Chocolate Pudding Induced Garden Makeover

This is for you Mrs M!  A deliciously rich chocolate pudding. 

Serves 6

9 slices of 1 day old white sliced bread

(an end of the day reduced sliced loaf is perfect)

5oz (150g) dark chocolate (75%min cocoa solids)

15fl oz (425ml) double cream

4oz (110g) caster sugar

3oz (75g) butter

Pinch of cinnamon

3 large eggs


7” x 9” x 2” deep buttered ovenproof dish

Remove crusts from bread slices.  Cut each slice into 2 triangles.

Put chocolate, cream, butter, sugar and cinnamon into a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, taking care not to let the bowl touch the water.   Once the butter and chocolate has melted and the sugar dissolved remove the bowl from the pan and give it a good stir to combine.

In a separate bowl beat the eggs.  Pour the chocolate mixture over the eggs and then whisk thoroughly.

Pour a ½” layer of the chocolate mixture into the dish and arrange half of the bread slices over the top in overlapping rows.  Pour half the remaining chocolate over the bread, then add the rest of the bread and finish with the rest of the chocolate.  Use a fork to press the bread down to ensure that it is completely covered in chocolate.

Cover the dish with clingwrap and leave to stand at room temp for 2 hours.  Then place in the fridge for 2 days.

Preheat oven to 180ºC.  Remove clingwrap and bake 30-40 mins until it is cunchy on top and squidgy underneath.  Leave to stand for 10 mins before serving with crème fraiche, ice cream or cream.  

(No photo of the finished result - it was eaten too quickly!)

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They enjoyed a bank holiday dinner with friends, cooked by the Mr and followed by VJ's rich chocolate bread and butter pudding.  

The following day they were in desperate need of exercise (she is in danger of needing to get a bigger pair of jeans).  With a break in the rain, they decided to tackle the little suntrap in the back yard.  

The spot where they like to sit on a summer’s evening with a book in one hand and a little tipple in the other.  The thick stone walls soak up the heat during a sunny day and release it back to them in the evening.  Bats swoop and they can see the stars.

It had been neglected all winter.  The Gunnera was hidden under self seeded strangers.  Bricks fallen, pots broken.  Dead wood, old leaves.  Herbs needed trimming.  They heaved sacks, moved pots, dug and planted.

They have their little space back.  Now they wait for summer.