Grandma's cookin'

I just don't get it. She does everything wrong, according to the "experts." She doesn't measure everything carefully. She doesn't follow recipes precisely. Yet, my Grandma's pizza is the stuff of legends. If food could be divine, her rolls would be. Her fudge is a definition. Grandma's cooking is proof that a grandmother's touch is more important than all the rules in the books.
And so, my fellow novices, there is hope for you and me: when we are grandmothers, perhaps our food will be legendary as well.

Quick, Creamy Chocolate Pudding

Otherwise known as apologies for not posting anything recently. =)

2/3 c. sugar

1/2 c. cocoa

6 T. cornstarch

2 1/4 c. milk

2 T. butter

1 t. vanilla

Combine sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan; gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils; boil and stir for one minute. Remove from heat and blend in butter and vanilla. Pour into individual serving dishes, or one large glass bowl. Carefully press plastic wrap onto surface. Chill at least one hour, or until thickened. Garnish with whipped topping and nuts, if desired. Makes 4 or 5 large servings.

I will add that if you don't cook this long enough, it will not thicken. Also, what is listed here is twice the cornstarch listed in the original recipe, because I can never thicken my pudding.

P.S. This is double the chocolate from the original recipe, because we like it dark at my house. :)

Yogurt Pancakes

2 c. flour

1/4 c. cream of wheat cereal, uncooked

1/4 c. quick oatmeal, uncooked

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1 c. yogurt*

1 c. sour milk or buttermilk

2 eggs

1/8 c. oil

*plain yogurt, preferably. I used strawberry yogurt, and the results were sweet, yet dry, pancakes. Dry as in drown-in-syrup dry; yet sweet as in don't-need-syrup sweet. On the other hand, these might be very good made with blueberry yogurt.

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Combine wet ingredients separately. Add the wet to the dry; mix, but not thoroughly. (You may add cinnamon, chocolate chips, fruit, or nuts, if desired.) Cook as you would cook any other pancakes.

Perhaps it's just because I'm mastering the method of frying them; but these were the best scratch pancakes that I have ever made!