Sloppy mix made from scraps of white bread softened with water, mixed with suet, dried fruit, whole egg, dark sugar, sweet spices and lemon. Poured into a tin c1½ins thick, baked until set. Sprinkled with sugar and served with lemon custard. A form of Bread Pudding.

Similar to the southern form of Bread Pudding

Original Receipt from The National Trust Speke Hall, Garden and Estate (www.nationaltrust.org.uk)

Wet Nelly


Image: National Trust


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 4 hours and 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

1 loaf of white bread (day old becoming dry is perfectly fine for this recipe) with crusts cut off and cut into chunky squares
100g butter
140g brown sugar
¾ pint milk warmed
500g mixed fruit
1 dessert spoon mixed spice
3 medium eggs
Method

Soak bread in milk for at least 4 hours and preferably overnight.
When fully soaked, add all other ingredients, mix together well and pour into a greased deep sided roasting tin.
Bake at 180°C/Gas Mark 4 for approx 1 - 1 ¼ hours until soft but springy to touch.
Delicious served hot with custard or cold with a cup of tea.
Enjoy!


'Wet Nellie' was also the name given to James Bond's aquatic Lotus car in the 1977 film "The Spy Who Loved Me".