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Chocolate Pudding infused with Lavender

September 13, 2007 |

Gardening is an exercise in optimism. Sometimes,
it is a triumph of hope over experience.
- Marina Schinz

The In Season series is a web diary of the gardening successes and mishaps of two eternally hopeful novices. The ladybug above will lead you to previous posts in the series.

Munstead Lavender

We planted eight lavender bushes in two varieties - Munstead and Hidcote. Both are types of English lavender, perennial in our climate zone. (More about lavender varieties HERE)

Despite our unstinted devotion to chocolate, we don’t cook much with it. We prefer to eat it neat. There’s the chocolate cake (or two) that we prepare for special events. As for the chocolate recipes we prepare on a regular basis, there are just a couple.

There are the brownies which we prepare for potlucks, or picnics and can be served conveniently, just on a napkin.

Our absolute favourite, though, is the chocolate pudding. It packs a big chocolate flavour with very little work. This is another Gourmet Magazine classic. Their executive editor Sara Moulton featured it on her “Cooking Live” Show on Food Network five or six years ago. Since then it has been a regular at our home.

Oddly, we can’t find this recipe anywhere on the internet. We do have a chocolate-smeared printout in our recipe file which we no longer refer to, ‘cos we’ve made this dish so many times, we know the recipe by heart.

Edited to add: Susan found the link for the original recipe. Thanks, Susan.

Both, the brownies and the chocolate pudding, are very versatile. When paired with a new flavour, they transform into a whole new dish.

Every home has a select few ‘family favourites’ everyone loves, and associates with a special feeling that comes with being part of THAT family. The dish becomes a tradition, and when you cook and eat it together it feels like a group hug. In our home, nothing denotes group hug more than Homemade Pizza and Chocolate Pudding. For a little twist, we infused it with lavender from our garden. Lavender elevates chocolate to a whole new realm of sophistication.

What is your family’s favourite recipe? We’d like to hear about it.

If you are a chocoholic who doesn’t like/eat eggs, this recipe is perfect. The egg yolk in the recipe can be easily omitted.

This is the original recipe for plain chocolate pudding.

Variations:
For lavender chocolate pudding, bring the milk to a boil with a few sprigs of organic lavender, strain it, then use the milk to make chocolate pudding.
Add a dash of Grand Marnier and orange zest for Chocolate-Orange Pudding.
Or spice it up with candied and fresh ginger.

Chocolate Pudding

(adapted from this recipe from Gourmet Magazine)

(4 medium or six small portions)

1/2 cup sugar
**we use 1/4 cup
a pinch of salt
4 ounces fine-quality dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 and 1/3 cup milk (or soymilk)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 egg yolk (you can omit this - see note below)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or transfat-free margarine)
1/4 tsp vanilla

Our additions
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp instant espresso or coffee powder
1 tbsp Cognac, Bailey’s Irish Cream or Tia Maria

For garnish:
Chocolate shavings/dried orange apricots/almonds or whipped cream if you prefer.

Notes:

1. We often make a vegan version of this with dark chocolate, soymilk, and transfat-free margarine. It’s equally good.

2. You can omit the egg yolk (it adds richness) and add an extra teaspoon of butter. We usually skip the yolk.

3. To make a richer pudding, you can replace the milk with Half and Half (half milk, half cream). We’ve made this with 1% milk and soymilk as well. Turns out fine.

4. We usually set the pudding in either six small espresso cups or 4 teacups. Keep them handy before the pudding starts to thicken. Or use one large bowl.

Method:
1. Keep four to six bowls or cups (depending on size) or one large bowl ready on a tray, along with a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover all of them.

2. In a heavy saucepan on medium heat, add 1 cup of milk, the sugar, egg yolk, salt and chopped chocolate. Whisk it and let it heat up.
(To speed up the process, mix the cold milk and egg yolk well, heat it in the microwave and add it to the rest of the ingredients in the saucepan.)

3. Meanwhile, in a cup, add the cocoa powder, instant coffee and cornstarch. Add the remaining 1/3 cup milk, stir until the powders dissolve, then use a tea strainer to strain the mixture into the pan on the stove.

4. When it starts simmering, whisk it and add the liqueur. Keep an eye on it as it comes to a boil. Three or four minutes after it comes to a boil, it will thicken and become like the consistency of custard before it sets. When it is very smooth and thick, test it. It should coat the back of a spoon and not merge back when you create a partition with your finger. It should not thicken so much that you have have trouble stirring it. If that happens, add a dash more of milk.

