Party hearty this holiday season

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve both fall in the middle of the week .

This is the year of gathering and grazing with the holidays in between the weekends .

Open houses are most likely the way to go, with friends and family dropping in for drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

“Bite-sized flavours are taking centre stage,” says Allison Jones , executive chef for the famous PC Test Kitchen.

Halifax ’s Chef and cookbook author Craig Flinn turns this traditional holiday dessert into a centrepiece show stopper that tastes like a Christmas morning! Halifax 's Chef and.

cookbook.

author Craig .

Flinn 's recipe courtesy Hamilton-Beach ( Hamiltonbeach.ca .).

Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until pudding is fully cooked in middle. It should be firm to the touch and a wooden skewer should come out clean when inserted in centre of pudding. Remove casserole dish from roasting pan. Let pudding rest for 30 minutes before serving. If making it in advance, gently reheat it in oven on low heat, or microwave it in its dish. Serve warm with your choice of sauce or ice cream..