Chocolate, Date and Coconut milk bread pudding

I stepped out at lunch today and walked past a Fishworks. Having recently been introduced to their taramasalata it was impossible to walk past. Treasure in hand I remembered the local grocers stocks Pouillaine sourdough bread. Alas! There was none on the shelves. Just in case, I decided to ask the shop assistant. She very sweetly went out the back and brought back a loaf and said, we have this, it's old but - feel it - it's still ok. Because it's old I can't sell it to you but I can give it to you.

Ok. Works for me!

There was enough bread there to host the taramasalata plus extra that was just begging to be made into a bread pudding. This was enough to make two large ramekins like the one you can see here. It's dairy-free, too.

Ingredients:

2 large slices of sourdough bread
coconut oil
1/2 can coconut milk
5 dates
1 egg
splash of water
1 1/2 tablespoons of chocolate chips (I just chopped up some Lindt and callebaut)
1 tbs agave syrup (but you could use maple)
sprinkle of sugar for the top

I buttered the bread the coconut oil, cut it into smaller pieces and filled the ramekins halfway. Then I put in half of the chopped dates and chocolate chips and repeated the layer of bread and dates and chocolate.

I whisked up the egg with the syrup and coconut milk and added a squeeze of lime juice and a splash of water (probably 50ml or so). Upon tasting it a half-teaspoon of vanilla extract would have been very welcome, and next time I may consider adding some spices.

Pour the egg and coconut mixture over the ramekin full of bread, sprinkle with sugar (looks pretty, tastes good) and bake for 25-30mins in an oven pre-heated to 180 C.

This is such a great way of using up store cupboard ingredients. Nothing fresh requried (though I am certain some fruit - bananas or apricot - might have also made it more tasty). As well as a pudding this makes a decadent breakfast, heated up.

Bravo!

I was at the opera last night. Why is it that non-Italian speakers emit cries of "bravo!" almost as though they don't even know they are doing it? Perhaps, the complete immersion in Italian language makes Italians of all of us. There are points when you almost feel like you don't need the subtitles suspended from the top of the front of the stage. Almost. We saw The Troubador (Il Trovatore) and it was brilliant. Stunning, stunning voices; and so satisfying to see men and women on stage who obviously are not afraid to eat food, as opposed to the often scarishly gaunt performers of other arenas.

We ate in the restaurant adjoining too (not the super-fancy one because it was booked out). Fine food, though extravagently priced for the portion sizes and quality combination. We did get mini-madelines and two Opera House wrapped squares of chocolate with our bill. Stock standard chocolate that I foolishly ate today after eating squares of Amedei and Pralus. Without that juxtaposition the ordinariness of the chocolate might not have been so apparent.

This weekend I have a long to do list. It includes "make a chocolate dessert". It's important to include these things, you know. Now to decide what to make...