5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the butter and vanilla, stirring until the butter melts. Pour the pudding into the bowls or cups. Top with a dried apricot/almonds or garnish of choice. (if using chocolate curls or whipped cream, wait until later). Put the plastic wrap on the rim of the bowls to cover them to prevent a skin from forming.

6. Refrigerate until firm. (This will take 30-45 minutes for individual dishes, longer for the large bowl.) Serve plain or topped with garnish of choice.

Where does our chocolate come from?

U.S. consumers eat 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate annually, representing nearly half of the world’s supply. More than 75% of the chocolate consumed in the United States comes from 600,000 cocoa farms in Ivory Coast. The vast majority of West African cocoa farmers live in abject poverty. They and their children live and work in slave-like conditions to bring us our daily dose of chocolate.

Learn More @ Project Hope and Fairness

Mathematics practice at 10 PM under a street lamp in Sikasso.

(Picture from Project Hope and Fairness.)

Are you a fan of Nestle, Hersheys or M&Ms candy?

Every time you pick up a chocolate bar, you’re telling that chocolate company that there’s nothing wrong with the way they do business. In Africa, farmers operating cocoa farms are paid so little that they turn to slave labour - usually that of children. This is NOT child labour - they are not paid, they are forced to stay, locked up at night, beaten and killed for doing an unsatisfactory job or trying to escape. This is MODERN DAY SLAVERY in no uncertain terms, and though it is well known, nothing is being done. …

It would cost Nestle approximately US $0.002 per candy bar to switch to fair trade cocoa.

Read on …

Fair Trade Certification ensures that farmers are paid a fair price for their goods, those goods are not made using child labor, and environmental sustainability is maintained.

Sources for Fair Trade Chocolate.

Global Exchange Fair trade Online Store.

Local Fair Trade Food Resources.

100% Fair Trade Companies.

National Retailers who carry Fair Trade products.

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Chocolate, chocolate-pudding, cocoa-farmers, Coffee, Cooking-Live, dairy, Dairy/Cheese, fair-trade, Food-Network, Gourmet-Magazine, Ivory-Coast, Lavender, lifestyle, munstead-lavender, Project-hope-and-fairness, Sara-Moulton, vegan recipes, vegetarian recipes

SPEAK YOUR MIND

53 Comments so far

rashmi on September 13, 2007 7:07 pm
wow! i am the first one to comment…..so guys are on chocolate kind of fever….i luv chocolates….lovely lavender bushes….. :yes:…..beautiful snaps too…..
Linda on September 13, 2007 7:45 pm
Homemade brownies. Homemade pudding. OMG. Don’t you kids work!?? I am feeling like a neglectful mother. My kids are lucky to get a birthday cake once a year! This looks easy enough even for me though — will have to try with my daughter
keerthi cherukuri on September 13, 2007 7:48 pm
As always, amazing photography…Fair Trade Certification is a new term to me…Very informative…thanks for sharing
Anh on September 13, 2007 8:14 pm
Another marvelous post and photos!!! Your blog is full of indulgent!
sreelu on September 13, 2007 8:24 pm
Bee & Jai, I grow english lavender, never thought of using it beyond making sachets to put in closets.
This is so cool lavender and chocolate
Laavanya on September 13, 2007 8:28 pm
What an easy chocolate pudding recipe - a definite hit to curb those chocolate cravings. The snap with the lavender and rose beside the cup reminds me of a cozy breakfast served at a B&B.
roopa on September 13, 2007 8:36 pm
wow choclate spree on the go anything whith choclate i can’t resist!
arundati on September 13, 2007 9:13 pm
b&j….have never ever tried any other pudding save for caramel pudding…this looks so simple and has the jugalbandi stamp of guarantee…something that i will try for sure….amma was saying last night that i’d better use diabetic sugar substitute if i was plotting another dessert assault on her!! i think i need to run to the supermarket!!
Cynthia on September 13, 2007 9:20 pm
You’re a chocoholic! That’s pure wickeness in that cup

I have a friend whose recently stopped eating chocolate because of the child labour issues. Poor thing is experiencing withdrawal symptoms
Anu on September 13, 2007 9:53 pm
Very informative and well written article. You guys are on a chocolate recipe spree..yummmmy :)Your posts tempt me to eat more chocolate.
lathanarasimhan on September 13, 2007 9:57 pm
It is very true that the farmer does not get the benefit of the demand their produce has in the market! It is true of other arts also, where the artisans do not get the benefit.
While the fashion designers earn in crores, the zardosi work is done by children under 10 years in poorly lit huts in dharave slums, Bombay!
Srivalli on September 13, 2007 10:02 pm
very informative post…that fair trade certification can be found on the packing?…haven’t seen on cadburys though. Chocolate pudding looks amazing…

