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