Chocolate Lava Pudding

Three words to evoke the inner chocolate addict within you.

Chocolate Lava Pudding is the crème de la crème of tiny puddings.

You have been warned...

Oozing warm chocolate flows slowly down my spoon as I write this.

Any drips could potentially mean waste (NOT an option) and I find it increasingly difficult to put down the shiny silver spoon but I must as this recipe is too decadent not to share with my fellow lovers of chocolate.

Chocolate Lava Pudding

300g dark chocolate buttons
300g unsalted butter
6 whole eggs
6 egg yolks
150g caster sugar
150g plain flour

Makes 10

In a bain marie, melt the chocolate buttons and butter together, stirring until smooth and set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, using a whisk cream together the whole eggs and yolks with the caster sugar (Using electric beaters is effective if you happen to loathe whisking). Gently fold all the melted chocolate into the eggs, then slowly sift the plain flour into the bowl and continue folding until completely incorporated, without lumps.
Butter and flour 10 cake moulds, then fill each mould approximately to the brim. Place each cake mould onto a baking tray, then bake in a preheated oven at 170 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and set in the mould, then remove from the mould and serve slightly warm with vanilla bean ice-cream, dark chocolate ganache, a candied vanilla bean and a generous dusting of vanilla bean icing sugar.

Your miniature chocolate lava pudding will have a slight crust on the edge and a soft chocolate centre, that will sink to form a small well on cooling.

Now I know I was going to try to avoid using instagram pictures if I'm blogging at home but I simply had to include this little picture, because it's so sweet.

And if you don't have to go to bed, I'd recommend this pudding with a delicious macchiato (Tiny Teddy optional- Although he looks as relaxed as we were, as if he were in a coffee cream bath).

We shared the last pudding at home with two duelling teaspoons, next to the warm heater. It was the kind of night where you sit with your feet over your best friend's lap, under a blanket, wearing fluffy socks, hooded jumpers and acid wash jeans with endless episodes of Friends.

Chocolate lava pudding is decadent and rich, no matter how you enjoy it.

Bella xx

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Sticky Date Pudding

Ohhh I forgot to mention I made a delicious, moist sticky date pudding late last week. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the whole pudding, nor do I have 'pretty' pictures of a slice of it with the warm caramel sauce and fresh cream oozing over the top. Instead you will have to take my word for it that it was possibly the best pudding I have ever made and the ants will be chasing me as I devour the leftovers with my dear friends.

Erin and Dan were very pleased with how soft the moist pudding was as it slowly sprang back to shape after they dipped their spoons deep into the hot centre.

I've included a 'not-so-pretty' picture of one of the slices I heated the next day.
If you have to make a dessert this winter, sticky date pudding is both easy to prepare and far more delicious if homemade than any store bought imposter! Enjoy with dollop cream or a good quality vanilla bean ice cream but just be careful not to eat it all at once. Winter Sweets Perfection!

Mmmm....

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Bella Goes Home

I had a thought that I have spent more time in the kitchen than what I have creating my art in recent months so it is with this late realisation that I have decided to turn this blog into my food blog. As I create more pieces, I may add them but for the time being I will harness my creative expression through cooking and happily share with you possibly my greatest passion in this world- cooking.

It has been a month since I left the golden Autumn hues of Armidale for a warmer climate to spend time with my mother. Upon my return I was surprised to see what was left of the leaves on the spiny trees had turned cool red. I never realised red could make the views seem colder but it that is quite fitting as Armidale has settled in for the icy Winter chill.


Officially it is Winter tomorrow, though Armidale got a racing start and I caught a cold early. Talk about typical.
Before returning home I bought two small pumpkins and two pineapples at the market stall near my mother's home. I had a wonderful fairy godmother moment when I turned the first pumpkin into a creamy pumpkin soup for Erin and a friend of hers from her hometown.


One thing that did please me was to see my flatmate, Erin again and of course Maxi and the budgies. Since my return we've been cooking together in the kitchen. Mostly crock pots as I am finally using the wonderful Christmas gift from my grandparents and can highly recommend this cookery method if you live in this chilly region or can relate. There is something almost magical about the aromas as you come inside the front door.

We had the monthly markets in town yesterday so Erin and I bought our usual honey (redgum this time) and vegetables from the man who drives up from Tamworth. It is funny he knows us by face and despite visiting him for many months, yesterday was the first day we introduced ourselves. Our fresh vegetable supplier's name is John.
He always greets everyone with a smile and packs our vegetables into a small box that quickly becomes heavy as we make our way back to Erin's car.

I did see a few familiar faces at the markets but we were in a hurry to return because we'd also just played and won a game of football (soccer) and I scored my first goal so I was on a bit of a buzz, despite the chesty cough and blocked nose. Armidale isn't a town you ought to roam around in soccer shorts and a hoody if it's Winter and take my word for it, we froze.

We came home, started the gas heater, showered, and began the second half of our Sunday in the kitchen (Read: Perfect Sunday with football win, markets and cooking).
One chicken and vegetable crock pot 5 hours later, a dessert* and some fresh orange juice to blitz this cold and I was feeling relaxed and happy to be home with great company. I've attached some pictures of the pudding below to show you how I used the banana and soaked mixed fruit. I soaked the fruit in fresh orange juice and the sherry for a bit over half and hour and result was juicy, plump fruit sprinkled over the top of our leftover breadstick-turned-mouth-watering-pudding. That's the beauty of this dish, you can use virtually any bread you have or cakes and brioche.


*I baked a bread and butter pudding with banana and cream sherry for dessert. The dates complimented the banana beautifully and I am thankful Erin had some ripe bananas to experiment with in this dish.


Cooked it a little longer and I was so chuffed that I had to post a picture of me about to eat it... I know you want to make one now...


It's good to be home.

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