Comments on: An antidote to November: chocolate pudding cake

By: Missy

Missy — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:24:30 +0000

Dear PJ,

Hi! This looks WONDERFUL! I love a pudding cake and haven’t had it since I was a kid (but my mom used actual pudding, so was not as delicious I’m sure as this will be!)

but….herein lies my question….I love how you gave us the stock numbers at the very bottom of the recipe if we would like you to do the measuring….I found the hot fudge mix ok, but nowhere on your site can I locate this:

#3621 quick mix chocolate cake

I know I may sound lazy, but I am sick with Lupus and some other ailments, so any time I can actually accomplish something in the kitchen with limited pain/effort, well, it makes my day! :o)

By the way, a friend of mine online JUST turned me onto this site about 4 or 5 days ago, I have already ordered (and shockingly received today!) your English Muffin Kit.

My Granny and Dad were both from England and she used to bake me homemade English muffins when I was a kid. She died when I was young (and b4 I could get her recipe!) I cannot even express to you my joy at finding them on your WONDERFUL site! I already have thrown lots more things into my ’shopping cart’…..and eagerly await my next bunch of goodies!

Thank you, Bless you all, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Hugs,
Missy from CT

Hi Missy,
First, the chocolate cake has been re-named recently. It is now the Deliciously Simple Chocolate Cake. Item 3436.
Second, English muffins are one of those foods that so many of us tie into our memories of ‘comfort foods’. A little peanut butter and honey on mine, and it is back to my honeymoon days with my sweetie. Enjoy!

Happy Baking!
MaryJane @ The Baker’s Hotline

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:41:42 +0000

I loved both the recipe and the story. Congratulations not only on a fine recipe but on a fine piece of writing as well! What fun. Thanks!!

By: Stacerella

Stacerella — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:59:32 +0000

PJ, came across a recipe for making mini brownie cakes in mugs, bookmarked it and then promptly forgot all about it. You just reminded me to go looking for that recipe to test as a Christmas jar gift idea. I love your brownie recipes. I think I will use the KA ingredients in the jar gifts, and if they turn well, I will let you know.

By: MaryJane

MaryJane — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:35:50 +0000

I was a lucky recipient of some of PJ’s puddin’ cake (To me, it has to be puddin’ not pudding.) It was just right for a drab afternoon. Sooo very comforting. Thanks for sharing PJ!

Yup, I agree, MaryJane - it’s not gourmet, it’s old-fashioned, in the way chocolate pudding used to be. Just… right. PJH

By: cindy leigh

cindy leigh — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:38:21 +0000

I love my Zo!
I use it almost exclusively for mixing and kneading. I form the (usually sourdough) loaves by hand and bake. I don’t like the big holes in the bottom of the loaf when you bake in the Zo. Can’t slice for sandwiches with those big gaps in the bottom. Maybe I’ll try removing the paddles as suggested.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:37:40 +0000

I was afraid there wasn’t an easy way to get a baked loaf out of the pan. My problem is always with the paddles so taking them out after the first rise will be the way I will have to go. Makes it all a lot less convenient and would keep me from recommending the Zo so highly. When you are writing the copy for this machine you might want to let people know that it is best used just for kneading but to forget about baking bread in it.

Jane, plenty of people are able to get their bread out just fine - including me, much of the time. I’ve never discovered what it is that makes SOME loaves stick. I don’t bake in the machine often because I prefer to feel the dough in my hands, I like to shape it, and I don’t bake plain loaves that often. But for those who want to bake in the machine, I’d say the Zo is still the best choice, due to its overall quality and versatility. - PJH

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:40:50 +0000

I don’t have your equipment, but I just came upon your site. I made a very close recipe of this last night for 80 people in 2 double 9X13 pans. That was a lot of chocolate pudding cake. It was hot when we served it, and they cleaned it up. I love the “what exactly is this?” question. The kids call it lava cake, because of the way it looks on top after baking.

By: Gerry Walker

Gerry Walker — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:19:03 +0000

On getting your loaf out of the bread machine: I finally took a rubber spatula, ran it around the sides; it kind of breaks whatever seal is between the bread and the sides of the machine and the loaf comes out much easier.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:21:36 +0000

I live in a small New York apartment and last year we bought the Zojirushi Mini Bread Machine. We love it! It’s the perfect size for stashing away conveniently and it makes a delicious loaf that is just the right size for two people. I highly recommend it for small apartment living.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:59:43 +0000

I have only one complaint about the Zo. I like to bake the bread in the machine but I have a terrible time getting the loaf out! I have tried spraying the paddles and the spokes they sit on with oil and I wash off the poles each time but they still stick when I try to remove a loaf. Just how is one supposed to get the bread out without shaking forever?

Yes, this is an issue. Have you tried setting a timer, and removing the paddles completely after the first rise, just after they rotate a few times to deflate the dough? Just take the dough out, remove the paddles, spray the bucket with oil, and replace the dough. It’ll rise and bake, and then should slip right out. Seems like a pain, but it does work… Also, I find some loaves stick, and some are fine. It’s kind of random… I don’t bake in the machine much, just when I need a plain loaf for croutons or crumbs. Mostly I use it to knead dough. Hope this helps- PJH