Idiot Proof Pudding

mummysaver

Hi there! I'd suggest getting lots of puds made at the weekend when you have time, and getting the kids to help you.

Most cake recipes wil cope with being frozen, and things like jelly will keep in the fridge. You can just take them out as needed. Things like pies are fairly simple to make, shortcrust pastry is simple or you could buy it, an apple filling is nice and easy and would sneak some fruit into your kids! Doused in custard they might not even notice the fruit, and of course the milk in custard is good for them too!

Our puds are quite often fruit or yoghurt, but at the mo with the cold weather we are eating things like choc mousse, choc tart (heat double cream, break choc into it, remove cream from heat and stir till choc melts, let cool slightly, pour into pastry case and chill, steam sponge pud (use recipe above but put syrup in the bottom of the bowl), muffins, pineapple upside down cake, mini cheesecakes (means I don't polish off a huge one!), fruit pies, apple braid and iced buns (recipe for these is on the first page of the grocery challenge thread, D&DD's apple braid is absolutely fantastic and if you make a couple you can freeze one, and the same dough can be used for iced buns, my dd3 loves icing them!).

I wouldn't panic too much about puds being overly healthy, as part of a balanced diet and eaten in moderation, they are far better than sweets, and have the added advantage that kids aren't moaning they're hungry half an hour after dinner!

Just a quick thought about getting them to eat fruit, I've found even the most reluctant kids will eat it if they are given a small pot of choc to dip it in! Just a big of choc melted into cream, you only need about a dessertspoon of this in a ramekin and a small plate of apple slices, grapes and whatever else is in season.

Oh, I'm feeling peckish now!

mummysaver

thriftlady wrote: »

That's alright luv;) I wasn't offended, in fact I thought that's what must have happened -goodness I sound really petty don't I ? The original recipe is something of an American classic I believe. I just love baking American-style with cup measures, so easy;)

Any more recipes like the fudge cake Thriftlady? It sounds delicious, I meant to ask Peyton about it when she said she made it on the daily thread, I've been searching for a proper fudge cake recipe for ages.

Just as an aside, I know that someone somewhere on OS mentioned cup measures being awkward, well Asda sell a little plastic measuring jug and it has cups as well as ml on it, think its about 24 pence.

thriftlady_2

mummysaver wrote: »

Any more recipes like the fudge cake Thriftlady? It sounds delicious, I meant to ask Peyton about it when she said she made it on the daily thread, I've been searching for a proper fudge cake recipe for ages.

.

Nigella has a very similar recipe with chilli in and also one without the cocoa -I think she calls it Holiday Hotcake.

mummysaver

Thanks Thriftlady, Nigella and I don't really get on! I always feel that a real person has never tried to cook some of her stuff, seems like if you followed some of her recipes to the letter then the results might not be as they should! But that aside, I have a couple of her books that I was given as pressies, so I shall have a look, the Holiday Hotcake sounds interesting, choc fudge cake without the choc!

Boodle

I realise you say your kids aren't so keen on fruit and yog, but you could try serving it in a different bowl or dish to breakfast time, and perhaps lay it out differently? Anyway, we don't have pudding often but when we do, this is a list of things my daughter seems to enjoy:

Tinned fruit (usually peaches) with plain yog or custard

Sliced banana and custard

Yog with chopped dried fruits mixed in

A slice of HM cake (a plain or fruit one, whichever happens to be in the cupboard), on it's own or with custard. Or a Hm flapjack. More often than not, it's a case of us all having a piece of HM cake with a cuppa (milk for my daughter) back in the living room.

Semolina

Rice pud

Vanilla or chocolate custard (milk, sugar to sweeten, and vanilla or vanilla and cocoa powder, heated and thickened with cornflour.)

Cheesecake - mix cream cheese and enough orange juice to sweeten, the either spoon into a sweet pastry crust or crumble biscuits into a small dish and top with the cheese mixture.

Captain_Bluebear

what about baked bananas? totally yummy.

ust wrap them in foil still "zipped up" in their skins and bunged in the oven for about 20 mins. then served with whatever you have. ice cream, yoghurt, choc chips etc....i bet they would eat that!

leiela

wow so many great idea's !!

I have to admit i feel abit overwhelmed i'm really not much of a baker, these things you all say are super easy still seem very daunting.

Im home at the weekends and "sunday" is my cooking day as i bulk make alot of meals, so im going to "try" and make a cake of some sort, though im not promising it will be edible or anything haha.

Can't make up my mind about what to make for tonight though... im totally hopeless and i go on my lunch in 20mins eeeeekkkk!!! gotta make my mind up quick.

scrivette

This cake is so easy, or you can make fairy cakes instead of large cakes.

4oz SR flour
4oz butter
4oz sugar
2 eggs
Teaspoon baking powder

Put all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat with electric whisk.
When combined pour into greased tin and cook on gas mark 5 for 25/30 mins. When done it should feel springy on top and a knife inserted should come out clean.

Variations include: replacing 1oz of flour for cocoa, adding chopped up chocolate, chocolate chips, raisons, mixed fruit, glace cherries...

leiela

tanith wrote: »

Microwave sponge pudding is so simple...

1 egg
2oz S/R flour
2oz soft butter
pinch salt.

Beat egg and butter tog, fold in flour and salt, put lemon curd/jam in the bottom of a microwave bowl, then spoon in sponge mix, zap in the M/W for 3 mins, serve with custard . I vary this pudding by making it with different flavours, syrup, chocolate, apples in fact anything you fancy. It take 5 mins and is foolproof... makes enough for 3 kiddies or 2 adults

Well i went with the microwave sponge ... did it plain no joam or anything in the bottom, but i added some drinking chocolate to make it "chocolaty" and served it with Custard.

Both kids loved it, thanks for the recipe.

Ill most certainly be trying some of hte other recipes at the weekend when i have some baking time

justpeyton4now

Just thought of something else my kidlets really liked when they were small. More of a spring/summer type dessert but mine loved it year round. Just take plain yogurt and add berries (frozen ones work fine.) Add a touch of honey and blend well either in a blender or with an immersion type one. Pour into a parfait glass or a regular glass with a straw. They're good for them and they feel they're getting a nice sweet treat. Just be sure not to serve to children under a year old because of the honey. Sugar can be substituted for honey if desired.

You can also pour the smoothie into the little ice lolly forms you can pick up and freeze them.

HTH