Sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce & almond praline

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Now, I don't see lemons as a bad thing, but I do understand the optimistic message - it all depends on your perception. They say that optimists live longer, and generally happier lives; a pretty good incentive to be optimistic.

As Autumn wakes us up to chilly mornings, instead of complaining, I turn to my husband and we snuggle to warm up - it has become a really wonderful way to start the morning. During my school years I loved debating, as an adult I have put my ability to argue any side of a debate to good use by finding the positive side of something I would prematurely judge as negative, such as cold weather or waiting for an appointment (I use the time to read the magazines I no longer have to buy) - and now I find that instead of being surrounded by a plethora of negativity I find my life is full of positivity and wonderful things.

One such perk of cooler days is that certain heavy desserts suddenly become appealing again.  All of those rich, satisfying puddings that you kept putting off because the weather was too hot become the perfect dish to wrap your fingers around and warm your belly. 

ease: 4.5/5.
prep time: 20mins.
cooking time: 38mins (make sauce and praline while puddings cook).
total: 58mins.

taste: 5/5 - perfect pudding.

Yes, this dish is perfect if you love moist puddings that warm your belly with their wintry essence.

If you want a great sticky date pudding with all the decadent trimmings, then look no further, you have found your recipe. The pudding itself is both moist, dense, soft and deliciously sticky - slathered in lashings of creamy butterscotch sauce only improves it further. The praline adds a wonderful crunch and deep caramel - if you must add another element, then let me suggest a cool vanilla ice cream to soften the sweet, hot pudding.

A wonderful winter dessert.

would I make it again: Yes!


recipe: Sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce & almond praline