Cold, Gooey Chocolate Blancmange for a Scorching Hot Day

hot weather ... again

Today is going to be another scorcher. The weather bureau predicts 39 degrees C (102 F).

Last night I was grumpy and miserable. I was just so tired of the heat, and angry that my garden is dying through lack of rain and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

Self-pity is not a productive emotion, is it? I gave myself a good, hard shake and told myself that I have to look at the heat as an opportunity and even a blessing, not the soul-destroying monster I usually regard it as.

So, this morning I rose early with the intention of washing all the household bedlinen and towels, and especially those things that normally take a long time to dry. It is 10 am and two loads are already out on the line, with a third on its way. (By the way, if you currently use a clothes dryer and would like to learn how to hang your washing outside, here is a tutorial I wrote last year.)

I also think I might take the opportunity to cut some of the lavender that has dried naturally on the bushes along our driveway, and turn them into some lavender sachets.

By 3 pm I am sure I will feel like screaming at the heat again, but at least the day will have been productive!

another pumpkin

Just thought I'd show you the first Queensland Blue pumpkin I have harvested. I grew it from seed having had no success in previous years from seedlings. There are plenty more where this baby came from, and I also have all the Grey pumpkins I have harvested over the past few weeks. If only it were cool enough to cook anything with them!

two little chooks

Missy at Chloe's Corner and More has asked for pictures of our chickens (or choockens as my youngest calls them).



Here is Miss Honey




and here is Feather Brown. They are just about to celebrate their first birthday, except I don't know exactly what day they were born as we bought them at six weeks of age. Imagine having to wear those thick feather coats in all this heat!

chocolate blancmange for dessert

Finally, early this morning I made a nice big batch of chocolate blancmange. This lovely, gooey, chocolate, custardy pudding is a perfect way to end a meal on a hot day. I often package it up in little containers for my children to take to school. It is very similar to pre-packaged kiddie snacks such as Yogo that can be bought at the supermarket. And with home-made at least you know what the ingredients are.



Chocolate Blancmange

1 L (2 US pints, 35 fl. oz) milk

1 C sugar

3/4 C cornflour (cornstarch)

1/3-1/2 C unsweetened cocoa (depending on how chocolatey you like it)

1 t vanilla



Blend cornflour with a little of the milk in a small bowl or cup. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat and whisk continuously until mixture turns thick and starts to bubble (it will look like bubbling lava). Remove immediately from heat and pour into one large bowl or individual serving dishes. Chill. Delicious with a little whipped cream on top.



Tip: To avoid a skin developing on top of the cooling blancmange, cover with plastic wrap with the wrap touching the blancmange.



This recipe links to Kitchen Tip Tuesday at Tammy's Recipes