Smitha's Spicy Flavors, Simple and Healthy cooking: Eggless Chocolate pudding and a Fund drive for Destitute girls of Vaidehi ashram

Hello everyone...Today I am here with a very beautiful message from Siri, from CookingwithSiri, who is conducting a fund drive for some really beautiful children, an ashram actually, Vaidehi Asharam, for girls who are less fortunate than us, but who totally deserve the happiness the world can offer.

Please hop on to her blog to read about them and the fund drive, and please remember that a little of your time (and money :)) goes a long way.
The small donations you can offer can help buy them food and clothing, basic needs for them to survive.

You don't only have to donate only but she is conducting a raffle with wonderful prizes offered by the Food blogger community, which you can bid for!!! The money, in the form of your bids will directly benefit the Ashram through her.

I am sponsoring a BabyCakes Pops Maker, like you saw, and I loved, in my previous post, as a raffle prize. You can see how well you can make cake pops and also how easy it is.
I am offering this for everyone who resides in US and the prize will be shipped to the lucky draw/dip winner who will be picked by the asharm kids. All the details on how to donate and bid are on Siri's blog.
So guys what are you waiting for, jump on to her place and do your thing!!!
There are tons of other beautiful prizes to be won, so don't stop at the BabyCakes Pops maker, but indulge in which ever items appeals to you the most.

A friend of mine from, Padma Fashions, is also Sponsoring a raffle prize for people in US. You can check out beautiful jewellery set here.

The Code names while donating through Siri's page are:

Babycakes Pop Maker - RU9
Jewellery Set From Padma Fashions - RU22
What ever you do, remember its all for a good cause, for these girls who will get a better life with what we do. I know, we cannot do a lot, but we here are a big food blogging community and when we join, I am sure nothing is impossible.
The HOPE that we can bring a tiny change in a person's life, is surely enough for us to join in on this fund drive.

This fund drive is a month long...but don't wait till the end (what it is, that we always tend to forget towards the end), just do it now and I am sure it will make you happy inside :)
Remember your contributions or bids as less as ten dollars will help buy food for these sweet kids.

Coming to the Blogging Marathon, my post today is sweet and sinful chocolate indulgence!....for the kids you say...nahhh...for me too!...heavenly and delightful!

A yummy dessert after a heavy meal is all I ask, but I rarely get....I wish I could make this very often, but I know instead of the kids...I will be eating most of it!....with fruit OK!! :))
My older one really loved it! it was creamy and yum, he said!
Very easy to make with simple ingredients is what I like...I always thought it was difficult to make and may be it wont come out as creamy as we get in the store.
Quite on the contrary it was smooth and creamy....eggless too.

The first time I made it, the corn starch did not dissolve properly and it did not turn out smooth. the second time I made sure I strained the corn starch mixture before dissolving it into the whole quantity.

Its in very tiny amounts that I make. Please increase the quantity if you want more.

Makes 4 - 1/4 cup servings

1 cup half and half
2 tbsp corn starch
3 tbsp cocoa powder unsweetened ( I used Hershey's)
3 tbsp sugar (more or less)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp instant coffee

Adapted from David Lebovitz's Book 'Ready for desserts' - Recipe of Chocolate Pots De Creme

Method:

Heat the Half and Half in a sauce pan till it starts bubbling at the edges. Lower heat and let it simmer.

Take about 1/4 cup half and half aside.

To the rest, add the cocoa powder, sugar, coffee and vanilla extract.

To the hot half and half which you kept aside, add the corn starch and mix well, so that it isn't lumpy.
(if it gets lumpy, add more corn starch and mix. Before mixing this into the whole mixture, strain it to remove lumps.)

Add the corn starch mixture to the whole mixture and whisk until combined.

Keep whisking and you will see that the chocolate mixture will start thickening.

At this time, pour into small moulds, or one large moulds which is heat proof.

Set aside in the refrigerator until set. (about 2 hours)

Serve garnished with fruit or biscuits.

Enjoy!!!