Ideal Bite

Steamed Apple Cider Pudding
Serves 4-6

Ingredients (local or organic whenever possible):
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tb freshly grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground clove
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups peeled and cored apples, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup raisins (or dried cranberries or chopped dates)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup apple cider
1/2 cup maple syrup

For the pudding:
Prep a 1-quart heatproof casserole dish by brushing with oil and dusting lightly with flour. In a bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking soda, lemon peel, spices, and salt, and blend. Add the apples, raisins, and nuts, and toss until coated with flour. Combine cider and maple syrup and stir into the dry ingredients until flour is absorbed. Transfer mixture to the casserole dish. Wrap tightly with two long sheets of aluminum foil crisscrossed on top.

Place a trivet inside a large pot. Set the casserole dish onto the trivet. Fill pot halfway with boiling water and bring to rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and steam 75-90 minutes or until pudding is set, replenishing water as needed. Remove the casserole from the pot and let cool. Remove foil and run a knife around the edges. Turn casserole over onto a platter and unmold. Slice with a serrated knife and serve warm.