50 Women Game Changers in Food # 22

This week we honor Amanda Hesser, # 22 on the 50 Women Game Changers in Food list. I have been a fan of the blog co-founded by Amanda, FOOD52, for a while now.  It is a one stop smorgasbord of food news, recipes, shopping, articles about upcoming new chefs, and they even have a hotline in case you have any questions about one of their recipes.  She has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times (from 1997 through February of this year), and is currently a staff writer for The New Yorker.  She has written several books among them The Essential New York Times Cookbook, and the recently published The Food 52 Cookbook.

My kids influenced this week's pick, Chocolate Pudding, it is truly a chocoholic's dream.

Chocolate Pudding courtesy of Amanda Hesser

Serves 3 to 4

2 large egg yolks

3 tablespoons tapioca flour

1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 ounces 66% cacao dark chocolate, chopped

Unsweetened whipped cream, for serving (optional)

Put the egg yolks and tapioca flour in a blender and blend on low speed until a light-colored paste forms.

Combine the sugar, cream, milk, salt, and vanilla in a saucepan set over medium heat.  Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove it from the heat.  Turn the blender containing the egg and tapioca mixture back on low.  Quickly and carefully, pour the hot milk mixture into the blender and increase the speed to medium.  The heat will cook the egg yolks and allow the tapioca to thicken to the consistency of thick mayonnaise. 

With the blender running add the chocolate in stages so it is emulsified into the pudding.  When all the chocolate is added, strain the pudding into a serving bowl (or 3 to 4 serving bowls) and let it cool to room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator to cool completely.  Top with whipped cream if you like.  

Enjoy!

For other great recipes by Amanda Hesser, please visit the rest of our group:
    

Val - More Than Burnt Toast
Joanne - Eats Well With Others
Taryn - Have Kitchen Will Feed
Susan - The Spice Garden
Claudia - A Seasonal Cook in Turkey
Heather - girlichef
Miranda - Mangoes and Chutney
Jeanette - Healthy Living
April - Abby Sweets 
Katie - Making Michael Pollan Proud
Mary - One Perfect Bite
Kathleen -Bake Away with Me
Viola - The Life is Good Kitchen
Sue - The View from Great Island
Barbara - Movable Feasts
Kathleen - Gonna Want Seconds
Amy - Beloved Green
Jeanette - Healthy Living 
Linda - Ciao Chow Linda
Linda A - There and Back Again
Martha - Lines from Linderhof

Mireya - My Healthy Eating Habits

Veronica - My Catholic Kitchen