A dessert courtesy a dentist....

There is a friend A, who i got introduced to a couple of years back Since then we have been hitting it off real well sending numerous sms's revolving around everything and anything under the sun. Although she's much older to me, there's something very comforting about her. She's a good cook too apart from being a dentist (and Yes, I have a never ending fear for dentists)and sends me many a pudding recipes all through the mobile phone. One such recipe is what I have on my blog today. I have made it a number of times now and its a regular at many a households. I recently acquired a bag of hershey's goodies and their unsweetened cocoa powder works best in this pudding.

This is a very simple dessert that requires no baking and involves very little ingredients. Easy to put together, this is definitely a treat. My measurements are as per A's. According to her, Britannia milk bikis works best for the sole reason that don't get over soggy and result in a soggy crust.

What you need are (adjust as per pan size):
Britannia Milk Bikis- 3 packets
Hershey's Unsweetened Cocoa Powder-4 t heaped
Fresh Cream-200 ml
Powdered Sugar-6 T (adjust as per your taste)
Cold Milk-2 cups

Make a creamy mixture using the cream, cocoa powder and the sugar.

Grease a pan. Soak the biscuits one by one in milk and arrange them forming the base of the pudding. Add the prepared mixture covering the entire base. Follow this by another layer of biscuits and then the mix until you have finished the entire biscuits and the mix. Grate chocolate for that extra choco fix. a healthy choice is what that would be. Chill this in the refrigerator for a couple of hours then slice in.

If you are impatient like me, you'd get a slice (very mushy) as you see at the top in the picture above and the other is a well-chilled slice. A scoop of vanilla icecream would compliment this but this by itself makes a yummy desseert and beware it is addictive.

A steamed lemon pudding+ treacle soaked kiwis for the Daring Bakers

The April 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Esther of The Lilac Kitchen. She challenged everyone to make a traditional British pudding using, if possible, a very traditional British ingredient: suet.

It is the 27th of the month and the day the Daring bakers post. This was the only challenge that I had finished way too early. The challenge was to make a very British dish with a very British ingredient., a steamed (not baked) pudding with the very British ingredient being Suet. Now what is a suet? It is ahard animal fat and that is something that is never used at home and not really in a pudding. So there that was a reason for me not doing the challenge. But then when the hostess usggested one can use butter or shortening in place of suet, I was relieved because steamed pudding especially christmas and sticky date puddings and this was one chance to try an alternative. 

I have been wanting to try hot lemon puddings that I used to relish at an elderly aunt's place. Any dessert she makes is of the citrus flavour. She usually makes them in  alarge dish. I decided to make individual puddings to serve just my husband and myself. However hard I've tried she just does not divulge the recipe. I have trying a lot of recipes since and here's one that came very close to one she makes.

I used 2 ramekins as moulds. So here's the recipe:

1/2 C unsalted butter

1 C of powdered sugar (vary this according to how sour the lemons are)

2 eggs

1 C of  Flour

1t Baking powder

1 t Bakingsoda

Zest and juice of 2 lemons

In a heat proof bowl placed over a bowl of simmering hot water, whisk the eggs and sugar to a smooth consistency.  Beat in the butter and whisk until a thick creamy mixture is attained. Cool this. Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda and fold it into the butter mixture. Fold in the zest and juice finally.

Grease 2 ramekins and spoon the mixture in them. Double seal the ramekins with foil. Place in a steamer ensuring that water reaches a third of the sides of the rameking. Steam for about an hour and cool and then unmould.

The aunt serves lemon curd with this but I served them with sugar and lemon juice steeped kiwi slices and drizzled with treacle...

Verdict:
For those who love a shot of citrus, this is a must...
Ease of preparing and serving makes it an ideal dessert... and
the sweeteness of the treacle soaked kiwi slices and the zesty lemon pudding is something I cannot describe for it is for you to make and taste...