b'Summer Christmas pudding by Jacquie du P | South AfricaWhy is it special?Ive always loved the traditional steamed Christmas pudding with its fruit and nuts, served with brandy sauce, but on a summers evening in South Africa after Christmas dinner, most people prefer a chilled dessert.This ice cream-based dessert is also festive and echoes some of the brandied fruit tastes, and is a favourite of our family.Ingredients1 litre chocolate ice-cream, slightly softened2 litres vanilla ice-cream, slightly softened1/2 cup of dried fruit mix, such as raisins, sultanas, dried currants1/2 cup of nuts, such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, and/or pecans1/2 cup of glac cherries, mixed red and green1/3 cup chocolate chips100 ml brandy (or fruit juice)Method1. Place the raisins, sultanas, currants and any other dried fruit in a cup or small bowl,add 2 Tablespoons of the brandy (or fruit juice) and leave to soak.2. Find a mixing bowl (preferably glass) of about 3 litre capacity.3. Spoon the slightly softened chocolate ice-cream into the bowl and spread it to completely cover the bottom and sides in a thick layer. (This forms a shell to give the effect of a steamedChristmas pudding.) Place in the freezer to harden.4. Chop the nuts and cherries.5. Add the vanilla ice-cream to another big mixing bowl, then gently fold in the soaked dried fruit plus the brandy or juice, chopped nuts and cherries, and chocolate chips.6. Gently stir in more brandy or juice, to taste. 7. Remove the bowl with chocolate ice-cream from the freezer, and fill the well in the centre with the vanilla ice-cream mix. Return to the freezer to harden. 8. To serve, remove the bowl from the freezer and place upside down on a plate. Place a hot wet towel over the bowl to warm it and release the pudding.9. Decorate as desired, and serve immediately.35'