Homemade Mocha Pudding

Michael asked me to buy him pudding cups for work. I groaned and asked if I had to and he asked why and I told him how unhealthy they are and can't I just make you pudding instead??

"...Oh. Yeah. You can do that."

"OOOOOH can you make me mocha pudding?"

So here we are.

Fun fact: homemade pudding really isn't tough to make. And this one in particular is ultra easy-there aren't even any egg yolks involved! And actually...I mean...in the scheme of desserts...it's not that bad for you. Really. Could be way worse-and it's definitely sooo much better than all the junk they put in the processed stuff. I'm totally gonna be "that mom" guys. #sorrynotsorry

Also, I can personally attest that this makes really delicious just chocolate pudding as well-you just need to omit the espresso/coffee powder portion of it. Then it's yummalicious chocolate pudding! It's thick and comforting and tasty. And hilarious how you can serve it in a little cup or bowl with a spoon and think of being a child, or all fancied up in little glasses with whipped cream and feel sophisticated. Life's all about perspective, ya know?

Homemade Mocha Pudding

Adapted from Foodie with Family

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 and 1/2 tsp. instant espresso or coffee granules
• 3 cups milk (any kind you prefer)
• 5 oz. dark, semisweet, or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Optional-whipped cream and grated or shaved chocolate, for serving

Preparation:

• In a dry, heavy bottomed, 2 quart saucepan whisk together the cornstarch, sugar, cocoa powder, kosher salt, and coffee granules-making sure to get any big lumps worked out.
• Slowly add a little bit of the milk at a time, whisking after each addition until combined, until it is all thoroughly incorporated and smooth. 
• Turn of medium heat and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Once it boils, still whisk constantly and boil for about 2 minutes or until thickened. 
• Remove from heat and add chopped chocolate and vanilla extract, whisking slowly until everything is fully melted and combined-when it has darkened and turned glossy.
• Pour immediately into serving containers or storage container(s). You can serve hot or lay a piece of plastic directly on the surface of the pudding and transfer carefully to the refrigerator (it will be hot!). Chill for at least 2 hours or store for up to 4 days (pudding may start to separate a bit in the fridge, just give it a good stir before serving). 
• If desired, serve with whipped cream and chocolate garnish. 

Might I entice you to try a bite? 

Salted Caramel Pots de Crème

PSA-if, while making these and filling up the pan with the hot water bath, you accidentally get some water in one of your pots de creme, it will still come out pretty tasty, if just a bit thinner in texture. Glad I could do that bit of research for you. Totally intentionally, not at all accidentally.

Smooth, creamy, rich, decadent, PERFECTION. These pots de creme (which are essentially little custards/puddings) are so insanely full of salted caramel flavor (...even the one that had some water get into it before being baked...) and they're sort of kind of MIND BLOWING. And they actually aren't even hard to make. So there's no reason not to have them in your life.

I feel like this is a dessert to impress, it's the kind of thing you serve guests and sound fancy when you offer them their pot de crème and they ooh and ahh over the little single servings of custardy goodness with the pretty flecks of sea salt on top. It's going to make you the coolest person around, really. That's why I'm not cool, I just haven't thrown the right dinner party yet...ha.

But seriously...I loved digging into these while sitting on my couch in my pajamas, so they're appropriate for all occasions, really.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pudding

Ok let me just tell you right off the bat: there is no cookie dough in this pudding. 

BUT don't be disappointed! I was skeptical that pudding could just...taste like chocolate chip cookie dough. But it really really does!! 

Brown sugar, vanilla, and a little bit of butter help flavor this silky smooth pudding in a way that is seriously like you're eating cookie dough in pudding form. And chocolate chips help (although I'm a weirdo who prefers to not have chocolate chips in my cookie dough, so I mostly just ate the pudding chip-less. Michael thinks I'm crazy.)

Speaking of Michael, he was also pretty skeptical when I told him about the pudding. He wasn't too sure about it. But then he took a bite...and another....and another. And he said, "Ah...I get it." 

