Thursday, May 17, 2012

Chocolate Budino from Cat Cora


I don't know if you can tell - but there's chocolate oozing over the top crumbs. There would have been more chocolate seeping onto the plate if I served these right out of the oven (recommended). But I am expedient. When people are over, I do all ahead of time. Except take pictures. There were impatient people waiting for these delectables. I needed to get all the photos done in the time it takes for everyone at the table to make fun of Claudia and her pictures of food.

So, the photos are not splendifrous - I tried. There's irony here but you will see that in a few minutes.

These chocolate pillows are from Cat Cora. Who is Cat Cora? Never heard of her until this week. It's that not-TV-watching thing that snags me again. (All right! I confess, I watched Downton Abbey. Nobody does soap opera better than the Brits.)

Bundino means "pudding" in Italian - and they are almost like a British steamed plum pudding. Except they're not British and they're not steamed. They are irresistible. I baked small ones in muffin tins (everyone's on a diet for swimsuit season). And everyone ate 2 or 3. Small bites, right? It's always fun to fool yourself.


Cat Cora is best known for her featured role in Iron Chef (someday will watch). She's easy to spot - she's the woman. And she is #48 on Gourmet's Female Game-Changers in Food. Born in Mississippi to a Greek-American family of restaurateurs, Cora got the cooking bug early. She may have gone to college for Exercise Physiology and Biology, but after graduating she headed to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY to pursue her love of food.

(Cat Cora 2010, photo from Wikipedia)

Her accomplishments are varied and considerable. She co-founded Chefs for Humanity "a grassroots coalition of chefs and culinary professionals guided by a mission to quickly be able to raise funds for important emergency and humanitarian aid, nutritional education and hunger-related initiatives throughout the world."

On the flip side of the coin, she had a voice role in a video game Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine.  And if the coin had a third side you'd find that she has partnered with Disney producing videos about helping and teaching families to cook together. In 2010, she created webisodes with the Muppets (specifically a spicy Italian Muppet named Angelo) that centered on the joys and health benefits of cooking as a family.

Yes, she has cookbooks, kitchenware and some lovely recipes. Read more about Cat Cora at her website.

More of a molten cake than a pudding, this is simple (my mantra) and is simply velvet night.

Chocolate Budino (makes 12 Budini or one large Budino) Ingredients
1/2 pound bittersweet chocolate cut into small chunks (I used Sharffen-Berger chunks)
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks (which gave me an egg white omelette the next day - points for being thrifty & virtuous)
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
12 tablespoons unsalted butter - softened

Preparation
Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Grease or spray a 9-inch cake pan or muffin tin.

Place the chocolate over the top pan of a double boiler set over gently simmering water. Stir till melted.

In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, eggs yolks, sugar and flour until well -incorporated.

When the chocolate has melted, remove pan from heat and add butter, mixing until all is a deep brown and smooth. Add the egg mixture into the chocolate (I did the opposite) mixing well. Pour into prepared pans. If using muffin tins, fill half-way. (Which I did but next time I would fill them 3/4).

Bake 18-20 minutes if using a cake pan and only 11-12 minutes if using a muffin tin. You will see the edges start to pull away from the pan. Remove from oven and cool for ten minutes. To serve, place a pan over the in or cake pan and turn upside down. Quickly turn it back onto your serving platter. It is best served warm but I got the happy sighs when I served it at room temperature.

I served it with double Devonshire clotted cream and berries.

Remember how I complained over not taking good photos?


After the dinner ended, Kirsten came home stressed from work ("stress" being the predominant gene in this family).

"Chocolate! I need chocolate!" She popped a chocolate-muffin-budino is her mouth and then slathered cream on the last two.

She didn't care how it looked.

And then she covered it with raspberries and it looked better than my rendition that I like to think I did with care.


Go figure.

My "Project" continues to grow. I think it's the spot from the Cat in the Hat. And when chocolate is not readily available, this has been a grand week for looking out my window.




Check out what the other bloggers are doing to honor this week's game-changer Cat Cora and if you want to join in the fun, e-mail Mary at One Perfect Bite. Mary started this delectable journey.

Susan - The Spice GardenHeather - girlichef,
Miranda - Mangoes and ChutneyJeanette - Healthy Living
Kathleen - Gonna Want Seconds
Martha - Simple Nourished Living



31 comments:

Mireya @MyHealthyEatingHabits said...

The chocolate budino looks delicious! But I have to say that the flowers draw my attention more. Beautiful!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

If it has chocolate, I'm all for it. I know your guests must have been delighted with this dessert Claudia. Well worth a tiny delay for a photo or two....
Sam

TinaRBK said...

