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