From the category archives:

Entertaining with Chocolate


Chocolate pudding is one of those age old desserts that almost everyone loves -there are some non-chocolate lovers out there, or so I hear. Processed chocolate pudding is both easy and cheap to come by in any grocery store but that said there is more than a little something missing from those little chemical cups so why not try this delicious chocolate pudding recipe instead?

Silky Chocolate Pudding
Adapted from John Scharffenberger, via Wednesday Chef
Serves 6

1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 cups whole milk
6 ounces 62% semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used good quality semisweet chocolate chips; use 70% bittersweet if you want more of a dark chocolate kick)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Combine the cornstarch, sugar and salt in the top of a double boiler. Slowly whisk in the milk, scraping the bottom and sides with a heatproof spatula to incorporate the dry ingredients. Place over gently simmering water and stir occasionally, scraping the bottom and sides. Use a whisk as necessary should lumps begin to form. After 15 to 20 minutes, when the mixture begins to thicken and coats the back of the spoon, add the chocolate. Continue stirring for about 2 to 4 minutes, or until the pudding is smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

2. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer (or skip this step if you’re a slacker like me who is absolutely certain that there is nary a lump her puddin’) into a serving bowl or into a large measuring cup with a spout and pour into individual serving dishes.

3. If you like pudding skin, pull plastic wrap over the top of the serving dish(es) before refrigerating. If you dislike pudding skin, place plastic wrap on top of the pudding and smooth it gently against the surface before refrigerating. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days (ahem, good luck with that).

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Photo by reggaedori

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Follower Friday is a Meme I decided to create to elaborate on the Twitter tradition of #ff to recognize one of my wonderful Social Network followers every Friday! If you would like to participate in Follower Friday just snag the button from my sidebar and make sure to link it to En Chocolat!

This week for Follower Friday I am spotlighting @katiskupcakes!


With a birthday looming tomorrow I will be headed out to pick up some cupcakes myself and being in a cupcake frame of mind today’s follower Friday is Kati’s Kupcakes! To me there is nothing more impressive than watching a cake artist go to work and churn out mini edible works of art and that is just what Kati does. Kati’s Kupcakes is located up in Moorestown, NJ and not only does she create amazingly beautiful cupcakes but she also caters them to your specific requirements. Seriously you have to take a look at this woman’s art, she hasn’t been featured in the Family Circle Magazine Blog for nothing you know!

What do I love about Kati’s Kupcakes? Well beside the fact that she makes CUPCAKES! I love Kati’s pure talent and creativity as well as her upbeat “do what I love” kind of attitude. When someone loves what they do it really shows in the end product. A few of my favorite designs that Kati has cupcaked so far include her Pinball Party Cupcakes, her Giant Pink Cupcake, and most definitely her Mushroom Cupcakes !

If you are in the Moorestown, NJ area and have a need for amazingly artistic cupcakes or if you feel like driving out to Kati’s Kupcakes just to get some delicious cupcakes for your next event I highly recommend it because with cupcakes that look like hers you are sure to have one impressed group of partygoers! Not able to make the drive to NJ? Why not just drop in on Kati via Twitter or through her website and let her know how much you love her work!

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A Beginner Chocolatiers Guide

Chocolates and Confections at Home with The Culinary Institute of America by Peter P. Greweling August 23, 2010

Many chocolate lovers wish that they could become chocolatiers themselves but oftentimes don’t know where to start. Beginning with a chocolate making class is a great way to start but it can often be intimidating for people who are afraid to walk in to a room full of strangers with no knowledge of the product [...]

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Chocolate Easter Nests Recipe

Chocolate Easter Nests Recipe March 13, 2010

Easter is just around the corner and one of my favorite things about Easter as a child was, of course, the sheer amount of chocolate that freely flowed through our house. Growing up in a small town in England my elementary school made it a point to teach cooking by hands on, treat making lessons [...]

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