Warm Chocolate Almond Pudding Food

CHOCOLATE PUDDING WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa powder, salt and warm water. Whisk to blend and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, 1 cup heavy cream and 1 cup of the milk. Stir to blend and bring the mixture back to a gentle simmer on low heat.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and the remaining 1/4 cup of milk until the mixture is smooth. Stir the cornstarch into the simmering chocolate mixture and continue cooking it over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 3 to 5 minutes. From time to time, use a whisk to blend the pudding and assure that it is not sticking to the bottom or sides and scorching as it cooks. Remove from the heat. Taste and add the vanilla and rum. Pour the pudding into a large bowl (or, if preferred, individual coffee cups) and cover tightly with plastic wrap so a skin doesn't form on top of the pudding. The plastic wrap should directly touch the top of the pudding in the bowl or cups. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
• In a medium bowl whisk the cream until thick. Alternatively, use the electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk in the sugar and vanilla until blended. Taste for sweetness and refrigerate until ready to use.
• When ready to serve, heat the oil in a medium skillet over low heat. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the almonds. Cook them, stirring, from time to time, until they turn golden brown, about 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them from the skillet to a paper towel or a kitchen towel to drain off excess oil. Season with salt, to taste.
• Remove the pudding from the refrigerator, discard the plastic wrap and sprinkle with the almonds. Top with dollops of the whipped cream or serve the cream on the side. Serve immediately.

WARM CHOCOLATE PUDDING ENCHILADAS WITH STRAWBERRY ALMOND SALSA

Steps:

• Melt chocolate and butter over simmering water in top of a double boiler.
• Pour 1/2 cup of the milk into a medium-size bowl. Whisk in the cornstarch, cocoa and 1/4 cup of the sugar.
• In a medium-size saucepan over medium heat, scald remaining 3 cups of milk and 1/2 cup of sugar by heating to just under a boil, when it begins to foam. Remove from heat, and whisk hot liquid into the cornstarch mixture. Return to heat and, while constantly scraping bottom of pan with a whisk, cook until tiny bubbles boil up for 10 seconds, no more.
• Put eggs and egg yolks in a bowl. Whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle in one cup of hot liquid. Pour everything back into saucepan. Simmer until tiny bubbles boil up again, constantly scraping bottom of pan with a whisk. Stir in Kahlua. Strain pudding, and fold in the melted chocolate and butter. Cover with wax paper to prevent a skin from forming. Set aside for one hour. Refrigerate until chilled.
• To make enchiladas, first make the crepes. Put flour, cocoa, sugar, milk and eggs in the bowl of a food processor, or blender and run at high speed for one minute. Scrape down the sides, and run for another 10 seconds. Let batter rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Place a nonstick saute pan or crepe pan over medium-high heat for one minute. Remove it from heat and, holding it with one hand, pour 1/4 cup of the batter into it. Quickly tilt it so a thin film of batter coats pan's bottom. Return pan to heat, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the top looks set but not dry and you can lift crepe with a rubber spatula and then your fingers. (Cover your free hand with a paper towel to catch finished crepe.)
• Place crepes cooked-side-up on a sheet of waxed paper, and repeat with rest of batter. You should have 8 to 10.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly butter a cookie sheet.
• Place a crepe, cooked side up, on a dry work surface. Drop about 1/4 cup of pudding in the center. Spread it from side to side, leaving one-inch borders. Fold bottom edge over the center of the pudding. Next, fold the right side of the crepe back to the middle; repeat with the left side. Fold the last section toward the middle to make the enchilada. Repeat with remaining crepes. These may be prepared up to a day in advance.
• Place each enchilada, seam side down, on buttered pan. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes to warm them. Serve with strawberry almond salsa.

ALMOND CHOCOLATE PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
• Coat an 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine 2/3 cups of the sugar, all the flour, salt, and baking powder.
• Stir well to blend.
• Whisk in the oil, milk, and both extracts.
• Batter will be stiff.
• Scrape batter into oiled pan and smooth on top.
• In a small bowl, stir together the cocoa and remaining 2/3 cup sugar.
• Sprinkle this over the batter.
• Pour the boiling water over the batter, do not stir!
• Bake 25 to 35 minutes, or until top of cake looks crisp and crackled.
• Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• Serve warm.

WARM CHOCOLATE PUDDINGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place four 6- to 8-ounce ovenproof bowls on a baking sheet. Set aside.
• Place chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir occasionally just until melted, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in 2 tablespoons sugar, then egg yolks and vanilla. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Still beating, gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; beat until mixture is stiff and glossy.
• Using a rubber spatula, mix about 1/3 egg-white mixture into chocolate mixture; gently fold in remaining egg-white mixture just until combined. Divide among bowls. (Puddings can be prepared in advance up to this point; cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to 1 day.)
• Bake until tops are puffed and cracked but insides are still quite soft (a toothpick inserted in center will come out gooey), 20 to 25 minutes, or 25 to 30 minutes if puddings were previously refrigerated. Serve, warm or at room temperature (puddings may sink as they cool), topped with ice cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pour melted butter over bread cubes in a 9x13-inch baking dish; toss to coat. Stir chocolate chips and almonds into bread mixture.
• Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, almond extract, and nutmeg in a bowl; pour over bread mixture, lightly pressing bread with a spatula until egg mixture is absorbed.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top of the bread pudding springs back when lightly pressed, about 45 minutes.