One of my favourite desserts is trifle. I’ve loved it for years. And one of the best things about it, is that you can take a cake that fell or didn’t quite work out and turn it into a beautiful, tasty trifle. You do this by ripping or cutting the cake up into pieces. Layering it in a beautiful glass trifle dish.
First, you gather your building blocks. For my favourite trifle: a black Forest trifle you need cherry pie filling, whipped cream, chocolate cake. And the best part – chocolate pudding. The very best homemade chocolate pudding makes all the difference in a trifle. It takes all the other ingredients and turns them into the best thing you’ve eaten.
When you layer your trifle, you put in some chocolate pudding first. Then add in your sad, dry torn up cake. And then you poor in the tasty chocolate pudding. And the pudding fills in all the cracks. Those gaps that don’t quite fill with the cake, the pudding mushes in between and turns them into something more.
I was thinking one day about the space between who I wish I was and the person I am. How I fall short often and how I sometimes worry about that gap. Jesus does for me what the chocolate pudding does for the trifle. He fills in all those empty places between what I want to be and what I am. I need Him to fill in when I fall short. When my best effort doesn’t quite make it. I need Jesus to be my pudding.
Do we see our utter dependence on the grace and mercy of Christ, our Lord? Do we recognize that every good gift, temporal and spiritual, comes to us through Christ?”
Carol F. McConkie, Young Women General Presidency
If my testimony is rambly and a little too long – I need Jesus to carry the Spirit anyways. If I react poorly when a child comes to me with a problem – I need Jesus to fill in the love and mend their heart. If I minister a little too infrequently or say the wrong thing and drop them when they need me – I need Jesus to carry their hearts. When I try to break that bad habit I have and I can’t seem to – I need Jesus to step in and help me make a weakness become strong.
The more we learn about, have faith in, and emulate Jesus Christ, the more we come to understand that He is the source of all healing, peace, and eternal progress.”
Jean B Bingham, Relief Society General President
Three areas I am thankful He has filled in the gaps my life lately.
- Bearing testimony and teaching. I am currently serving as the gospel doctrine teacher in my ward. And we just covered the the Isaiah chapters. I definately need the help of Jesus to fill in when I teach so that my fellow ward members can be taught by the Holy Ghost to hear what Heavenly Father wants to tell them. And every single week when we gather our children to do Come follow me I definitely pray that Jesus will fill in where my teaching lacks.
- Missionary work. We are in the final scenes of the earth. And God needs us to gather His children to Him. If there is any work that God is willing to help fill in where we lack it is this. Russell M Nelson said: “This gathering is “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today.” Obviously Jesus is going to fill in where we lack when it is God’s greatest cause.
- Parenting. Every single day I fall short in my parenting. My kids are being raised by two imperfect parents but He can use us in our weaknesses to help our children grow into who He needs them to be. Without Jesus filling in where I lack in parenting, my kids would have no chance. They were Heavenly Father’s children first and so I can count on His carrying even more than my own.
Jesus Christ provided a way for us to return to him by overcoming everything. Not just where we make bad choices but also in all the areas we lack. Thank goodness for that.
No matter what we have suffered, He is the source of healing. Those who have experienced any manner of abuse, devastating loss, chronic illness or disabling affliction, untrue accusations, vicious persecution, or spiritual damage from sin or misunderstandings can all be made whole by the Redeemer of the world. However, He will not enter without invitation. We must come unto Him and allow Him to work His miracles.”
Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President
With Jesus Christ the recipe for success looks like this:
- an inadequate nature ( ripped up chocolate cake)
- desire to do good (cherry pie filling)
- whisperings of the Spirit (whipping cream)
- Jesus Christ (chocolate pudding)
When you add them all together it makes something else. Just like God does with us.
Homemade Chocolate Pudding
- 2 Large Egg Yolks
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 2 cups Whole Milk, Divided
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Chocolate Extract (or Vanilla Extract)
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks for about 60 seconds until light yellow and increased in volume, then whisk in the cornstarch and about 1/4 cup of the milk. Once smooth and incorporated, set aside.
- Place the sugar, cocoa, salt, and remaining milk in a saucepan, and bring to a scald over medium-high heat, which is when the liquid is about 180-190ºF. This is before the mixture comes to a boil, and in this stage you will see little bubbles start forming on the sides of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and, while whisking constantly, dribble the hot cocoa into the egg cornstarch mixture very gradually. We are tempering so we don’t scramble the eggs. Pour everything back into the saucepan and cook over medium high heat, whisking constantly, until the pudding comes to a full boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue whisking for a couple minutes until the pudding is thickened.
- Remove the pudding from the heat and stir in the chocolate or vanilla extract. Pour the pudding into a bowl and press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding so a skin doesn’t form. Refrigerate for an hour or two until chilled. Serve and enjoy!
Featured image – amomentwithchrist.com