For many years, the traditional Christmas luncheon has been dominated by European cuisine and a dash of American Hollywood.

Images of a glowing fireplace, the family dressed in their Christmas winter woollies while the snow gently falls outside the windows has been embedded in Western culture.

But what if you live in a country with a balmy Christmas climate?

Ultimately the reality of burning sun, drought, torrential flooding, blue skies and blowflies quickly destroys the fantasy of a white Christmas.

Therefore, you may not prefer to sit down to a heavy meal of roast meat, hot plum pudding and custard with lashings of warm eggnog.

So for those soon planning a Christmas luncheon, here is an alternative recipe idea with a summer twist.

Ice-cream Christmas Pudding 

• 1 Lt chocolate ice cream
• 1 cup mixed glace fruit, chopped (cherries, apricots, pears)
• 90g sultanas
• 70g golden raisons
• 30mls dark rum

1. Soften, but do not melt the ice cream.
2. Add all the chopped glace fruits, dried fruits and rum.
3. Mix in fruits until well combined.
4. Pour into an oiled and cling wrap lined 1.5 Lt pudding mould.
5. Freeze overnight.
6. To unmold the pudding, briefly run the outside of the mould under warm water.
7. Slice into individual portions and serve with Crème Fraiche and fresh raspberries

Serves 8.