Chocolate Pudding
What happens when you and your nanny part ways?
You go to grandma’s.
At least for a day or so.
My daughter Gillian and son-in-law Jesse and their nanny have called it quits. Everyone is scrambing. It is stressful, unnerving and frustrating. It’s no joke figuring out what to do when you work and need child care. I am happy to help out in any way possible of course, but a long term solution is needed. I’m just a quick, temporary answer.
So what do the kids do at grandma’s house?
One of the things I do is cook with Lila, almost age 5. Remy, 9 months old is a little too young yet.
Today we cooked chocolate pudding. You can see Lila here, diligently pushing the cocoa powder, sugar and cornstarch through the strainer. Some of the mixture is on the counter, some on her pajamas, but she’s really good at this and I’d say 99% stayed in the bowl.
I also cooked chocolate pudding with my grandma. Only we made it from a box of My-T-Fine which she insisted on calling “Morty Fine.” In those days My-T-Fine didn’t have additives and artificial ingredients. Just cocoa, cornstarch, sugar and vanillin. That’s the way I make it at home. The old fashioned way, like from a box. Here’s the recipe:
Chocolate Pudding
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup cornstarch
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups whole milk
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Strain the cocoa powder, cornstarch, sugar and salt into a bowl. Heat 2-1/2 cups of the milk until it is hot. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup milk into the cocoa mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the chocolate mixture into the heated milk and stir to blend thoroughly. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring with a whisk, or until the pudding bubbles and is thick. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the pudding into a large bowl or into 6 dessert dishes. Refrigerate until cold OR serve warm. Makes 6 servings