I was notorious in my family for being the child that could only be comforted by my mother.
Most playful family weekends, the scene went something like this: I’d be in the backyard playing with my little sister, my dad and Scamper, the family dog on our creaky, rusted and awesomely fun swing set. My favorite move was to swing as high as I could, count to three with my sister and jump out of the swings onto the grass. Sounds innocent enough, but I was always getting my little girl fingers stuck in the chains of the swing as I dismounted.
I’d hit the ground and look at my dad with the silent cry face… the face kids give their parents before the completely lose it and burst into tears. My dad would invariable come over and try to talk me out of losing it, but I was already halfway into the ugly cry by then. It was then that no one but my mom could handle the cajoling and kissing of my finger. I’d run into the house, screaming like a maniac and clutching my (not even bleeding) finger, looking for my mother who had found just a few moments peace to take a shower or a short nap. I’d force myself into her lap, lift the offending, pained finger, and wait for the mom comfort to blanket me. So good.
Come to think of it, that swing set caused as many injuries as it did smiles.
Come to think of it, jumping off the swing set is always worth the hurt finger.
Come to think of it, this pudding has much the same healing qualities as my mom’s lap.
Milk Chocolate Pudding … holy wow! It’s super simple, brilliantly satisfying, and you can have it as is, or doll it up with lightly sweetened cream and easy homemade raspberry sauce. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Mother’s Day treats? Yea… I thought so.
Milk Chocolate Pudding
Gourmet, February 2007
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
4 ounces fine-quality milk chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil over moderately high heat, whisking constantly. Boil, whisking for two minutes. Mixture will be thick. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate pieces and vanilla extract. Stir until melted and smooth.
Transfer pudding to four or six small dishes. Cover the surface with wax paper, to prevent a skin from forming, and place in the fridge until cool and set, about two hours.
In the meantime, make the whipped cream and raspberry sauce.
To assemble, top the chocolate pudding with whipped cream and raspberry sauce and serve immediately. If you would like to assemble dessert and return it to the fridge, you may want to place the raspberry sauce beneath the whipped cream so it doesn’t bleed as much.
Whipped Cream
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons powdered sugar.
Whip heavy cream with an electric hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer until frothy. Add the sugar and continue to whip until soft peaks form. Whip the cream slightly longer if you like a stiffer hold to your whipped cream. Place in the fridge to save for assembly.
Easy Raspberry Sauce
1/2 of a 12-ounce bag frozen raspberries, thawed
1 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoons water
Place the thawed raspberries in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Add sugar and water and mix until the raspberries form a smooth puree. Transfer raspberry puree to a fine mesh strainer fit over a bowl. Press the puree through the strainer, until only the raspberry seeds and a bit of pump remain the the strainer, and a beautiful raspberry sauce is all that’s in the bowl.
Vanessa
Hi Joy, I read the interview with you on the Times website and found your blog. It’s such a pleasure to read and the pictures are a treat for the eyes. I adore raspberries and chocolate so this is an absolute MUST for me. Thanks so much.
Verbenabeth
Ok, this is absolutely delicious! My daughters spent 20 minutes cleaning out the pan with spoons and finally their hands. :) Good thing we’re washing hair today as they have it splattered there too!!! Thanks for another winner recipe, Joy.
Qte
first time in your blog and i love it!! amazingly cute and delicious! i love your presentation of these puddings. i will try to make these.. thanks for sharing..
Specs
Your presentation’s just awesome!
I found the sugar a bit on the lower side. It needed at least a tablespoon more.
The texture was… AMAZING. It was perfectly pillowy and very very easy to make. Overall 4/5 to myself for the effort and 5/5 to you for recipe and presentation! :D
unconfidentialcook
I hope someone makes this for me on Mother’s Day!
green ink
I love the jar presentation idea, so pretty!
I’m yet to find a pudding equivalent for the touch of my mother’s hand on my tired face, but I’m willing to give this a go!
mahek
hi
such breathtaking pictures…..
The recipes are great too, i would have definetly tried this one but in India all the ingredients are not easily available and so its a bit difficult to search for some
I feel lucky to have discovered your site today
keep up your good work
will write to you!!!!!
JasSethi
:)
i can totally agree with u.
i stumbled upon the site about a week ago.
i’ve been just finding and working on ALL the recepies Joy has to offer that can be made here in India! :D
its amazing how food simply unites the world!
fabelicious
You kinda sound like my son. Only mommy’s kiss could magically take the boo-boos away…lol. Looks yummy…I love the mini jars that you used…
MsGourmet
The chocolate pudding looks delicious but the jars are just gorgeous!
Maja
(oh, and the jars are adorable, too!!! … i’m serious about the transportation question, where they a picnic hit? :))
Maja
Sooo pretty! Why are they in the jar, are you gonna transport the prettines someplace else?
Wendy
OMG. Love them. I love the mini-jars too.