Showing posts with label Pudding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pudding. Show all posts

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The Cookbook Challenge - Week 13 - Love - Molten Chocolate Puddings

Love is.... serving chocolate pudding just the way he likes it - to his desk while he plays Battlefield on the computer on Valentine's Day.

Love is.... serving it undercooked because that's the way he likes it, despite the fact it will photograph badly for the blog.


Love is.... making a recipe that's from a book I've already used for the cookbook challenge, and a recipe I've made before, because he "loves chocolate pudding even more than chocolate mousse" - this was a big call from someone who rarely orders dessert, but if he does it's chocolate mousse. 

I came across this recipe when I was making Spicy Chicken Thighs from Bill Granger's Every Day for Week 10 of the challenge.  

Love is.... having made this recipe five times since Week 10 of the challenge, and it's only Week 13 now.

Ok, you get the point. This is why I chose this recipe for our love theme. And I stuck a white chocolate heart on it for bonus points - but didn't serve him that one, since he doesn't like white chocolate. See how much I love him?

This is a simple, molten centred pudding that I haven't had fail yet. The first time I made it, following Bill's cooking time instructions (10 minutes) it was only just firm and held its shape, you could probably cook it for 10 1/2 - 11 minutes and still have a gooey middle, but I cook it for 9 1/2 to get it the way he likes it. I like it either way, but tend to leave mine in the oven for the 30 seconds it takes me to plate his up, just for a little more cake, and a little less batter. I also always wish I'd made enough for two each!





Here's one I prepared earlier - about 11 minutes in the oven - I also didn't have it on the middle shelf, and it was a little too close to the bottom element, as you can see from the "robust" colouring.












Molten Chocolate Puddings - Bill Granger's Every Day
Serves two 
(but doubles well, just use four ramekins as they won't cook well as two larger puddings)

50g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
50g dark chocolate, chopped
1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 teaspoon plain flour


Preheat the oven to 220 degrees. Butter two 250ml ovenproof ramekins and dust with cocoa powder, shaking out any excess.


Melt the chocolate and butter together in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water or in the microwave on 50%. While the chocolate is melting use and electric whisk to beat the egg, yolk and sugar until pale and thick.


 Isn't that cute? I have no idea how the shadow is trying to create a heart, but it's very suitable for Valentine's Day

Pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture, sift in the flour and gently fold in. Spoon into the ramekins and bake for 10 minutes. Serve either in the ramekins or turned out onto serving plates.


There you go. That's something by Kate. Happy Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Bread and Cinnamon Chai Butter Pudding with Raspberry Glaze

I had half a loaf of Glick's Sweet Challah sitting on my bench, left over from my visit to Costo last week, and was a bit tired of having it toasted with strawberry & vanilla conserve.  I also wanted to play a bit more with the Bondi Chai tea powder that Martin sent me.  How could I combine those two things to make something delicious? Turns out, it was easy-peasy! Old school bread and butter pudding, livened up a little.



The English are famous for their puddings so I turned to Cook with Jamie Oliver for a quick refresher on what goes into the custard, and I was away!

I made the chai butter, by mixing 100g softened butter with 1 1/2 teaspoons of Bondi Chai Club Cinnamon, and spread it on both sides of sliced up Challah bread.


Layered the bread in a shallow baking dish, also spread with the chai butter.

Warm 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 3/4 cups cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste over a really low heat - below a simmer.

While that's heating, beat 6 egg yolks, and 1 whole egg, then pour the warm cream mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly.

Pour the custard over the layered bread, dunking any bits that stick out to make sure they're coated, and leave to soak for about 1/2 hour.


Place the baking dish into a roasting tray, and pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the side of the dish - making sure it's not so full that you won't be able to lift it into and out of the oven safely!

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees (fan forced) for 45 minutes. After this, microwave 1/4 cup raspberry jam for about 20 seconds on high, and brush generously over the bread tops. Return to the oven for 10 minutes.

Allow the pudding to cool for at least 10 minutes before you serve it - although it will be tough to wait!

I love the balance of creamy, cinnamon spicy, gooeyness, and jammy toastiness, so try to make sure everyone gets a bit of both when you serve it. Be warned, it's very addictive, and very filling. I had to warn Mr Something not to jiggle the couch too much, because my belly might have overflowed! Yet I still have some left - YAY!


Guess what I'm having for dessert tonight!

There you go. That's something by Kate.

 
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