Leghome here goes Larry
Black Pudding
Different countries, same idea
Most black pudding recipes derive from the same need to make use of everything when a pig is butchered. They follow the same basic recipe and use similar flavourings such as onions, mace and black pepper.
The main versions and the key ingredients are summarised below.
Black pudding - UK - pigs blood, pork fat and cereal (oatmeal and or barley)
Drisheen - Ireland - as above but with lamb's blood
Boudin noir - France - pigs blood, pork fat, breadcrumbs, brandy or calvados and cream
Morcilla - Spain - pigs blood, pork fat, paprika, cooked long grain rice, sherry and sometimes raisins
Blutwurst - Germany - pigs blood, diced bacon and lungs
The heartland for black puddings must be Lancashire. A visit to any of the markets in Lancashire, such as Preston, Bury or Accrington Stanley is a must for the black pudding connoisseur.
Black Pudding throwing IS a sport
The World Black Pudding throwing Competition takes place every year in Bury, the object is to throw puddings at a row of Yorkshire Puddings on a wall and knock off as many as possible!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3146468.stm
Fancy making one this is how to do it
ingredients
2 litres blood
Casings, beef runners of large hog casings (optional)
3 onions, finely chopped
1 kg of suet or diced pork fat (back fat or bacon fat)
500ml double cream
500g oatmeal, soaked overnight in water)
500g barley, boiled in water for 30 minutes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon mixed herbs or ground coriander
1 teaspoon black pepper or cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground mace
Soften the onions in a quarter of the fat, make sure that they do not colour. Add the rest of the fat and leave to slowly sweat for 10 minutes Add the oatmeal and cream and cook for a few minutes Add the rest of the ingredients and stir over a gentle heat for 5 minutes If you are using skins, these can now be filled and sealed with two knots. The puddings can then be poached in barely simmering water for 5 - 10 minutes. Splitting is common, to avoid this prick the puddings with a needle and cook on the lowest possible simmer (better to cook them very, very slowly then to lose them). Any pudding which floats to the top should also be pricked, they are cooked when brown liquid comes out. They can then be drained and kept in a fridge for 1 - 2 weeks
An easier method is to bake the pudding in an ovenproof container, and cook in a bain marie (by standing the tin in a larger tin half filled with water) in a low oven (160 degree or gas mark 2) for 1 - 2 hours until the mixture is firm to the touch Make sure that the mixture has started to thicken and coat your stirring spoon (as with a custard) before pouring into the container and stir well first (this should ensure that the ingredients are evenly mixed)
You can then cut slices and fry or bake
Try it - you might be converted!