Christmas Centennial - 3 Course Set Menu - Part III (Baked Chocolate Puddings With Rich Chocolate Sauce)

Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas is around the corner & every one is in a festive mood. Hustle bustle on the streets, malls full of people ticking their Xmas shopping list, Santas giving free goodies to kiddoes, lights & decor galore in shops & homes & FOOD of different varieties are kept to fill in your little tummy. Well, you can almost find me near the Xmas special food aisle, By Default.

You must be wondering about the Title of this post by now. The word "Christmas" is fine (she must be putting something special in her blog as it is the most important time of the year) but what is "Centennial" ? Well, I just recently noticed that I have posted almost 97 dishes in my blog since February & 3 more dishes will make my 100th post. So I merged my happiness, festivity & my 100th dish into one big post & thought of publishing it in three different parts.

So I came with an idea of creating a simple but grand Christmas 3 course Set Menu which will complete my 98th, 99th & 1ooth dish & also help my friends in deciding their Christmas Menu for this year. There will be a Starter, a Main Course (am planning to do a veg & a non-veg) & a Dessert (which is in this post). As am not a perfectionist, the Menu is not in order, so the Dessert goes first. Its very simple yet delicious Baked Chocolate Pudding & am sure the baking beginners will love it. Enjoy the recipe & I will be back with my other two parts of this post before Christmas!!

Baked Chocolate Puddings With Rich Chocolate Sauce

Preparation Time 30 Minutes

Total Cooking Time 15 minutes

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 120 gm good quality dark chocolate, chopped
• 120 gm unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 3 eggs (room temperature)
• 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
• 55 gm caster sugar
• 90 gm plain (all purpose) flour

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 Degree Celsius & grease 125 ml sized metal moulds or ramekins with some butter. Dust the moulds with the cocoa powder.
2. Put the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Allow the chocolate to melt, then add the buter. When the butter has melted, stir to combine, then remove from the heat.
3. Beat the eggs, egg yolks & sugar in a large bowl using electric beaters until thick, creamy & pale in colour. Gently fold in the chocolate mixture. Sift in the flour & gently fold through.
4. Spoon the mixture into the prepared moulds, leaving about half an inch at the top of the mould to allow the puddings to rise. Bake for 10 minutes or until the top is firm & risen.

Chocolate Sauce

• 80 gm good quality dark chocolate, chopped
• 125 ml (pouring) whipping cream

Put the chocolate & cream in a heatproof bowl & melt over a small saucepan of simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir Well.

To Serve, run a knife around the moulds to loosen the puddings, then carefully turn out onto serving plates. Drizzle with the sauce made & serve immediately.