Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Steamed Chocolate Pudding & Steamed Apple n Caramel Pudding for Daring Bakers April 2010 - My First Challenge


The April 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Esther of The Lilac Kitchen. She challenged everyone to make a traditional British pudding using, if possible, a very traditional British ingredient: suet.

How can a vegetarian household like mine use animal fat??? My very first challenge and I might have to skip it.... then ray of light shone when I read that the required elements of this challenge are:
1) to make a suet pudding using real suet or as close a replacement as you can manage or is acceptable to you; and
2) to cook it by steaming or if you want to be even more traditional by boiling tied up in a cloth.
The rest was upto us...

It was ok to use butter :) Yipppeeee... Started reading up on the technique of steaming and English puddings...... Found some useful info here. Mommy was also of great help by fishing out the the vessels to steam in.... Thanks mom :)

Presenting to you 'Steamed Chocolate Pudding'.... Must admit... It was quite a task getting this together... More than anything else... Overcoming the mental block of this new task.... Baking and no oven.... 'Put a lid on it'.... now has a new meaning for me :)

That's Daksyani and Rhea with Honey masi..... They loved the pudding... yippeee.... :)
Daks was a bit upset with me though for making chocolate as she's allergic to it...promised her to make something else soon.....

The poser that Daks is..... lots of pics with everyone :) She's a total delight...

Steamed Chocolate Pudding

adapted from Martha Stewart's site

Ingredients

Serves 4 to 6.

1/2 cup sugar
1 salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
2 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs, separated
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts, as garnish
Method

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 5-cup pudding bowl, and set aside.
2. Combine 5 tablespoons sugar with salt, flour, and cocoa in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. Combine chocolate and butter in a heat-proof bowl, and melt over simmering water.


4. In a small saucepan, bring milk just to a simmer. Immediately add to chocolate mixture. Beat egg yolks. Stir a little chocolate mixture into yolks; add yolks to mixture. Add vanilla; stir until well combined. Stir into flour mixture.
5. Beat whites with remaining 3 tablespoons sugar until stiff, and fold into batter. Pour into pudding bowl, and place on a rack in a deep roasting pan. Pour boiling water into pan halfway up the sides of the bowl.

6. Bake until pudding is set, 40 to 45 minutes. Add boiling water to pan as necessary to maintain water level.
7. Let cool slightly in the bowl, and invert onto a plate. Garnish with hazelnuts. [Didn't feel like using nuts, wanted some colour.. added sprinkles instead. garnish with whatever is your calling]

While searching for recipes I remembered that it's Puneet's Birthday around the same time.... So did another steamed pudding for him, 'Steamed Apple n Caramel Pudding'.....
Happy Birthday, Puneet....

In the evening we went out to watch the IPL finals between the Chennai and Mumbai teams at News Cafe in Vasant Kunj with Snigdha. We were joined by friends Sid, Ankita and my sister and her friend, parul aswell.... am sure she came cause she wanted to taste the stuff she assisted me in cooking... LOL.... :)

We had so much fun.... All of us thumping and rooting at every 6, 4 and Wicket....

Caramel Apple Steamed Pudding
adapted from Martha Stewart's site

Ingredients
Serves 8 to 10.

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 cup plus 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
9 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs [Used 3 as i didn't have molasses]
1/4 cup molasses [ Didn't have access so I used some extra sugar here]
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup bread crumbs [Didn't have... Substituted with a cup of biscuit crumbs]

