Thursday

The Chocolate Pudding That Changed Our Lives

In the days of teens, jobs and busyness, family dinners that have long been a tradition have become much more difficult to secure!

To ease this problem, since January this year we have started Wednesday night dinners. That's the one night each week everyone should be home by 6:00, ready to eat. It's the only night of the week that we know everyone is free and not working. I somehow also declared that it would be a night that I would try new recipes.


Thankfully I added that no complaints could be uttered if I tried new things that didn't work.

Now it seems every time I turn around it is Wednesday and I'm scrambling for a new recipe and something homemade, wondering what possessed me to add that last declaration!

We've had taco night where I attempted my own soft corn taco shells (not so much), tilapia with corn salsa, brussel sprouts and mushrooms, individual little salads as shown above, a new homemade mac n cheese, and the chocolate pudding that changed our lives.

One of my cooking secrets is this: when I google for a recipe, I enter the adjective that I'm feeling. For example, "yummy cornbread" or "amazing homemade pudding". Isn't that goofy? But I find the best recipes that way.

The night I made the pudding, my daughter and I tasted it before dinner. We swooned and went into fits over how good it was, then secretly (between us) ate a whole bowlful each BEFORE dinner, as we watched an episode of "Good Luck Charlie". Then we silently ate it again with the family at dinner.

We were sick to our stomachs after dinner. We ate ourselves silly with this pudding.

It's good cold, it's good warm, it's extra good with Cool Whip.

Of all the recipes I've tried, this has gotten more comments than any others. Everyone says it's the best pudding ever.

So I know you'll be wanting the recipe, so it is listed at the end of this post. But first, another little thing we added to our dinners, well most of them...topics! Since everyone is older and can think through issues on their own, someone comes up with a topic to debate. Don't be too impressed. Sometimes it lasts 3 minutes because no one is into it, and sometimes it's long and almost passionate.

We've discussed the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana, teachers carrying guns in school, what we would do with a million dollars if we had to give it away, polygamy, the new pope and many more stirring controveries. Sometimes we have extras at dinner and they have to play too. Very interesting what emerges in conversation!

Anyway, here's the recipe. (Warning, take care making this. Stay with it, don't get distracted. It takes a little care and stirring). ENJOY!!!

This recipe is from TASTE OF HOME so of course it is good.



Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups milk
  • 2 T. butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • Directions:
  • In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. gradually add milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Spoon into individual serving dishes. Chill until serving.  Yield: 6-8 servings





5 comments:

  1. LOL, I was getting all bunched up thinking about the perfect family sitting down to a wonderful meal and "discussing" the topic of choice as if dicussing which rose is the most beautiful in an English Garden...then you said some topics only last mere minutes!!! Yay we aren't the only ones! Love the "one night a week" family meal. Pick up a copy of "The New Laurel's Kitchen" cookbook, she has a wonderful expose in the beginning about the family table. I was entranced when I read it years ago. Leslie

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    1. Leslie, will have to check that book out! Things are never quite that "poetic" lol

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  2. This is a wonderful post Holly! Great ideas for busy families - (what families aren't busy?!) I love the idea of discussing various topics! I would have loved to hear all your thoughts on the new pope! :) We are excited and thrilled! We love that he took the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi! Frances of Assisi was the one who is credited with the saying "Preach the Gospel wherever you go, if necessary, use words." Whether or not he really said that, it's certainly something to remember. Blessings!

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    1. Karen, the new pope seems wonderful! It was interesting to talk about because the situation hadn't happened in centuries, watching the smoke stacks, then what he shared when chosen, very interesting watching history.

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  3. This is a wonderful post Holly! Great ideas for busy families - (what families aren't busy?!) I love the idea of discussing various topics! I would have loved to hear all your thoughts on the new pope! :) We are excited and thrilled! We love that he took the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi! Frances of Assisi was the one who is credited with the saying "Preach the Gospel wherever you go, if necessary, use words." Whether or not he really said that, it's certainly something to remember. Blessings!

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LOVE to hear from readers! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.