Mary's yummy desserts for Julie

Julie Forbes wrote:
I was wondering if anyone knew of any delicious desert alternatives ...
It really needs to be simple

Julie, we always enjoy trifle at Christmas.
Layered up in a clear glass bowl always looks lovely.
Mine, layered from bottom to top is as follows:

broken sponge (store bought, of course)
sprinkled (or drenched depending on taste) with sherry or some other alcohol
chunks of red and then green jelly (not too much)
fruit salad (canned of course)
desiccated coconut
broken up chocolate flakes (why stop at one!)
Then topped with custard (from carton store bought) poured over and cream on
the side if you really want to be evil.
Another sprinkling of chocolate on top sometimes looks nice too.

Very simple, cold and yummy!

If you want to go hot and simple - what about chocolate self saucingpudding.
Mine is a tupperware recipe where I melt the butter in a large microwavable
container (the BIG t/ware one)
add all other ingredients mix/stir then top with final ingredients - ie
cocoa, sugar and water then microwave!
In my slow old microwave 10 minutes - a lot shorter for higher powered ones.
Here's the ingredients list:

Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding
Mix together:
60g Butter (melted)
1 ½ cups Self Raising Flour
1 cup Caster Sugar
¼ cup Cocoa
½ cup Milk
1 Egg
2 tsp Vanilla Essence

Combine sugar and cocoa then Sprinkle water over above
½ Caster Sugar
1 tablespoon Cocoa
1 ¾ cups Hot Water

Cook covered in Microwave 8 minutes*
May be dusted with icing sugar before serving.
• 8 minutes is guide for 600-750 Watt microwave.

Enjoy!

Brenda's Sticky Date Pudding

serves around 12

275 g dried pitted dates, chopped roughly
450 ml water
1 tspn bicarb soda
100 g softened butter
275 g caster sugar
3 eggs
275 g SR flour
1 tspn vanilla extract

SAUCE
160 g brown sugar
250 ml cream
200 g butter

Preheat oven to 180. Grease a large rectangular ceramic baking dish.

Bring dates and water to boil in a small saucepan and let boil uncovered for about 5 mins. Mix in the bicarb soda and let cool.

Cream the butter and sugar until pale. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Sift in the flour. Add the date mixture and vanilla extract and mix well.

Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for approx 30 - 40 minutes or until a skewer in the centre comes out clean.

To make the sauce, put all ingredients in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil, remove from heat and cool slightly.

Carefully pour the sauce over the cooked pudding. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes. Serve with cream or vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!!!