Let's start with the choice of wheat. Wheat – a symbol of a new beginning. To wheat cook quickly, you need to choose cleaned and polished wheat. If you take raw and unpolished, then it will need to be soaked overnight and then boiled 4-5 hours. Cleaned polished wheat is brewed only 40 minutes. Externally, the polished wheat is more bright, because it removed the hard outer shell and germ. The grain is not shiny, it is matte and absorbs water. Me in the comments asking where to buy such. It is difficult to say. Here in Ukraine it is sold on Christmas eve everywhere: in the market, and supermarkets. A wheat in industrial packaging even the so-called kutya. Try asking in the Bazaar, if Your shopping there.

Before cooking wash the wheat thoroughly, because during the collection, processing and transport to the grain enters the debris and the remains of bran. It is best to pour the cold water on three fingers, well rubbed with the hands, then remove with a spoon all that surfaced. Then throws the wheat in a colander and wash under running cold water. In addition to removing debris, we when washing remove any excess starch and wheat in the pudding is guaranteed to come loose.

Cook the wheat needed in a saucepan with a thick bottom. So the wheat is evenly heated and will not burn. The proportion of water and wheat 2:1, i.e. 200 g of wheat – 2 cups (200 ml) of water.

Pour the wheat with cold water and put on fire. Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. 20 minutes after boiling, add salt and add 1 tsp of sugar. Ready wheat recline in a colander, lightly and leave to cool.

Now about the preparation of the poppy. The poppy symbolizes the stars. As the stars in the sky can not count makovicky in the poppy head. Now I'll surprise You (maybe not all, but many), but the Mac also need to be cleaned. It also gets the garbage. Pour into a bowl of water, pour the Mac and my, and then recline in a colander. Due to the fact that poppy is wet, he won't slip through the bars of the colander. The loss will be but slight.

And now I surprise many again. Most Mac to corner zaparivayut boiling water. I also used to do that. But the right pre-boil. This technique gives the opportunity to get poppy more milk to make Kuti tenderness. Pour Mac a glass of water, bring to the boil and cook for 30 minutes on low heat.

After 30 minutes the Mac steamed, swell, become darker. Throws it in a colander and leave to fully drain the water.

Now the Mac will need a grind. To Mac is not bitter it is necessary to add sugar. 2 tbsp per 100 g of dry poppy. Grind the poppy seeds with sugar can be used in three different ways: traditionally in the nut (the pestle), twice through a hand grinder (electric is not suitable, because it works very fast and poppy seeds it will all slip) or blender. I chose blender. All the same, 21 in the yard :)

Nuts need to be heated up in the pan. So they will be more fragrant.

Calcined nuts cleaned from the husk and grind without fanaticism.

Soak the raisins in hot water and leave for 7-10 minutes. Then the water is drained and dry raisins on paper napkins.

Cherry I managed to find only bones. I prepared it the same with raisins (soaking for 7 minutes in hot water), but then had some trouble with the removal of the bones.

Now, about the honey. He's in the pudding symbolizes the sweetness of life. Good liquid honey in the winter does not happen. Exception - may. But I would not risk to take a word to sellers and would secretoliticescoe. So peaceful. Honey diluted with water. Water honey (even may) need to be diluted so it is evenly soaked Christmas pudding. Instead of water you can take a drink. Below I will write how to cook it. 2 tablespoons of honey 0.5 cups of water (or compote). Honey prepared at the last moment, to the honey water not fermented.

Everything is ready, you can assemble the pudding! Combine wheat, nuts, raisins, cherries and poppy seeds. All mix well and pour the honey water. Leave to infuse. Bon appetit!