Steamed Cottage Pudding With Water Icing

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 6 tablespoons shortening
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup coconut, chopped nuts, raisins, currants, candied peel, or chopped dried fruit (optional)
• Water icing, for topping

Method

1. 1 In a mixing bowl, beat together sugar, egg, shortening, flour, baking powder, and water until thoroughly mixed.
2. 2 Divide the batter in half. Pour one half into well-greased custard cups for individual puddings.
3. 3 To the remaining batter, stir in your choice of add-ins: coconut, nuts, raisins, currants, candied peel, or dried fruit.
4. 4 Pour the flavored batter into a well-greased and floured loaf-shaped pan.
5. 5 Bake in a moderate oven (350°F) for 30 minutes. Cool completely before icing with water icing.