Pudding time

I attempted to make a Christmas pudding tonight. I am 50 years old in two weeks and I have never made a Christmas pudding before! I realised that the fuss is in the cooking and am now experimenting with the slow cooker as I can't face the idea of steaming for 10 hours as the kitchen will get like a sauna! I am making two types of pudding; one traditional and one from the recipe below which is chocolate and panettone Christmas pudding.

100g ready to eat dried figs (chopped)
150g each sultanas, raisins and currants
50g dried cranberries
1 large apple, peeled, cored and coarsely grated
Finely grated zest of one lemon
50 ml of brandy (I added a little more!)
150g self-raising flour
2 tsp ground mixed spice
175g unsalted butter, melted
200g panettone, torn up
3 large free-range eggs, beaten
100g soft light brown sugar
100g plain chocolate, chopped

1. Mix dried fruits, apple, lemon zest and brandy in a large bowl. In another bowl, sift together the flour, spice and a pinch of salt. Pour the butter over the dried fruit mix. Stir in the panettone, eggs, sugar, chocolate and spiced flour.

2. Spoon into greased pudding bowls (I used two 1 pint bowls and had enough over for a small one). Steam.. for 3 hours; only I am trying it in the slow cooker.. will await outcome eagerly!