Chocolate Pudding

Narrative

by Zoey Martinez

March 09, 2018

I remember the Saturday afternoons I spent at my grandmother’s house, walking up the front steps knowing what was waiting inside. My nose led the way following whatever smell from the kitchen was trailing throughout the house. When I passed through the doorway into the kitchen everything was laid out in front of me with the comfort and love that only a grandmother can give. All of the ingredients and utensils to make Grandma Alice’s (and in my mind, World’s Best) chocolate pudding were sitting on the counter, and my trusty wooden step stool sat on the floor in front of the stove. My grandma always measured out the ingredients beforehand so we could get right to work, and I always had my lemonade on hand for when I got thirsty from stirring that chocolate pudding. I remember the burnt fingertips from sticking my little fingers into the pudding when it wasn’t quite done cooling, the smell of chocolate filling her house, and the feeling that turned that house into a home.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt.
2. Gradually add milk.
3. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes.
4. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla.
5. Spoon into individual serving dishes, chill until serving.
6. Top with whatever you like.