Method

1. Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon water in a small, heavy saucepan; set over medium heat. Cover, and cook until sugar has melted. Remove cover, and continue cooking, swirling pan occasionally, until sugar turns a deep amber. Carefully pour caramel into pudding mold; tip so caramel coats mold evenly. Set mold aside.
2. Place half of the apple chunks in a small saucepan, and add 2 tablespoons water, 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Place saucepan over low heat, and cook, covered, until apples fall apart, 10 to 12 minutes. Uncover, and cook 5 minutes more, stirring often. Set the applesauce aside.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small saute pan; add remaining apple chunks and remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Cook over medium-high heat until apples turn brown on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes. Place apples in the bottom of the mold, distributing evenly so they reach up the sides.
4. Choose a pot large enough to hold the pudding mold with a 2-inch space all around. Place a wire rack or a folded kitchen towel in the bottom of pot; fill with enough water to reach halfway up sides of mold. Cover pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.
5. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together 8 tablespoons butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs and molasses; mix well. Add the reserve applesauce, and mix well.
6. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir in breadcrumbs. Add to the applesauce mixture. Stir batter until just combined.
7. Fill pudding mold with batter; clamp on lid. Place mold in a pot of simmering water. Cover pot, and cook until a toothpick inserted into middle of pudding comes out clean, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Check water often, keeping it at a steady, low simmer. Transfer mold to a wire rack to cool, 15 minutes.
Tip
There are just two rules when it comes to cooking steamed puddings. Never top up the simmering water with cold water as it'll cause a huge drop in temperature; and don't be tempted to remove the lid during the first 30 minutes of cooking or your pudding will sink.

8. When ready to serve, invert the pudding onto a serving plate. If any of the apple chunks stick to the mold, remove them, and rearrange them on the top; slice.

Butterscotch is one of Puneet's fav icecreams.... topped the pudding with some butterscotch sauce....

Verdict:
Steamed Chocolate Pudding:
SMS from Snigdha says 'I need to kiss ur hands!!!!!! The pudding is lipsmackingly delicious. My mom was like it's professional n dad loved it. I am ur no.1 fan!'
Girlie.. love you too... Thank you.... Will make some more and send it for you.

Steamed Apple n Caramel Pudding:
Was a tad bit dryier than what I like... Guess my susbstitution had something to do with it.... The spices did such amazing magic with the apples... Delighful taste... and Puneet loved it.... :)

Thank you Esther[The Lilac Kitchen] for this wonderful challenge :)

40 comments:

Bombay Foodie said...

Yippee!!! You've finally a daring baker :)

R! said...

I am controlling myself from licking my screen :P :P
I loved the chocolate pudding.... Nachi, get some soon or else i ll start eating the pictures from ur blog :P :P

Great job... Kp Up!!

Sea Blue said...

That chocolate pudding was amazing...!!!!! I want moree :(

Kirti Dhupar said...

"Tempting”. My tongue is eagerly waiting to taste. I m sure, would get a small part to eat... very soon :)

"All the best for upcoming success"
G8 work, keep moving ahead :)

Kirti Dhupar said...

"Tempting”. My tongue is eagerly waiting to taste. I m sure, would get a small part to eat..very soon:)

"All the best for upcoming success"
G8 work, keep moving ahead :)

Unknown said...

congrates on ur final drive for the daring baker.... wat to say now mindblowing, amazing, temting.... i just wanna say i want to taste it now... high time it has been ages nowww. please get sumthing else ur gone:-) ...jst kidding this is really awesome, both the chocolate pudding and apple n caramel one,,,,, awesome is the word 4 nachi...:-)

s said...

welcome aboard...great great first challenge!
http://forkbootsandapalette.wordpress.com

Unknown said...

Wao Nachi, great work, both the puddings look finger licking good :)

Siddharth Chaturvedi said...

I’m no food connoisseur nor I have a sweet tooth yet I can truly say that my first exposure to Nachi’s culinary skills left me amazed.

Simple yet delicious is something that the preparation was, though it isn’t apt post reading the blog about the effort that went into it. I’m sure you love what you do- and boy you do it good!

Had a Great time with all the folks and looking forward to more such mouthwatering experiences!

And all the best for your challenge!

Suma Rowjee said...

You have dished out super delish puddings Daring Baker!!! Wish i cud have a bite or two or make that three or four or five..:-))

Audax said...

They are beautiful and delicious looking pudding but the chocolate one is superb and I espically like all the photos of the people enjoying the spoils of your effort, bravo bravo bravo on this challenge.

And a big hello and welcome to the Daring Bakers' I hope you have many more happy experiences and recipes with us. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.

Renata said...

Lucky Punnet! Happy Birthday! Awesome puddings you have here! This was my first DBC too! Loved it!

