A Day Off!

Hubs took the day off from work today so we could enjoy some family time together.
The past couple of months have been rather hectic, what with me shooting off all over the place to go teach - so we decided that today would be a good day to take "a day off" from the norm and go catch up with some friends.


We had thought that maybe we would pay a visit to one of the local restaurants and "do lunch" together - but we couldn't decide where to go - so instead we hit our pals home and just chilled out whilst filling our faces and catching up on each others news. The guys all busied themselves playing on the X-Box, whilst the adults sat making plans for Christmas.

Linz "did lunch", with me providing the "afters" - Malva Pudding - which is a pud I feel in love with whilst in South Africa.
Almost every restaurant in Cape Town has Malva Pudding on its dessert menu. Its is a rather homely baked cakey pudding that is so rich, very delicious and extremely indulgent (but has to be tasted at least once in your lifetime!)

My pal from South Africa, Glenda, shared her recipe for Malva Pudding with me - and so this morning I set to work and rustled up my version to take with us to share.....I guess you could say it was a success because there is none left and the guys are asking me to bake some more!!!



Malva Pudding
1 teaspoon of 5ml bicarbonate of soda
125ml milk (½ cup)
200g self raising flour
100g white sugar
2 eggs
6 teaspoons of apricot jam
20g soft margarine or butter
1 teaspoon of salt

* Preheat oven to 180oC or 350oF
* Grease oven proof dish
* Mix the bicarbonate of soda in the milk
* Mix the remaining ingredients together
* Combine milk mixture with the flour mixture and stir well
* Pour into the greased dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown on the top

Malva Sauce
250ml water
250ml fresh cream or 410g tin of evaporated milk
230g butter
150g sugar
5ml vanilla essence

* Boil the ingredients for the sauce together in a pot
* Stir well
* Pour the sauce over the hot pudding when it comes out of the oven
* Serve with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream - ( I prefer it on its own :D )

Enjoy!!!

T.x.