So he gets delicious cookie dough pudding. So do I. So will you!

Peanut Butter Pudding Pie

This pie is the second thing I ever baked in my new kitchen. This pie was me saying "I have leftover homemade graham crackers from the s'more cupcakes. I have peanut butter out the whazoo. I have peanuts....there's a recipe for pb pie I haven't tried yet....and I have all the ingredients already."

And then I made it. And then I said, "Mmmmmm..."

I've made a few different peanut butter pies in the past, and I have loved them. (Because....peanut butter. In pie.) But I'm always up for trying a different kind! 

(Except for kinds with cream cheese in 'em...I steer clear. I'm not a fan of cream cheese in my desserts. #sorryimnotsorry) 

What's cool about this recipe is that the filling is essentially peanut butter pudding. Which is freaking awesome. It's rich and thick and full of peanut butter flavor! Then, to contrast the pudding texture, the buttery graham cracker crust and the crunch of the peanuts on top are just perfect. I'm definitely a fan. As was evidenced by the empty pie plate some days later.

No shame.

Kozy Shack-Pudding Made Right #PuddingLove

 

Things I like: real, natural, delicious food.

Things I don't like: a bunch of random chemicals and things I can't pronounce on food labels.

Kozy Shack to the rescue! Kozy Shack® Pudding is pudding made right—made with simple, wholesome ingredients, so it’s simply delicious! Kozy Shack puddings come in a variety of flavors...but guys...you know me....guess which flavor is my favorite:

CHOCOLATE!

Mmmmmmm you guys....Kozy Shack's chocolate pudding is made with real cocoa, and it tastes so rich and so creamy and so luscious: it tastes like something your grandma would have made you. Like...she whipped you up some pudding from scratch, let it get all cold in the fridge, then she was all, "Here baby girl, you get a treat today at grandma's!" and you're like "yayyyy!"

Kozy Shack is actually the #1 rice and tapioca pudding in America! Pretty darned impressive. And I totally get it (I also think their chocolate pudding should be #1 but hey, that's me.) Another great thing? They're all gluten free (except the bread pudding varieties because...I mean...obviously)! So all you gluten intolerant peoples can still enjoy the wholesome pudding love!

Now, I'm a simple lady. Obviously....pudding can be used in various recipes (pies, cream puffs, popsicles, etc.) but I love to enjoy it in its pure form. Just silky, delicious, pudding. And if you wanna amp it up a bit? Add a few little mix-ins! I decided that I have 3 particular ways that are my favorite:

1. Chopped nuts. Hazelnuts (pictured), peanuts, pecans, etc. Probably my favorite. SO GOOD!
2. Toasted coconut flakes-seriously, just, do it.
3. Fruit! Strawberries are soooo good with chocolate, all the time, and you can also use blueberries (pictured), raspberries (Michael would love), bananas, etc! 

Really....if it tastes good with chocolate (which most things do) you can throw it on there! It elevates pudding to a sophisticated level, and all of a sudden it's appropriate for dinner party guests. In my humble opinion.

Kozy Shack has a few suggestions for ways to serve their puddings as well!:

 Cinnamon Rice Pudding  

Spoon Kozy Shack® Rice Pudding into a small dish. Top with sliced bananas and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.

Peaches & Blueberries Rice Pudding 

Layer diced fresh peaches, Kozy Shack® Rice Pudding, and blueberries in a small dish. Top with any remaining fruit.

Chocolate Drizzled Strawberries and Tapioca Pudding 

Drizzle strawberries with melted dark chocolate and allow to set. Layer chopped strawberries and Kozy Shack® Tapioca Pudding in a small dish. Top with a chocolate-drizzled strawberry.

Banana Split Chocolate Pudding 

Spoon Kozy Shack® Chocolate Pudding into a small dish. Top with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, a banana spear and a maraschino cherry.

