Helen's Chocolate Pudding

The picture above is what is known as a steam cover or pan that would be used to make a steamed pudding. Helen would have used something similar to the one pictured here to make this pudding. When we think of pudding we think of the creamy concoctions made with milk, sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks and flavorings, but several decades ago a pudding was a steamed bread like the one written out here.

Helen's Chocolate Pudding

3 Tbls. butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 cup milk
4 tsps. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
2 1/2 squares chocolate*
2 1/4 cups flour

Melt chocolate over hot water. Cream butter with sugar. add egg; beat thoroughly. Sift flour, measure and sift with baking powder and salt. Add alternately with milk to first mixture. Add chocolate. Pour into well-buttered miold cover. Steam for 30 minutes. Serve with any desired sauce.
*The chocolate would be unsweetened chocolate such as Baker's.