Homemade Chocolate Pudding

   I spent many years working at a summer camp when I was a teenager and young adult. Then, when I got married, my husband and I worked (and lived) at a bunch of different camps together. All this to say, I have a deep, won't ever get rid of it hate for pudding made from a powdered mix (and made in mass quantities!). 
   But then a few years ago I saw a recipe, and the filling was homemade pudding. I had honestly not thought of home-made pudding before! Duh! Anywhooo, I made it, and tasted a bite of it while it was still hot in the pot, and ooohhhh man!!! Homemade pudding is NOT the same thing as powdered pudding, or the pudding packs for kids lunches! I am a believer in pudding!  Even if you do like powdered pudding mix or pudding cups, try this. You will love it. Pinky swear. 

Homemade Chocolate Pudding
 (from The Food Network)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk or cream (the lighter the milk, the less rich the pudding)
  
• 1/2 cup sugar
  
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
  
• 3 large egg yolks
  
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 3/4 cup whipping cream (optional topping)
  

Method:

1. Whisk the sugar and the cocoa together in a medium sized pot (not on any heat), just to blend together.
2. Once well mixed, whisk in 1 1/2 cups of the milk, and set over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer while whisking, then remove from the heat.
   
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the cornstarch & salt together. Whisk in the the egg yolks, and vanilla. Once this is well blended, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup of milk into the mix. 
4. Now, slowly whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture (don't rush this step, you want to make sure this all comes together creamy and non-lumpy). 
5. Return to the saucepan and cook over medium-high heat whisking constantly, until the pudding comes to a full boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and continue whisking until thick, about 2 or 3 minutes more.
   
6. Pour the pudding into 6 small cups, or into a cooked pie shell, or a bowl if you need it for something else that isn't prepared yet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until set.

   My youngest daughter loved her pudding! I topped it with some fruit to make me feel like less of a bad parent for giving my daughter chocolate pudding at 10:30 in the morning! :)  

   The process to make this is really very easy, and golly-gee, homemade pudding is just the bees-knees! Why the heck am I talking like this??? 
    Have a great weekend! Last night our Hydro was out for about 6 hours, our basement has been flooding, and some other third thing to complain about (I don't have a third thing, but it always seems like these types of things should come in threes), but I am still looking forward to the weekend, and I hope (no matter what kind of week you had), you can look forward to the weekend too.