Which of the following categories best describes this recipe:
Desserts

Estimated time:
15-20 minutes

Number of servings:
5-6

Ingredients: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
2/3 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup corn starch
1/8 tsp. salt
2 3/4 cups milk
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
In large (about 2 1/2 qt.) microwavable bowl, combine sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Microwave on High (100%) 5 minutes; stir. Microwave approx. 5 minutes longer, stirring about halfway thru, and again when the mixture boils. Allow to boil one minute. Remove from heat; mixture should be thickened. Stir in butter and vanilla until nice n' smooth! Pour into serving bowls. Cover and refrigerate. Makes approx. 2 1/2 cups pudding.
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For Vanilla pudding, reduce sugar to 1/3 cup, and omit the cocoa powder.
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If you want to avoid the "skin" that sometimes forms on the top surface of pudding, push plastic wrap down gently against the top surface of the pudding when you cover the bowl.

A squirt of whipped cream on top and some mini chocolate chips or other garnish would be in Xcellent taste, but isn't essential for enjoyment.

Other suggestions and comments:
I had Instant pudding as a child, because my mother (a farm girl) had genuine appreciation for convenience foods of all sorts. (Once you've plucked chickens, gathered eggs, slopped hogs, milked cows, and canned peaches and green beans by the quart, "Instant" food is a magic phrase...) She never had the chance to try pudding "from scratch" in a microwave, which turns out soooo smooth, and unscorched.

I can't imagine a better thing to make for/with the children any time of year, but in the winter, I would forget all notions of adding whipped cream to the top, and just Go For It warm. Soooo good!

My son, the fussy one, distrusts the pudding because it didn't come from the familiar box and because he saw me stir in the 2 Tbsp. butter. He thinks that is just too weird. Well, more for the rest of us until he figures out it's Not Weird. (Margarine can be substituted, but it won't be quite the same sensory experience.)