Meeta K. Wolff said...

both versions look sensational being a chocoholic i would take the chocolate version and run though!!

Padhu Sankar said...

Looks fabulous!!

Gala said...

MMmmmm yum!
Great job on your first challenge!

Unknown said...

Dear Nachi,
The cakes look delicious, esp the one you made for Puneet on his bday. Occasions are so much more enjoyable when a Nachi special is involved :-)

Charlotte said...

Nice puddings!:) It made such a beautiful birthday cake. :)

Esther said...

What a fabulous post and welcome ! I'm glad you were able to do the challenge and seems you had fun and got a couple of great looking puddings as well!

sasasunakku said...

Ooh, I like the look of the apple and caramel one, a classic combo for good reason.

Yasmeen said...

Welcome to the club! Marvelous job on the first challenge.Congrats!

sunita said...

Welcome to the club. You've done a great job on the challenge. And Meeta, I'll need my share from the chocolate one too ;-)

shelley c. said...

Welcome to the Daring Kitchen! What a fantastic job you did with the challenge. The chocolate pudding looks simply divine, and caramel apple sounds so good that I want to run to the kitchen right now!! Excellent job.

Ria Mathew said...

Hello Nachiketa, welcome to DB! :) You have done a fantastic job! :) What a great start!

Maya said...

Congratulations on your first challenge! Looks like the puddings were a hit!

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Oooooooooh thats wonderful celebration with ur first DB challenge.. Wish I am there to celebrate too as this is my challenge too.

Pavithra
www.dishesfrommykitchen.com

Deeba PAB said...

You had a Daring Baker party here N; way to go!! Welcome to the DB's!! Well done on your first challenge.

M D said...

I think this is my first time here... came from Suma's blog and I'm glad to be here. I loved the chocolate and apple puddings that you have made. Looks amazingly good.

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Welcome to the DB community and congrats on a first challenge well done!
Apple and caramel sounds especially good to me, even though I love chocolate.

Puneet Chawla said...

Thank you so much Nachi for the sumptuous cake.. and thank you peeeceee for lending a hand.

I had the most memorable birthday and if Nachi promises to make me a cake on every bday, I dont mind celebrating them every month! ;)

Lori said...

Super, super, super job on your first challenge. Love all the variety. THis challenge definitely screamed out for more than one kind of pudding. A very fun post, Happy Birthday to the birthday boy!

Swathi said...

Welcome to DB club. I will go for the steamed apple and caramel one.

Ann said...

Hi Nachiketa, thanks for stopping by. I am a new Daring Baker too! My first challenge as well, and I thought it was lovely. And you managed TWO treats as well. Just a question - are you the same Nachiketa Deeba @ Passionate Baking mentioned in one of her posts about decorating? I know Deeba's blog by heart as you can see!

Mary said...

Congratulations on completing your first Daring Baker challenge! Both of your puddings look fantastic! I would like to try a fruit one next time, if fruit ever comes into season around here! Can't wait for May's challenge:)

Mimi said...

Welcome to the Daring Bakers and Congratulation on your first challenge. It looks like you have a lot of happy people eager to eat your creations.
Mimi

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Hey,
Love the pudding! It looks fabulous! You and I have something in common. Like you I love comments too.Ciao!

The Betz Family said...

Wow, your chocolate pudding looks so dark and rich, I love it! Apple and caramel sounds like it would be a great flavor combo. I may have to try that one sometime. Nice job on your challenge!

Barbara Bakes said...

You did an amazing job on your first challenge. I think your family and friends are going to love you being a Daring Baker.

Kendra said...

I really enjoy the apple version. I'm glad you got to making around two different versions as well :) Definitely makes the experience a little more fun!

Jeanne said...

Welcome to the Daring Bakers! You did an excellent job on your first challenge, and I love your pictures. Everyone looks like they are enjoying your puddings. The chocolate one looks absolutely decadent!

Unknown said...

your Blog has killing effect on me.
killed due to lack of fill!!

Congrats for the honors!!
I'd like to judge each of your bakities next time :P