is your last chance to get out those basins, wooden spoons, mixers, moulds and cake tins and create two of the best-loved staples of festive eating: Christmas pudding and fruit cake because the ingredients need time to "soak'' in rum before mixing.

Pound cake, of course, can be made any time, but it's as well to have some on hand for early Christmas callers.

If you don't have your own "family'' recipe for these favourites, you'll enjoy these, which are taken from some of our traditional Bermuda cookbooks: DARK FRUIT CAKE 1 pkg. seeded raisins 1 pkg. currants 1 lb. cherries 1 cup black rum 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. each mace, allspice, and cinnamon 4 cups flour 1 lb. butter 1 pkg. seedless raisins 2 lbs. mixed peel, chopped 1 dozen eggs 1 tsp. each: essence of lemon, vanilla, almond 1 tsp. soda dissolved in a little water 21 cups brown sugar CUT UP fruit, except cherries, and put in a large bottle; pour the rum over it and let stand for 1 week or longer, turning bottle occasionally so fruit is well soaked.

Cream flour and butter together until light and fluffy. Beat egg yolks and sugar together in large bowl. Beat egg whites until stiff. Add egg whites to egg yolks and sugar mixture. Add liquid flavourings and salt, stir and mix well together. Add egg mixture to flour and butter, blend well together.

When mixed together well, add soaked fruit dusted with a little flour, spices, soda, and cherries. Stir until fruit is distributed evenly through the mixture. Pour in pan and bake in slow oven (250 or 275 degrees F.) for 4 hours. (Traditional Bermuda Recipes -- Thelma Trott) .

OLD ENGLISH PLUM PUDDING 1 lb. dried currants 1 lb. seedless raisins 1 lb. seeded raisins or sultanas 1 lb. mixed candied peel 1 cup glace cherries, cut-up 11 cups dark rum 1 orange 1 lemon 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon ginger 1 teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon mace 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup fine dry bread crumbs 1 cup dark brown sugar (well-packed) 1 lb. ground beef suet 4 eggs well-beaten 1 cup molasses 1 cup brandy 1 cup blanched almonds, slivered PLACE dried fruit in rum and grated rind and juice of orange and lemon in a very large glass jar. Screw lid on and soak for a week, turning mixture regularly so ingredients are evenly soaked.

Sift spices, salt and flour into a large mixing bowl. Add dried bread crumbs (put 6 bread slices in 250-degree F. oven for one hour, then roll). Add remaining ingredients in order given, mixing well. Stir in fruit last.

Butter well two 6-cup (average size) fluted pudding moulds and one 4-cup size.

Firmly pack pudding batter into these three moulds, cover each with waxed paper and then the tight fitting lids.

Steam the two large moulds in your roasting pan, and the smaller mould in a cooking pot. The moulds should rest on racks (or inverted pie pans or custard cups). Boiling water should be poured in half way up the sides of the moulds.

The water should be kept at a good boil. When more water has to be added to keep at the half way mark, be sure that it is boiling. Steam for 5 hours.

Remove from water, allow to cool, store in refrigerator.

To serve: Re-steam for about 11 hours. Unmould onto your best plate. Heat about 2 ounces of brandy in a small saucepan until almost boiling. Pour over pudding and ignite. Transport immediately to a darkened dining room to get the most dramatic effect. Serve with Hard Sauce (see recipe below).

HARD SAUCE 1 cup butter 1 cup sifted icing sugar 1 teaspoon rum or brandy pinch of salt CREAM butter, add sugar gradually. Add salt and spirit. Taste to see if more rum is needed. When sauce is smooth, pile lightly in a bowl and chill. If desired 1 cup whipped cream can be added just before serving. (What's Cooking in Bermuda, by Betsy Ross).

PLAIN POUND CAKE 1 lb. sugar 1 dozen eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 2 tbsp. brandy 1 lb. butter 1 lb. flour 2 tsps. lemon flavouring 1 tsp. nutmeg CREAM butter and sugar well. Add eggs one at a time. Add flavourings, then flour a little at a time. Mix well. Pour in pan lined with wax paper. Bake in moderate oven at 325 degrees F. for 2 3 hours.