Tuesday, October 6, 2009

TWD - Split Level Pudding


This story has a good ending. Sometimes, you just need to know that up front.

Dorie's Split Level Pudding, chosen by Garrett at The Flavor of Vanilla, is a wonderful idea for flavor combiners. You get a layer of vanilla and you dip into a layer of chocolate.

Mine didn't go so well.

I cut the recipe in half. I took some shortcuts. There were some mishaps. I accidentally left out some steps and an ingredient. And it still turned out OK.

If I had done things right, it might have been a fine pudding. But doing things wrong, it was still pretty good.

The mistakes:
I used chocolate feves, and the cream (which I heated in the microwave) didn't melt them enough (which I didn't discover until we had them for dessert.) So it was a little like having chocolate slivers in the ganache part. No worries.

Still being lazy, I used the microwave to heat the milk and the sugar for the vanilla layer. I checked it often, stirred it from time to time and was way more vigilant than I normally am. Once the mixture started to bubble a little, I grabbed it out of the microwave and stirred it. That's when the boiling sugar at the bottom of the measuring cup turned it into a volcano of boiling milk and sugar. Which ran over my fingers, the counter, on the drawers, into the drawers, and all over the floor. For a moment, I thought "I should take a picture of this for my post," but then the pain started and I thought "IDIOT! You need to get your hand in ice water." Did I plunge my hand in cold water? Not yet. I cleaned up first. Fortunately, it was my left hand and I'm right handed. It was pretty painful and I spent most of the next several hours with my hand in an ice water bath. I still had a dessert to finish, but I won't kid you, I wasn't too focused. The milk and cornstarch went in out of order. I overcooked the pudding. I totally forgot to add the butter. And it was still good.

Thanks, Garrett, for picking a recipe that can be made with one hand in a bucket of ice. Having my hand in a bucket of ice made it hard to write last week's TWD post, but now you understand why I was abnormally brief.

If you'd like the recipe, check out Garrett's post. But follow the instructions, will you? Don't be like me.

19 comments:

Hindy said...

What a nightmare! How strong you are to still continue posting through the pain. I think someone needs to bring you some get-well-soon pudding.
Take it easy.

Paula said...

Leslie, I am SO sorry about your accident. Amazing that you even posted. Your pudding looks divine though.

Amanda said...

Oh Leslie ouch!! I cringed as I was reading your post, UGH - you made me chuckle though when you paused and considered taking a picture first. LOL I'm glad it still turned out ok - I know I loved it here :)

Cakelaw said...

Ouch! I am glad that your reward for this suffering was a good tasting pud that set. Oh, and happy 12 months of TWD to you too :)

natalia said...

Ciao ! i'm sorry for your burn !!! And I can't believe you finished the pudding and wrote the post !!!!

Megan said...

Sounds like a normal day in the kitchen for me!

Seriously, I hope your hand is ok, and that your next baking project is less traumatic.

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

You poor thing! I am so sorry this was a crazy thing for you. Gladthat it turned out pretty good even with all of the mishaps. I think I would like the chocolate slivers in the bottom. :)

vibi said...

True, puddings can be tricky... especially when using shortcuts, but in the end... I must admit it looks pretty darn good from here! lol

Soy*Baby said...

Ouch! I hope your hand is okay. You beat me in kitchen disasters. I had grainy ganache and I think it was because it didn't melt enough. Glad it still turned out despite all the setbacks.

Michele said...

Yikes! I'm so sorry anout the culinary explosion. I hope you're okay. Your pudding looks lovely!

margot said...

Yikes, sorry about the burn! I'm glad the pudding came together okay, it looks yummy. I was a little annoyed when I realized feves don't always melt, I've taken to chopping them before using them, which sort of defeats the purpose.

Katrina said...

Oh my goodness, what a tale! Alls well that ends well!
Sorry about the burn.
When my little sister was 4 (she's 30 now), she was helping my mom stir microwave pudding. She reached for the glass bowl in the open microwave and dumped the whole thing down her chin and chest! Hospital stay ensued, etc. I have a feeling you understand! She still has a scar on her chin. Pudding is hot! ;)

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

My goodness that was an eventful night. I will say that I have had those days where everything you touch just goes wrong. I'm happy that it all worked out but sorry you had to get burned.

Tammy said...

I dont think it needed the butter. It looks great presented in a glass

spike. said...

Your poor hand! Hope it is doing better. Glad to hear of the happy ending!

Pamela said...

Yikes! Sounds like a pain! I'm so sorry you burned yourself. Please, take care my friend! And thanks for the tip on the muffins. I just might make them again, since my streusel melted all over the place!

AmyRuth said...

Well, darn you'll probably always associate your burns with this pudding. Poor baby. Hope your back to normal soon. Your photo looks really good. Just for the record it is pretty easy to make even if you don't take a shortcut. he he Take care.
AmyRuth

Anonymous said...

Glad it still tasted good after all you went through. Like the glass.

Kayte said...

OMW, I am cracking up over you burning your hand and thinking first of photographing for your post...too too funny. I have to say, it turned out wonderful...love the little glass you served it in. What we do for the love of our art, right?