callum's chocolate croissant pudding

i still remember those euphoria i was feeling when i first watched Junior Masterchef Australia, i frequently visited its website and rewriting all the interesting recipes in my favorite recipe book. however, i didn't really have that much time to try and taste all those delectable recipes. i've been so curious with this one recipe though, chocolate croissant pudding. it did look so mouthwatering and yummy when the judges tasted it way back then. so after almost a year keeping this recipe, i finally made it last week.

i tweaked this recipe a bit much because i just want to and i love it this way. hahaha. what i love from its original recipe is it only serves 2 ramekins, less fuss and less leftover if i wasn't so lucky. hoho. this croissant pudding is a pleasure for me and bf, we're both fans of bread pudding! we love eating it warm straight from the oven and without any other cream or jams. just as it is, but extra chocolate is never a mistake ;) however, even though we love this croissant pudding, 1 ramekins for 1 person still feels too much to eat at one time. i think it's better for me to divide the batter into 4 ramekins next time i make it, which is obviously soon.

the super fun part from my additional modification to this recipe is those chocolate ganache in the center, see the picture, it's like a burning lava from a volcanooo~.. hahaha. i have ready-to-use chocolate ganache in my kitchen now, it was part of a goodie-bag i got from baking demo last month. so practical to use, but making your own chocolate ganache is also quite simple though (1 part chocolate : 1 part cream). the first reason i added chocolate ganache is because my croissant was plain one and to do this recipe some justice, i certainly need to put some chocolate in it. so i added that ready-to-use chocolate ganache and just like i've stated above 'extra chocolate is never a mistake'. and also to make it more delicious and addictive, i add some more croissant and a lot of vanilla extract in the custard. ready to try the recipe?

my grandmother's favorite

there's a reason why i didn't post anything last week. some of my closest person has just passed away last Monday. she's one of my inspirational person in the kitchen, she's my grandmother or as i called her Popo. well, i have two grandmas, one from my mom and one from my dad. they are both so good in the kitchen and none of their home-made food taste bad for me, but my popo specializes in cooking and didn't really do much of baking. however, she is really a sweet-tooth! she really loves cakes and pastries. she oftenly visits us here and sometimes stay for a month or so. everytime i make something, she always pays some attention and eagerly waited for the finished result.. ah, i miss her already even though she annoys me sometimes with those extra attention. hahaha. but just like an old saying, you don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry - you don't know what you've got until it's gone. so, to pay some tribute for her and to reminisce some of those good times with her, here's a list of her favorites from my blog:

1. Onbitjkoek - this is an old time favorite for elderly, popo likes it because it's not too sweet and maybe it brings back some nostalgic taste for her.
2. Lemon Madeleines - she really loves the smell of lemon and everytime i make something with lemon she always asks for some leftover lemon to mix with her morning tea.
3. Milk Bangket - she likes this bangket but she said to me that it was too sweet.
4. Mille Feuille - i remembered she looks so satisfied eating it. it really makes me happy. :) 
5. Ha Kao - she must loves this, because it is our heritage, chinese food. she is a huge fan of dim-sum and seafood. but my hakao wasn't perfect that time, if only i still had a chance to give her the perfect one. 
6. Torta Pasqualina - remember when i say i ate half of the pan alone? well, the other half was eaten by her :). this is probably the last of my creation that she ate. however, a day before she went into a crisis, i had a chance to make her a vegan agar-agar with soya milk and chocolate.

well, wherever she is now, i'm sure she's happy! may you rest in peace my dear Popo..