Fig Pudding

42 soda crackers, crushed
1/2 pound figs
3/4 cup margarine or 1 cup suet
These three ingredients can be put through a food chopper/grinder.

1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 teas. nutmeg
1/2 teas. soda dissolved in 1 T. warm water

Mix all ingredients. Put in 3 cans (Aunt Lydia used 1 pound calumet baking powder cans) or a pudding mold. Fill no more than 2/3 --3/4 full. Tie a piece of foil over the top of the cans or put the lid on the mold. Steam for 3 -- 3 1/4 hours. Serve with ORANGE SAUCE.

ORANGE SAUCE:

Mix together:
1 c. sugar
2 T. flour
1 teas. grated orange rind

Add:
1 c.boiling water.
Stir and let boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add :
1/2 c. orange juice
1/4 c. butter or margarine
Stir well.

Serve over slices of the fig pudding.

This recipe was my dad's and Wally's favorite Christmas dessert. My great aunt Lydia made it for us and Daddy remembered having it when he was young. I use butter instead of margarine and it makes a very moist pudding. I have also baked it in the oven in a pan of water instead of steaming it on top of the stove. I think it turned out almost the same and it is easier to do it in the oven. I wish I could make it again for both of these two men.