Chocolate & Almond Pudding

Tried this one from one of the coles magazines with my own variation. This pudding is easy to make and is absolutely divine when served hot with a handful of fresh strawberries. The hot chocolate sauce is an excellent combo and serves well as a fondue sauce too. You could make them earlier and microwave them just before you serve. But I love them fresh from the oven.

Pudding
100gms Butter
1/3 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
100gms Dark chocolate melted, cooled (I use Lindt excellence 70% cocoa dark chocolate)
1/2 cup almond meal
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup double cream
1/2 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp Brandy
Fresh strawberries to Serve

Chocolate Sauce1/2 cup Thickened cream
200gms dark chocolate chopped
2 Tbsp Brandy
3 tbsp powdered sugar (optional)

Method:Preheat oven to 180 Deg. Grease 8 pudding moulds
In an electric mixer beat Eggs and sugar until they turn pale and creamy
Add in the eggs on at a time beating well after each addition.
Stir in the dark chocolate
Add the almond meal, flour, breadcrumbs and baking powder.
Slowly add in the cream and mix well.
Gently fill mixture into moulds and bake for 20mins.
In the meantime, to make chocolate sauce heat cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
Turn off the gas and stir in the chocolate & sugar until it is melted and the sauce is nice and smooth.
Add in the brandy to finish.

To serve: Invert puddings into serving plate. Pour chocolate sauce and serve with fresh strawberries.

Note: Substitute brandy for Mocha by mixing 1 teaspoon instant expresso with 2 tbsp hot water allow to cool and add to the pudding mixture.