| My mother's parents were English and many of the | | | | Baking2 tablespoons cornstarch1/2 teaspoon light |
| meals she fixed for us reflected this heritage. | | | | salt2 cups hot water1 tablespoon butter (no |
| Christmas dinner was always roast beef and | | | | substitutions)2 teaspoons pure vanilla extractdash of |
| Yorkshire pudding. Dessert was always plum pudding | | | | freshly grated nutmegMETHODCombine the Splenda |
| with warm sauce. There are many recipes for plum | | | | Blend for Baking, cornstarch, and salt in a small |
| pudding and all are labor intensive. Mom made plum | | | | saucepan. Whisk in hot water. Cook over medium |
| pudding from scratch a few times, but it was so | | | | heat, stirring constantly, until sauce has thickened. |
| much work she finally bought Crosse and Blackwell | | | | Remove from heat. Add vanilla extract and nutmeg. |
| pudding imported from England.The plum pudding was | | | | Makes 8 servings.WARM RUM SAUCEOmit the vanilla |
| served with warm vanilla or rum sauce. I did not like | | | | and nutmeg. Make the sauce and remove from heat. |
| the rich pudding, so I only ate a spoonful. But I could | | | | Add 2 teaspoons of rum extract.WARM RUM-RAISIN |
| have eaten an entire bowl of sauce. Mom also | | | | SAUCEOmit the vanilla and nutmeg. Add 1/4 cup |
| served apple pie with warm vanilla sauce. The | | | | raisins to the sauce and cook until thickened. Remove |
| combination of warm sauce and fresh pie from the | | | | from heat and add 2 teaspoons of rum |
| oven was heavenly. With a couple of changes the | | | | extract.Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson Hodgson |
| vanilla sauce recipe becomes rum sauce or rum-raisin | | | | has been a freelance nonfiction writer for 28 years. |
| sauce.I have lightened the recipe by using Splenda | | | | She is a member of the Association of Health Care |
| Blend for Baking instead of sugar and elminating the | | | | Journalists and the Association for Death Education |
| half cup of butter in the original recipe. However, I | | | | and Counseling. Before she became a health writer |
| have added a tablespoon of butter for flavor. Warm | | | | Hodgson was a food writer for the former |
| vanilla and rum sauce turn simple cakes -- vanilla, | | | | "Rochester Magazine" in her home town of |
| apple, and spice -- into special desserts. Top frozen | | | | Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your |
| waffles with vanilla ice cream and sauce and you | | | | Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, |
| have one of the best desserts on the planet. Garnish | | | | MD, is available from A five-star review of the book |
| with a twist of orange peel and fresh mint to make | | | | is posted on Amazon. Another revies is posted on |
| your holiday desserts more festive.WARM VANILLA | | | | the American Hospice Foundation Website under the |
| SAUCEINGREDIENTS1/2 cup Splenda Blend for | | | | "School Corner" heading. |