For great ideas like that, a full list of Kozy Shack products, info. about how they got their start, and just a good laugh (they've apparently hired an "official" grandma-to make sure they stay honest! :P) go and check out the official Kozy Shack site!

Vanilla & Honey Shortbread Pie (Walkers Shortbread Recipe Challenge)

So um...
I kinda won a recipe contest Monday?

WHAAAT!?

Yes. I am still in shock. I mean it when I say I had 0 expectations of winning. Everyone had such amazing, beautiful, delicious desserts, so I am just humbled. I am so so thrilled that I did win, though-definitely a highlight of my time as a baker/food blogger :).

And now I get to enjoy the awesomeness that is Michael being adorable and saying things like "A kiss for the winner!" "I love you my little champion", etc. etc. :) :) :)
(not to mention the awesome prizes I won. Including 2 tickets to the Summer Fancy Food Show-which I'm super excited about!)

On Monday I (along with 8 other food bloggers, including my friends Susan from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen and Mallory of Total Noms) brought our recipes, featuring Walkers Shortbread, to the NASFT center in Manhattan. We all had to bring 1 copy of the dish for the 3 judges, and 1 for everyone there to try. This whole thing has been in the works since the fall, so we had all been thinking about our recipes for quite some time. I'll be posting a bunch more about the actual event later. For now, let's talk pie:

I decided to make pie. In my head, shortbread is warm and comforting tasting. So I thought that vanilla and honey were two flavors that would compliment that. And then I sort of just had a vague idea of what to do. And then I decided to just wing it the Sunday before the contest. Because I'm insane, I guess?

Anyway, the recipes I was sort of adapting the elements from didn't behave the ways I thought they would so I really had to think on my feet to make it all work. But it did! And the plus side is, the recipe is now 100% Kayle original :). Lemme sum it up for you:

1. A buttery shortbread crust with honey and peanut butter (although 1 judge, Corina, suggested omitting peanut butter from the crust, as it can overwhelm the other flavors-so feel free to mess around with it).
2. A rich, vanilla-honey pudding filling.
3. Whipped cream on top! (I used honey & a lot of vanilla in mine)

The aforementioned judge, Corina, said it was like "eating a hug", and she made an audible noise of happiness when she took a bite. Best compliment ever :).

Oddly enough, the first time I tasted the entire pie together was while at the contest. I was pretty happy with it, tasted good to me. And Michael really really really liked it (he said it was extremely flavorful without being overwhelming). You will too. It is pure joy in pie form. 

I've got a ton left over, feel free to come on over and have some.

Yoder's Peanut Butter Pie

I'm sad.

I've been so busy, I've barely been able to cook.

Michael and I have had to have food delivered this last week more times than I would care to admit.

I just wanted to share my feelings.

NOW-about the pie. One day, I was watching the travel channel and some sort of food special was on. One of the many delicious things featured was what was lauded as the "Best Peanut Butter Pie" from Yoder's in Sarasota. Part of what apparently made this pie so amazing was the fact that Yoder's (an Amish establishment) makes everything from scratch--and I love that. So I immediately became obsessed with making this pie myself. A quick Google search yielded some promising options, and then I set to work adapting it. This pie had 4 main components: crust, peanut butter crumbles, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream-all made from scratch! I devoted an entire, internet-less (back when my computer was out of commission) day to putting this pie together. 

End result: a good pie. A little short on peanut butter-y taste, the vanilla pudding took over a bit (I've changed some of the amounts in the following recipe in an attempt to remedy this, but I'm also thinking it'd be better if you mixed some pb into the pudding), but it actually really grew on me. I'm a big fan. It's got a great, old-fashioned, down home taste and texture, and is delicious whilst chilled. Michael only kind of liked it. He's quite loyal to a particular peanut butter pie. I must admit, that is still my favorite, also. This is just different-still very good, but different. I definitely think it's worth trying, and I think I'll make it again someday, even if I'm the only one who eats it ;).