So, in an effort to keep things easy and be prepared, I made a quick treat yesterday afternoon for the boys. Did you know you can make your own quick chocolate pudding in the microwave? You can! This was so simple and took no time at all (well 10 minutes to be honest)!
Can I tell you a little secret? I actually like the cook and serve pudding better than instant. I like warm pudding. I think I got that from my grandfather who loved warm pineapple pudding. Oh, I am so making that next. I haven't had that in years. Anyway, this pudding, 10 minutes flat and you have pudding without all the funky ingredients!
(makes 4 cups)
3/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup brown sugar
6 TBSP cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
4 cups almond milk
15 drops NuNaturals cocoa extract (optional)
20 drops NuNaturals vanilla stevia (or 1/4 cup brown sugar)
Combine the cocoa powder through salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the almond milk, but don't worry if there are still a few little lumps. Microwave the pudding mixture in 2 minute increments, whisking between microwaving. Continue until thickened (this took me right at 10 minutes). Cover the top of the pudding with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cooled.
I kept dinner really simple. I had an extra socca flatbread left over, so I made a spinach salad with fresh basil leaves (incredible addition), pasta sauce and an over easy egg.
Toasted up, the socca was the perfect vehicle for the dippy egg and sauce!
It's Wednesday, the marathon of life continues. The illustrator has a book that hit the shelves today! He's been working his tail off, so I'm thinking this will be a good year for him!
Can you buy white chocolate powder??? ;-) I'm not big chocolate fan. But what a great, easy recipe to have on hand. I need to pick up some more chickpea flour this week. Loving how easy socca is to whip up.
ReplyDeleteHeather - Yes! They do http://www.ghirardelli.com/foodservice/bev_white.aspx. You know I'm not much of a chocolate person either, but the boys definitely are. I bet you could use a vanilla protein powder too. Now the wheels are spinning! Heck, PB2 would probably work too for a peanut butter pudding. I bet that would be sooo good!
ReplyDeletei can't even remember the last time i had chocolate pudding. it reminds me of bill cosby. ha
ReplyDeleteMmm, love that this isn't a tofu blend... I'd love to hear some reviews on the texture and taste.
ReplyDeletethe chocolate pudding sounds delicious! Can arrowroot powder be used instead of cornstarch?
ReplyDeleteI haven't had pudding in so long. My mom makes delicious homemade pudding, but I've never had pineapple - that sounds delicious. I've also really been enjoying sprinkling fresh basil on everything - so delicious.
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting through this week! Halfway there. :) XOXO
Congrats to the Illustrator on the book!
ReplyDeleteI love pudding -- haven't had any in a long time but I used to eat the instant kind quite often!
Congrats to your awesome Illustrator!!! And um, congrats on that delicious pudding too! I'm also a big fan of warm pudding, my grandmother used to make amazing tapioca that I looooved to eat warm! xoxo
ReplyDeleteAwesome recipe!! Never knew you could make it in the microwave!
ReplyDeleteFABULOUS, Sarena! Like you cook and serve pudding served warm was my thing growing up. We even put a little cold milk on it. Loved it. But now I have your recipe and will be making this immediately. Hey, I'd make it at work if I had the ingredients here! I'll try using coconut sugar in the recipe once I get home and let you know how it turns out. :-) Oh, and that pizza looks yummy, too!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Shirley
never thought of pasta sauce & runny egg but it sounds awesome! adding that to my "to-eat" list!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your husband! I saw your post on Facebook this morning, how exciting!!!
ReplyDeleteHuge congrats to the Illustrator; how exciting for you all!!
ReplyDeleteThis pudding looks wonderful. I, too, am glad it's not another tofu-based pudding. I love tofu, but ... well, don't really want tofu when I want pudding, haha.
And I just caught up on yesterday's post, too. Ahhh, that ice cream looks heavenly. I've actually been thinking about you lately because my boss and I have been brainstorming coffee flavors even though neither of us has an ice cream maker, lol. Our most recent thought is somehow boiling down the Island Coconut coffee that green mountain has to make a coconutty-coffee swirl (like you did with the pomegranate) in a coconut ice cream base and espresso beans or cacao nibs...think it can be done?! can i make a recipe request?! dying to give it a shot but wouldn't know where to start!
My mom always used to make warm butterscotch pudding when I was a kid. I haven't had that in forever. It was not homemade though, it was Jell-o cook and serve.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the Illustrator!
WOW this looks amazing what a great idea! :)
ReplyDeleteDo you think you could make it on the stove instead of the microwave? IC doesn't own a microwave (I'd rather not talk about it). :)
Oh I love homemade pudding from scratch!
ReplyDeleteI have never ever made pudding from scratch - it looks so easy! Can you use regular milk?
ReplyDeleteBoth of these look delicious! I love chocolate pudding but the box kind just doesn't come out right with soy milk. And I too like my pudding warm.
ReplyDeleteThe egg on top of a spinach salad is not something I ever would have thought of- definitely going to try that one soon!! Thanks so much for sharing!
~Steph
www.dairyfreeomnivore.com
Sarena,
ReplyDeleteI just made your pudding and it's fabulous! The changes I made were using coconut palm sugar vs brown sugar and stevia and I used tapioca starch vs cornstarch (the only cornstarch I had was already mixed with white rice flour). I topped my pudding with a sprinkle of coconut flakes vs whipped cream. I also halved the recipe as hubby doesn't indulge often with me and son is not home. ;-) Thanks so much, dear!
Shirley
Fantastic pudding! I made it over the stove, using just 3/4 cup brown sugar, and then I stirred in a big handful of chocolate chips after I removed it from the heat. I'm pretty sure it will be a permanent fixture in our house now. Really incredible!
ReplyDeleteI tried this tonight and it thickened up really well. Next time I'll use less cinnamon and Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips. I added the chips to one cup and it gave it a better chocolate flavor. I didn't included the NuNaturals. One question: What is the topping?
ReplyDeleteRAP I'm so glad you liked it! The topping is my seven minute icing recipe.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thenondairyqueen.com/2012/01/weekend-treats-cake-icing-and-pie-oh-my.html