The April 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Esther of The Lilac Kitchen. She challenged everyone to make a traditional British pudding using, if possible, a very traditional British ingredient: suet. The alternative was a proper steamed sponge pudding which I was excited about trying – it brought back memories of my mum’s steamed puddings when I was little…
HOWEVER –
“Circumstances beyond my control” have prevented me from completing this month’s Daring Bakers’ challenge according to the recipes provided. I did want to participate though and had the brilliant idea to introduce Les Petits Chefs to the Daring Bakers by way of this challenge and Jamie Oliver’s recipe for quick steamed microwave pudding cakes. Steaming a pudding in a microwave with 9 year old boys – that’s a Daring Baker wouldn’t you agree??? 😉
The boys have been asking for a “sweet treat” so I figured this would be perfect and a great recipe for them to learn, if it works out, as it appears so easy yet looks much more involved than it really is!
We had a blast with this recipe, even washing the pudding cups was fun:
The boys also enjoyed buttering the cups:
And a particular highlight was squeezing the oranges (and eating the pulp):
We had a LOT of fun with the golden syrup:
And a highlight was definitely tapping bashing the pudding mixture down:
Then there was MUCH excitement when we checked on the puds in the microwave and saw this:
(even I was excited – I was totally expecting this to be the “not everything always works out” lesson for the boys)
And we created some very strange creatures indeed:
We ran out of time to warm extra golden syrup and pour it over and to tell you the truth, the boys were very happy with their creations as they were.. That’s the only time we veered from the recipe.
Some tips:
1. Use a whisk (which I conveniently forgot at home) to make sure there are no flour lumps in the mixture – this was today’s lesson. Some of the puds had a few floury pockets (however this did not stop anyone from eating them!)
2. Trust Jamie’s timing for baking. I didn’t think they were done at the end of 7.5 minutes so added an extra minute. Not necessary – they were just heading off in the “too dry” direction (again, not a deterrent for the boys in any way!)
3. These would be awesome with jam instead of golden syrup as well.
4. Don’t “pooh pooh” this recipe because it’s made in a microwave – they are pretty impressive and I love that they are individual sized – perfect for a spectacular dinner party dessert with hardly any prep!
SO impressed with the boys this week – think there could be a Daring Baker amongst them in the future!
A microwaveable cake! That’s my kind of recipe! Looks awesome, and seems fun!
Thanks – and yes – it’s SO easy you can’t NOT try it!
Those look great! Glad you were able to participate this month after all!
Me too and the boys are so excited to have helped out!
I bet these were really good! I wish I had some youngsters to help me out this month! 😉 As you know, I had a “challenge” of my own that made everything crazy for the last few weeks. I think it’s great that you got it done! I would love to try making the pudding in the microwave. Cheers for Les petits chefs!
Yay petits chefs!!!
How fun to have the boys make this with you. I love the idea of steaming it in the microwave. It looks yummy to me!
We definitely had a lot of fun!
I love just about everything about this post and how you did this challenge. I love that you involved your boys. I love how excited they were to be involved. I love the recipe you chose and that it can be made in the microwave. Awesome, awesome, awesome. I will definitely give this a try!! Great job with the challenge!
You won’t be sorry – it’s a GREAT recipe and so easy. Thanks – I had a lot of fun too!
Don’t fear Mardi, there’s plenty of time for the ‘not everything works out’ lesson.
I’ve never seen an inside of a microwave that looks like that. It is a special microwave? It doesn’t seem to have a turntable?
It’s an industrial microwave = indestructible!!
How awesome to combine the 2 projects! Microwave is a great idea. The puddings look yummy!
Yes it’s great when you can combine two challenges!
this is sooo adrorable. brilliant going on the challenge!
Aren’t they cute? 😉
I’m totally amazed you did a mircowave version excellent work and I love the sous chefs that are helping it is so nice when the whole family makes a recipe and the final results looks so moist and so delicious. Bravo on you effort. Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.
Well they’re not my family – they’re my substitute kids! Thanks for stopping by!
The puddings look wonderful! The boys did a great job!
Cheers,
Rosa
Yes, they don’t look too bad do they?
That is amazing. Love your work
Thanks Penny!
Not only does the recipe look good, I am impressed that you involved the boys. Anytime kids are invovled is a good thing, at least in my mind.
Kids+cooking – I can’t get enough of it!
At first, I didn’t think “Steamed Microwave Pudding Cakes” sounded all that appetizing, but these look wonderful! Will have to try them out at home.
Yes I was quite wary also but they turned out amazingly!
What an awesome Les Petits Chefs week!! I’ve been wanting to make those puddings…they look delicious! Bravo Mardi!
You will have so much fun making these with Squirrel!
I’ve made these with my son, and they are truly to die for (we didn’t put the extra syrup over the top either, they were plenty sweet already!) Good job petits chefs!
Aren’t they fun AND delicious!
Sounds like such a fun experience for the little chefs!
They certainly had a great time!
That’s so cool! I have to try this with the tot.
Mooch would definitely LOVE making these!
Mardi, the boys’ hands are so cute!! 🙂 They are definitely daring bakers.
We all love the little hands photos!
What a wonderful and truly fun way to do a challenge! Wouldn’t mind the “les petit chefs” helping me out too.
Oh, and please tell them the puddings look absolutely delish! 🙂
They were very proud of their puddings, thanks!
Lovely! Those boys did a great job… They are daring bakers, indeed!
Yes they are. I love that kids never think “I can’t do it” – it’s a quality we all need a little bit of sometimes!
Yum! That looks like so much fun, and delicious, too! I can’t wait to get my Food Revolution Cookbook. I won’t have it until Mother’s Day and I’m dying with anticipation.
Thanks for linking to Food Revolution Friday!
You are going to LOVE the cookbook!!
This pudding is absolutely delicious – it went well with warm maple syrup as well!
Thanks Teresa – I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Oh this looks so good and I love that the boys were so involved i this project. It makes me want to join the Daring Bakers!
Hey – if my boys can be Daring Bakers, so can you!