Kutia (christmas pudding)

Yield: 8 Servings

200 g Wheat grain (7 1/4 oz)      200 g Poppy seeds
200 ml Honey (7/16 pint)      100 g Walnuts chopped (3.5 oz)
100 g Almonds chopped      50 g Currants (1.8 oz)
4 Figs      4 Dates
1/2 Vanilla pod      1 ts Grated lemon peel
70 ml Rum (1/8 pint)      2 tb Cream
10 Almonds

whole (Keep care: preparation 6 hours !!) Wash the wheat grain leave to soak in cold water for 6 hours. Drain then pour 2 l of boiling water over the wheat cover and cook over a low heat for 3 hours. The grains should be soft but not mushy. Strain the cooked wheat and leave to cool. Wash the poppy-seeds thoroughly in cold water scald with boiling water and drain. Pour boiling water over them bring to a boil remove from the heat and leave to stand in a warm place for 3 hours. Drain and mince. Soak the currants in rum or cognac. Cut the figs and dates into thin strips. Crush vanilla pod in a mortar. Pour the poppy-seeds into a mixing bowl add cream honey vanilla and lemon peel. Grind for 15 minutes then add the wheat crushed walnuts and almonds currants figs and dates. Mix well and transfer to a glass bowl. Decorate with whole almonds and chill. (From: Polish cooking Warszawa 1993 ISBN 83-85477-34-9) Posted by Rene Gagnaux