Hard Sauce is a traditional accompaniment for traditional Plum Pudding or Christmas Pudding.  It’s oh so easy to make and sinfully delicious.  Of course you can feel your arteries slamming shut with every bit.

1/2 cup , (1 stick or 1/4 pound) fresh butter

1 teaspoon molasses

1/4 cup brandy or dark rum

A grating of fresh nutmeg

About 1 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar

Cream the butter until soft and fluffy.  With a handheld electric beater, incorporate the molasses, rum and nutmeg.  Then, using a wooden spoon, begin working in the powdered sugar.  You may refrigerate it and add a spoonful to each serving of Christmas or Plum pudding.  Also, while it is soft, you may push it through a pastry bag using a large star tip.  Make stars of it on sheets of wax paper, then freeze until needed.  Allow to thaw for a few minutes before serving with the Christmas pudding.