Chocolate

      I saw on the news yesterday (CNN) that the chocolate workers in western Africa are leaving their jobs for better ones with better pay and conditions. The world's chocolate suppliers are worried that the world will run out of chocolate and the supplies that we have now will increase in cost until it is possible that it will equal the price of caviar. This could be a desperate situtation to the many people who love chocolate. I am one of them but I'm really not panicking because I'm sure I could probably live without it. Life just wouldn't be as sweet....pun intented.

     What is it about chocolate that we love so much? Sweethearts give gifts of chocolate to show their love. Fancy hotels sometimes have chocolate wafers on the pillows. Romantics love chocolate covered strawberrries. We have a fascination with chocolate. I personally love all kinds of chocolate. I love dark, bitter chocolate, milk chocolate, creamy swiss chocolate, chocolate with nuts in it (yes that's a favourite), chocolate drizzled on things but I don't like white chocolate because it's really not chocolate after all.

     Not everyone feels the same about chocolate. Our second son, Matthew, really doesn't like it at all. (I've thought about having his head checked but figured any doctor would think it was me who needed to be checked out, ha ha). No, he really could care less if he had chocolate. He, like his father, likes gummy candy (yuck). Gummy worms, jelly beans, jujubees that kind of thing. But the other two kids have inherited my chocolate gene.

      When I was little and my Mom asked me what I wanted her to make me for a treat I would always say 'Brownie Pudding'. It's a beautiful cakey pudding with chocolate sauce all over it and it's best if served warm. She always made it so good! All my life, when I have wanted something really yummy and satisfying, I have made brownie pudding. All three of my children love it, even Matthew. So I thought I would share it with you. If the news is right maybe someday my brownie pudding will be worth it's weight in gold. Who knows? But for now we'll continue baking it and  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have:

Brownie Pudding

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

mix all together until smooth and pour into greased casserole dish. In a separate bowl mix:

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa

sprinkle this over the first mixture in the casserole dish. Then pour 1 3/4 cups very hot water over the top of everything. Bake in a 350 F oven for approximately 45 minutes. Test it by inserting a knife in the center and if it comes out clean, it's done. Enjoy!!