What's for supper? (Old favourite)

It's comfort food night, on a day that's gone back and forth from almost-Indian-summer to dark and gloomy:

Kitchener Special, made with ground beef instead of sausage (and I left the onion out)
White bread hot out of the breadmaker
Baked sweet potatoes
Reheated broccoli
Hot Fudge Pudding from More Food That Really Schmecks

HOT FUDGE PUDDING (with Mama Squirrel's notes)

1 cup sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar, or slightly less
6 tablespoons cocoa, divided

1/2 cup milk
3 tbsp. melted shortening or oil
1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted (optional)

1 3/4 cups hot water

Sift the dry ingredients and 2 tablespoons of cocoa. Stir together the milk, vanilla and melted shortening or oil; add to the dry ingredients, mix well, then stir in the nuts if using. Pour (or push if it's thick) into a greased 9" square pan (I prefer a deeper casserole in case of bubble-overs). Now mix the brown sugar and 4 remaining tablespoons cocoa; sprinkle the mixture over the batter in the pan. Pour on the melted butter (or leave it out), then carefully pour on the hot water. Bake at 350 F for about 40 minutes or until the cake part seems done. Serve warm with milk or yogurt.