemon and a bayleaf
* 2 kg mixed fruit including prunes and dates
* 500 grams unsalted butter
* 200 grams black or dark brown sugar
* 55 grams ground cinnamon
* 55 grams ground mixed spice or allspice (ground pimento)
* 25 grams ground cardamon pods
* 700 grams SR flour
* 700 grams plain flour
* 6-8 eggs
* vanilla essence
* 250 ml strong flavoured sweet sherry, muscat or a mixture of rum and bourbon

Ingredients:
* 12 plums, pitted and halved
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup water
* 2 tablespoons tapioca
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose baking mix
* 3 tablespoons white sugar
* 2/3 cup milk
* 3 tablespoons margarine, melted

Ingredients:
* 150 ml (1/4 pint) fresh orange juice
* juice of 2 lemons
* 50 g (2 oz) caster sugar
* 1 pear, peeled, cored and cut into 8 sections
* 2 small firm bananas, peeled and each cut into 4 chunks
* 2 slices of fresh or canned pineapple, cut into sizeable chunks
* 8 pitted cherries or deseeded grapes
* 4 small pieces of preserved stem ginger
* 2 tablespoons melted honey
* demerara sugar, for sprinkling
* 2 tablespoons flaked almonds

Coconut cream:
* 3 tablespoons desiccated coconut
* 4 tablespoons boiling water
* 150 ml (1/4 pint) double cream, whipped

Ingredients:
* 6 large ripe bananas, unpeeled

Chantilly cream:
* 175 ml (6 fl oz) whipping cream
* 2 tablespoons strong coffee
* 50 g (2 oz) icing sugar
* 2 tablespoons dark rum