Sunday, July 21, 2013

Chocolate Pudding with Strawberries and Orange Blossom Whipped Cream


One of Max's most favorite things in the entire world is making matches. He turns life into one giant matching game. When he makes a match, the word "same," is yelled with gusto.

In one of his books, a trombone caught his eye. I would just like to point out that this occurred after I had explored other musical instruments with him - looking at and listening to french horns, and violins, and cellos, and harps - but trombone had not made the cut. How could I possibly have forgotten to show him a trombone? I clearly had fallen down on the "introducing him to the wide world of musical instrument" front of parenting.

After seeing the trombone in his book, he asked to find more trombones on the computer. Then he wanted the keyboard to make trombone sounds. And to have the iPad instrument app showing a trombone. So many opportunities for him to yell "same" with incredible enthusiasm.

Matching also occurred when I made Max waffles that he had requested, and subsequently, refused to eat them. So I did the very mature, adult thing and pretended to cry.

Max told me to go upstairs with him, where pulled out some with books in which characters were crying. He pointed at me, and then the books, and also yelled "same." Again. So incredibly excited to make a match. Not at all concerned that I was "crying."

Luckily, Max was able to yell out "same" when helping me to assemble this dessert.  A dessert with strawberries tossed with orange juice and zest, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream flavored with orange blossom water.

He pulled out books with strawberries as we were making the strawberry part.  However, he was a bit stumped when it came to the whipped cream and pudding.  Apparently those are not as common in his library.  But I totally think they should be.  Pudding and whipped cream should be in ALL the books.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon brown sugar
pinch salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
5 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup milk (I used 2%)
1 egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
*adapted from Gourmet

1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons orange blossom water
pinch salt

2 cups chopped strawberries
drizzle of orange juice and orange zest
shortbread cookie, for serving (optional)

Instructions
For the pudding:  In a medium-sized pot, whisk the sugar, salt, cornstarch and chocolate chips.  In a bowl, whisk half and half, milk, egg yolk.  Pour over the dry ingredients in the pot.  Set over medium heat, bringing the mixture to a boil.  Stir frequently.  Let the mixture boil for a minute.  Take off heat and stir in the vanilla and butter.  Pour into dish and chill.

For the cream:  In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the cream, orange blossom water, and pinch of salt, and use the whisk attachment to whip the mixture until stiff peaks form.

For the berries:  Toss the strawberries with a drizzle of fresh orange juice and orange zest.

To assemble:  In a bowl, layer the strawberries, then the pudding, then orange blossom whipped cream. Top with a shortbread cookie.

17 comments:

  1. So cute! I love that you tried playing the feel-sorry-for-me card. :D

    And yes, pudding & whipped cream should be in every book. Everywhere. This looks light, and happy, and wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aahh! That looks awesome...The sight of this dessert has left me speechless!

    ReplyDelete
  3. this is the best home style gourmet dessert to go while its drizzling outside, that's right now, whats not to love in this, perfectly tempting :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maravilloso una verdadera delicia,abrazos.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree: pudding and whipped cream should be in ALL the book! Especially this pudding. Yum

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have heard so much about orange blossom water. Can I replace this with something? I have'n seen this in India!
    Lovely dessert indeed! www.cosmopolitancurrymania.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think orange blossom water has a pretty unique flavor, I'm really not sure what to recommend as a replacement! Best of luck in finding some :)

      Delete
  7. He sounds like such a cutie!

    This really takes pudding up a few notches!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love puddings and when chocolate is involved then it makes double the pleasure for me!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What an adorable story! I think you and Max need to seek out a book that involves pudding and it's a perfect excuse to make this again.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This pudding looks awesome and so does the whipped cream!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, how cute! What a fun game Max has created :) And your pudding creation looks just plain delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! Pudding is looking awesome and delightful. I love chocolate pudding. But this is more delicious with strawberries. You have explained well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such a cute story about Max and his obsession with matching :)
    The chocolate pudding looks amazing and the addition of orange blossom flavor adds a wonderful twist.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...