Eating In

So called because it’s supposed to taste a bit like strong old pipe tobacco, though I wouldn’t let that put you off. It’s a delicious and easily made chocolate pudding.

Butter for greasing
150g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarb. soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp chilli powder
200g caster sugar
50g cocoa
125ml milk
1 tsp real vanilla essence
60ml cooking oil
100g soft dark sugar
175ml boiling water
60ml dark rum

Preheat the oven to gas 4/180º C. Grease with butter a large (2l) Pyrex bowl, or similar vessel. Combine the flour, baking powder, bicarb, pinch of salt, cinnamon, chilli, caster sugar with half the cocoa. Beat the milk, vanilla and oil in a jug and pour onto the dry ingredients, mix to a smooth batter and spoon into the dish. Combine the remaining cocoa and dark sugar, making sure there are no lumps. Sift if necessary. Sprinkle this over the batter. Then pour the freshly boiled water over the whole lot and tip on the rum. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve with cream or a good vanilla ice cream