Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

It's been a while since I posted a recipe, so here is an enduring favourite and winter must-bake:

Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

Ingredients:

* 1 cup self-raising flour
* 2 Tbs cocoa
* 3/4 cup sugar
* pinch salt
* 1 cup milk
* 2 Tbs vegetable oil
* dash of vanilla essence
* chopped walnuts (optional)

For the sauce:

* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup cocoa
* 2 cups hot water


Method:

1) Sift flour and cocoa into mixing bowl; add sugar and salt, mix;

2) Make a well and pour in milk, oil and vanilla; add walnuts if using; place pudding mixture into oven-proof baking dish (I mix the ingredients in a large oven-proof bowl, to limit washing up hassles);

3) Mix together sauce ingredients (I mix the dry first and slowly add the water, so the cocoa doesn't clump together); pour onto the back of a spoon over the pudding mix;

4) Bake in a moderate oven (about 180 degrees Celsius?) for 45-55 minutes (a knife inserted should come out relatively clean, but remember there is chocolate sauce at the bottom). Dust with icing sugar for extra la-dee-dah factor.

*n.b. This pudding goes well with good vanilla ice-cream...or even better with pouring cream.

(Image via Google, as my puddings never stick around long enough to be photographed...)