Simple and Delicious ... Butterscotch Pudding!!

Hello friends...
Commitments of an army wife are many... Besides her commitment towards her kids and family, she is also married to the "Olive green"; hence her sense of belongingness to the organization is evident by the fact that anything she does for it, is a whole hearted affair. 
Not that it is all about commitment and tasks and duty blah! blah!...we are also a pampered lot. We are  used to being treated like queen till we are spoilt silly. Always surrounded by dashing and prim officers who know just what to utter to make you happy; A husband, who might be too stiff, but would open the door for you every time, would let you walk ahead of him in a crowd, all these things done absolutely unknowingly... we might not show but we observe and know!!
Actually all this was just to tell you how busy I've been these past few months...  But I am back, and how!! Have tried my hands on a few things which I will share subsequently. For today...I'll start with something sweet... a simple and delicious pudding...Doesn't require much effort...So, here's to the spirit of the Olive Green!

Ingredients:

• 1 ltr milk
• 2 tbsps custard powder (vanilla or butterscotch flavour)
• 1/2 a bowl of sugar
• 250 ml cream (I use Amul)
• 3 tbsps of powdered sugar
• 1/2 a bowl of Chopped walnuts
• 1/2 a bowl of Chopped chocolate
• 1 pkt of Good biscuits(crushed)
• 1 tsp Butterscotch essense

Method:

Heat 1/2 a bowl of sugar in a pan and caramelise it till it turns brown and gives off a nutty aroma. But be careful as at this stage it burns very quickly.

Now pour 1 ltr milk over the caramelised sugar and mix till the sugar dissolves. The milk will turn a beautiful toffee shade.

When the milk comes to a boil add the custard powder that has already been stirred into cold milk. Cook till the custard thickens.

   

The consistency of the custard will be thicker than the usual fruit custard that we make. Remove from gas and keep aside till it cools.

Now, in a different bowl beat the cream and powdered sugar with the essence till it thickens. The cream should be of thick but pouring consistency.

Add a little chilled milk while beating to make it fluffy and light.

At this stage, mix the cooled custard to the cream and blend them well till they incorporate well.

There are two ways of adding the biscuit crumbs - by mixing them into the custard mix...just like that, or, if time permits, by making a layer of the crushed biscuits mixed with some butter at the bottom of the serving bowl.

Here again you can do a variation which I have tried and it did come out great. You can mix gelatin to the custard (2 tsps of gelatin crystals dissolved in warm water, about 1/2 a cup, over double boiler) , or, you can just do away with the gelatin and pour the custard over the biscuit crumbs/bowl.

Add chopped walnuts and chocolates and chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours. Take out and decorate with some walnuts and chocolate pieces and cream.

Though the pudding is yummy and has always been a hit with friends and family, adding gelatin gives it a gorgeous soufflé-ish look. So, enjoy this delightful treat with your near and dear ones and remember me while eating it as I remember Seema, my dear friend who taught me this super-fast and yummy dish!! nothing could be simpler.