if you guys don’t mind me asking …wonder what kind of exercise you guys do..if I eat as much a little, put on weight..:embarrass..or do you sponsor them off, if so will give you my address..won’t mind putting on weight after eating such goodies.
sra on September 13, 2007 10:29 pm
I’m imagining things, I know, but the chocolate shavings seem to have a lavender tinge to them!
Rachna on September 13, 2007 11:22 pm
there are so many dishes that bring us togethor as a family…but i would choose…chole bhature…

yeah … kill us with more chocolate… easy peasy pudding recipe…will def try… offcourse beautiful pics
Nirmala on September 14, 2007 12:05 am
You guys are really killing me. Am actually running to the supermarket as my chocolate bars are over when I made the brownie last week. Thought of getting them next month now u’re forcefully making me to get them today. My mind curses you but my heart and toungue loves you for these excellent creations. Thanks a lot for making the entire foodie community drool over their monitors. well done ! Good job ! ha ha!
Latha on September 14, 2007 12:05 am
oh my, oh my! what a beauty
nandita on September 14, 2007 12:42 am
Just finished making a double choco pudding pie from Ellie Krieger’s recipe - have kept it in the fridge to set.
And I come here to see another choco pudding…:)
Love the lavender, do you dry it up and use it to scent your home too?
Nags on September 14, 2007 1:29 am
whenever i go thru ur posts, i go thru a mix of emotions.. today it was.

1. hmm lavender
2. wow that pic looks awesome, check out the choc shavings on top, yummy!
3. oh whats this black and white pic?
4. ohh.. i didnt know about fair trade issues
5. thats all it costs nestle? then why dont they do it..?
6. (thinking thinking thinking)

thanks for the lovely experience that is your blog!
i hope my cheesiness does not turn you off
shammi on September 14, 2007 1:58 am
Hmmm… oddly enough, I’ve been musing over chocolate-lavender cupcake recipes. Guess it’s time to stop musing and start baking! That pudding looks SINFUL!
Jyothsna on September 14, 2007 2:23 am
You can’t kill us with more chocolate! This is sinful!
Asha on September 14, 2007 5:00 am
I love the smell of Lavender, Chocolate not much but pudding looks divine though. Have a great weekend, see you on Monday!:))
Meeta on September 14, 2007 5:03 am
I am always a little hesitant to use lavender in my cooking - I never know how intensive its flavoring will end up. But combining it with chocolate is a fantastic idea! Lovely!
Padma on September 14, 2007 5:37 am
Are you on a chocolate roll these days…I am yet to comment on yesterdays post and landed here again on such incredibly looking recipe, not a lover of chocolate but have it once in a while…jus a bite or two. I would love to see more pastrie recipes (Indian ones’ like the one we used to get in monginis and basking robins, if you have it) I am dying to have them..
another greaat creation from JB team… :yes:
Raaga on September 14, 2007 5:44 am
Lovely recipe and thanks for letting us know about Fair Trade. Your posts are about so much more than just food.
richa on September 14, 2007 5:53 am
finally an eggless choc pudding recipe that works
2.8 b pounds, now that is some stats, thanks for the links…….
Happy Cook on September 14, 2007 6:49 am
I love anything with chocolate. With lavender it sounds exqusite. And a page with full of information
Pooja on September 14, 2007 6:53 am
OMG….chocoholic in me has laid eyes on this recipe n cant get it out of mind…Will make it over d weekend ….I think i m getting desparet to eat it….i will mostly make it today !
sandeepa on September 14, 2007 7:04 am
That pic is a keeper. It is very very beautiful
TBC on September 14, 2007 7:32 am
Nice! Any substitutions u would recommend for the liqueur/alcohol used? Don’t want to run to the liquor store to get that for a single recipe, though my husband would like that

there is no substitute for good booze. - b.
Mishmash! on September 14, 2007 9:14 am
This pic too has an English summer look which I LOVE
Bharathy on September 14, 2007 10:06 am
this post is tooo good to comment with words and emoticons
sharmi on September 14, 2007 11:32 am
while I visited Hershey’s I captured a video of how chocolate is exported from Africa etc. your post is lovely.
Roopa (KitchenAromas) on September 14, 2007 11:36 am
Thank you for a wonderful recipe! My recipe for chocolate pudding is pretty close! I use both almond and vanilla essence and top with toasted almonds. Sometime I also use dried cherries! I’d love to try with lavender! I’ve switched to fair trade coffee and chocolate for a while now. To me, they taste better just knowing that it is fair trade! Great job on spreading the word.
Smita on September 14, 2007 12:54 pm
Perfect timing - I’ve been feeling the urge to decapitate the lavender plant (evil laugh)!!!
Anonymous on September 14, 2007 4:59 pm
Hi Bee,
Thanks for dropping by my blog and now I’ve discovered your blog.

