Recipe - Chocolate Pumpkin Pudding

One half cup Dried cherries
One fourth cup Amaretto
1 One half cup Dried bread crumbs
One half Cu Dutch processed cocoa
powder
One fourth cup Ground almonds
1 One half teaspoon Ground cinnamon
One fourth teaspoon Ground cloves
1 pn Salt
1 cup Butter or margarine; at room
temperature
One half cup Granulated sugar
1 One half cup Solid pack canned pumpkin
2 lg Eggs
Grand Marnier Sauce; for
serving
12 White Chocolate Leaves; for
garnish

1. One day before you make the pudding, place the dried cherries in an
airtight container and cover with amaretto.

2. Grease four 1cup ovenproof pudding dishes or custard cups. Cut four
squares of aluminum foil or parchment paper large enough to cover the tops
of the pudding dishes.

3. Combine the bread crumbs, cocoa powder, almonds, spices, and salt.

4. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the
butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the pumpkin and eggs and beat
until the mixture is smooth. Beat in the dry ingredients.

5. Drain the cherries, reserving the amaretto for another use. Immediately
fold cherries into the pumpkin mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared
pudding dishes and cover tightly with the foil or paper. (If parchment
paper is used, secure it in place with a sting.)

6. Place in a steamer or pot with enough water to cover the bottom by 2
inches and cover. Steam over mediumlow heat for 3 hours. Cool completely
on wire racks without removing the foil covers. Chill 30 minutes, or until
ready to serve.

7. Meanwhile, make the Grand Marnier sauce and the white chocolate leaves.

8. To assemble, invert the chilled puddings onto small serving plates.
Spoon the sauce over the top and garnish each pudding with three chocolate
leaves. Serve with additional Grand Marnier sauce on the side and a glass
of amaretto, if desired.

Baking Notes: Fresh or canned cherries will not work in this recipe. The
sauce can be prepared with amaretto in place of the Grand Marnier.

Makes 4 servings. Chill Time: 30 minutes Steaming time: 3 hours
Per serving: 627 Calories; 52g Fat (76% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 32g
Carbohydrate; 213mg Cholesterol; 525mg Sodium

Recipe by: 1001 Chocolate Treats, Gregg Gillespie, ISBN188482286X

From The Chocolate Archives, Dec 1997, http://www.choco.com