Ha-I do think I would have a hard time taking pictures with a hungry crowd hovering. Kudos to you for even managing that!
I know Cat Cora from the Food Network but I was unaware of her background, cool that she has a project with Disney. Your chocolate budinos do look delicious. Molten cakes are such a showstopper of a dessert. Have a great weekend!

Heather S-G said...

That's a funny thing about being a food blogger, huh!? Nobody bothers to make fun of me anymore. They now ask me if I want to take pictures of such-and-such. Or they just wait in another room until I yell for them. Ha! These look amazing. Both versions!

Kathy said...

Claudia, I love Downton Abbey…and never saw Cat Cora on TV. And although I have heard her name I really didn’t know anything else about her. Those Chocolate Budino look amazing and sound so decadent! Lovely post!

Jill~a SaucyCook said...

These were the most amazing little bites I have put in my mouth in a long time! Since our dinner guests this weekend are gluten free and vegan I couldn't use these for dessert, so I ran them out of the house as soon as I could. Naturally that was not before my husband and I ate 3 each and thank God I forgot that I licked the bowl clean!!!
Love the addition of raspberries and whipped cream-I was just too full!

Lynda said...

Chocolate, I need chocolate now! These are delicious looking bites of chocolate. I haven't seen Cat Cora on Iron Chef, but she's been on a couple of shows I've watched before.
I have difficutly taking pictures when anyone is here for dinner too. It's just too hectic and the pics just don't turn out like I hope.
I confess to watching Downton Abbey too; it was the best thing on TV.

Anonymous said...

Wow what an incredible post and a treasure trove of recipes

Alyce said...

Almost anything that happens with chocolate is good. A beautiful thing, isn't it? Happy Summer day in the Twin Cities--I just walked up to St. Paul Drugs to get a prescription and think I got a tan on the way.

CJ - Food Stories said...

Never heard of budino's before so may have to try this one ... Happy Weekend :-)

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I've seen her on those cooking shows Claudia and she is very talented. Love these little budinos and those flowers are so vibrantly pink. What a delectable small bite.

Jeanette said...

I'm a big fan of Cat Cora. I've never heard of budinos but they sound an nice treat!

Bubbe Bites said...

You had me at chocolate. Yum!

Reeni said...

The flowers are stunning! And the cakes are the perfect stress relievers! So cute with the raspberries on top.

Pencil Kitchen said...

I must go and check her out! She sounds like a fabulous chef! you too, btw! :D

Susan Lindquist said...

Hahaha! have to augh about the photo session with the food while the folks wait semi-patiently in the other room ... been there! As for the budino ...! Chocolate! Warm puds! Stellar!

Miranda | Mangoes and Chutney said...

Molten cake? Got my vote! Great job with that, and nothing like fresh fruit and chocolate.

Beth Michelle said...

I love Cat Cora!!! These little chocolaty budions look amazing!! Whats not to love about things that ooze chocolate?!

Jeannie said...

If those flowers are edible, I'll have them over the chocolate budino lol! SUch vibrant color! so gorgeous! Then again, I think, I'll have a piece of that delicious looking budino too!

Chiara said...

This budino budino looks delicious Claudia, thanks for sharing, have a good Sunday...

Anonymous said...

Love the pics, especially the ones wuth the bites and the sharing. Also agreeing on the flipside of famous chefs cashing in on their publicity. However, we have had the same problems in the UK with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and, at times, Jamie Oliver. I can't help but to make my own judgements. Gordon is cashing on his celebrity status, whilst Jamie is in need of some serious guidance but, at the end of the day, it's all about food and sharing. Through this recipe, you have adapted so perfectly, managed to bring everyone together in their enjoyment of food, and that's what it's all about.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

What a lovely ending to a meal!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

What a lovely ending to a meal!

Anonymous said...

These are scrumptious and decadent little desserts!

Anonymous said...

Over here in Belgium, we don't know this woman chef!

This dessert is calling my name though! :)

I love it: rich, tasty & very chocolately! ;)

Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

I've never made any of Cat Cora's recipes, but from what I'm reading in this group, she deserves all of the accolades that she's receiving! This chocolate looks moist, dense, and intense! Perfect!

Mary Bergfeld said...

These have made me weak-kneed. They sound fabulous, Claudia. I really have to try these. SOON. Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings...Mary

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Heheheh your daughter is so cute. I can totally see my daughter becoming like that, but only problem is that no one will be baking...until I practice more! =P I should make chocolate muffins first as my kids will be thrilled to have!

Angie's Recipes said...

Yes, chocolate cures stress ;-) It looks heavenly!

OysterCulture said...

Love chocolate budinos and given chocolates antioxidant properties, its like taking a vitamin - only much better.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

A great remedy against stress! ;-P This is a fabulous dessert.

Cheers & happy Friday,

Rosa