As for my family’s favourite recipes, there’s actually quite a few and it has evolved as the kids grew up and changes in our lifestyle (e.g. more focus on healthy eating). When I return to Singapore (end of the year), I’ll have think about that more and maybe write a post about it because it is an interesting question.

Have a good weekend!
Nora on September 14, 2007 5:04 pm
Sorry Bee, the above comment is from me.
p/s: I just looked at your archives. You have beautiful photos.
Arun Shanbhag on September 15, 2007 7:01 am
Thank you Jay and Bee for sharing this beautiful.
Not a big fan of chocolate, but could be converted by your enticing pics.

I do have a lavender bush in my garden and never knew what tyoe it is. Looks like a lavandin - will have to compare closely!
Congratulations on a wonderful site.
:-)
Smita on September 15, 2007 10:13 am
Your comment (at my blog) made me smile - busted!! I first made the shortbread, it was for family who sought ‘eggless’ baked goods, almost impossible to find in the US. I balked at the amount of butter and didn’t think to write the recipe down. I thought to myself, “This has way too much butter. I don’t think I will need this recipe again” Of course, after I wrote that post I ate my words :-) Such is life, no?!
sunita on September 15, 2007 12:20 pm
Gorgeous pictures of a divine pudding…the chocoholic in me is drooling over
neroli on September 15, 2007 7:48 pm
Fabulous—thank you!
I do so love floral notes with bitter notes!
*sigh*
Nirmala on September 15, 2007 11:50 pm
Bee, the regular supermarket where I get baking chocolate is out of stock of those bars! Grrr! Now I will say what I have. Please give me the subtitutes. I am desperately longing for these brownies. I have 2 bars of while chocolate and drinking chocolate (Thats all I could pick from the supermarket). So tell me what should I do?
lakshmi on September 16, 2007 6:00 am
our family’s group hug has to be ghee biscuits (cookies made out of ghee) - we have cooked whole dabbas of this together for a zillion people and for almost any occassion.

i’d say this has been the family’s group hug for ages - my paatti used to make these on a stove in a three compartment container with sand in the lowest, biscuits in the middle and charcoal in the top container.
Nupur on September 16, 2007 7:01 am
B & J, this post just might be the perfect entry for this event:
http://rkhooks.net/2007/09/03/stop-the-traffik-chocolate-event/

thanks for the link, nupur. for this dish we used Guittard, and aren’t sure if it is Fair Trade, so we won’t be sending this for the event. - b.
Susan on September 17, 2007 7:01 am
Love, love, love the lavender. A great touch. (Just made cupcakes w/ it last night.)

BTW, here’s the original recipe, doubling your quantity:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/
0,,FOOD_9936_13793,00.html?rsrc=search
Susan on September 17, 2007 7:03 am
Link weirded out in previous post, but you know what I mean. I’ll try one more time:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_13793,00.html?rsrc=search

thanks a ton, susan. will amend the post to add the link. - b.
wokandspoon on September 17, 2007 9:42 am
Hello there. Thanks for dropping by my blog. This pudding looks incredibly decadent and I love your blog!!
Anonymous on September 17, 2007 1:48 pm
2.8 billion lbs annually…..that’s approx 11 gms per day/per head…..not bad….
Sirisha Kilambi on September 17, 2007 4:17 pm
Hey bee….awesome pics…Lavendar and choclate combo rocks dear ;-)
Cucumbers … and the Summer Bounty » jugalbandi on September 24, 2007 8:34 pm
[…] Chocolate Pudding infused with Lavender […]
Raji on November 4, 2007 10:18 pm
I made this too on the weekend and since it was so incredibly rich, poured it into shot glasses, since thats all I thought people would be able to take of so much decadence at one time Thanks !

Raji
enjay on April 6, 2008 9:40 am
Delicious!! I made this without the egg and the liquor and topped with toasted coconut..definitely a big bang with a small serve. We are not really chocoholics, but this was SO satisfying! Thanks.
enjay on August 3, 2008 3:43 pm
I’ve made this from your recipe several times; its perfect. Today, we are going to try the lavender version. Thank you from the bottom of my chocoholic heart.
Tried & Tested Jugalbandi - Chocolate pudding « Amma’s special… on August 10, 2008 8:42 pm
[…] made this lovely pudding (long awaited recipe) for my brother’s […]

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Chocolate Pudding infused with Lavender

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