Clootie Dumpling

My mum used to make this when I was a boy, for special occasions. Usually mum would ask what kind of cake I would like for my birthday and I would always answer.."CLOOTIE DUMPLING"

1. 1

   Place all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Take a piece of muslin or old pillowcase cut into a large square, scald by pouring boiling water over it, lay out flat and sprinkle flour over it.
   
   Place mixture in middle of cloth and tie tightly with string but leaving room for expansion. Place a plate in the bottom of pot, place dumpling on this and place on heat. Pore in boiling water until it is 1/2 to 3/4 way up dumpling. NEVER let the water go over the top of the dumpling and keep topping up with boiling water, NEVER let it go off the boil and NEVER let it dry up.
   
   After 3 hours remove from pot onto a plate, untie the string and gently take away from dumpling, place another plate upside down on top of the dumpling and with both hands turn the whole thing over. Once this is done, remove the cloth completely and place in a heated oven for 15/20 mins to get a skin on.
   
   Can be eaten as a cake, fried with bacon and Egg etc, or custard over as a sweet.