Healthy Treat for Today: Creamy Pudding

Many of you know that I have taken a NO SUGAR Plunge…and that I have extended the challenge to you!  Many of you have bravely accepted the challenge! 

To catch you up on where I’m at with the whole NO SUGAR Plunge…I went seven whole days with NO SUGAR…no honey…no maple syrup.  The only sweet thing I had all week was fruit… and hugs and kisses from my family (ooh, can I still count that as sugar free…’cause it doesn’t get much sweeter than that!?)

Now, I’m limiting myself to one small treat a day…and that treat does not include any white flour or white sugar…only natural sugars and whole wheat flour (or NO flour).  I want to make the most of each bite that I put into my mouth…and be sure there are nutrients in my treat!

Which is why I am doing this series on Healthy Treat Recipes! 

Yesterday I shared a recipe for Peanut Butter Honey Bars (gluten free).

Today, I am sharing recipes for three varieties of YUMMY Creamy Pudding!  Just look at all these wholesome ingredients!

And…if you put all or some of those wonderful ingredients together…you’ll get one of these:

Aaaand…if you put all those three together…and put real whipped cream on top…you’ll get this:

But…if you EAT a WHOLE cup of it as shown in the pictures above…you will feel like this:

Just to clear up the matter, I HAD to put the pudding into those pretty dishes, because they were…well…so pretty.  (It’s all about bloggy presentation ya know.)

BUT, remember…I said…one small treat a day.  Even though it’s unprocessed sugar…it’s still sugar and you (and I) don’t need very much.  Take a small serving and let yourself be satisfied with it. 

Relish it.  Enjoy it.

Creamy Vanilla Pudding

2 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup real maple syrup (grade B is best for you) or honey
4 T. arrowroot powder
1/4 t. sea salt
1 T. butter
1 t. vanilla

In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, egg yolks, maple syrup, arrowroot powder and salt.  Cook over medium heat, stirring CONSTANTLY until pudding begins to thicken.  Remove immediately from the heat, and continue to stir until pudding is creamy.  (I use my whisk the whole time for stirring and find this works great!)  Add butter and vanilla and continue to stir until mixed.  Pour into serving dishes and serve warm, or chill for two hours and serve cold.

Butterscotch Creamy Pudding

2 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks
2/3 cup rapadura (dehydrated cane sugar juice…has a wonderful “molassasy” taste!)
4 T. arrowroot powder
1/4 t. sea salt
3 T. butter
1 t. vanilla

In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, egg yolks, rapadura, arrowroot powder and salt.  Cook over medium heat, stirring CONSTANTLY until pudding begins to thicken.  Remove immediately from the heat, and continue to stir until pudding is creamy.  Add butter and vanilla and continue to stir until mixed.  Pour into serving dishes and serve warm, or chill for two hours and serve cold.

Chocolate Creamy Pudding

2 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks
2/3 cup rapadura or 1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 T. arrowroot powder
1/4 t. sea salt
3 T. butter
1 t. vanilla

In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, egg yolks, rapadura or maple syrup, cocoa, arrowroot powder and salt.  Cook over medium heat, stirring CONSTANTLY until pudding begins to thicken.  Remove immediately from the heat, and continue to stir until pudding is creamy.   Add butter and vanilla and continue to stir until mixed.  Pour into serving dishes and serve warm, or chill for two hours and serve cold.

Oh, and just a couple of tips to make SURE your pudding is super good:

1.  Enlist the help of an blond headed eight year old (or a close equivilent).

2.  Be sure to have a short, cute taste tester on hand for quality control purposes.  (I have some taller taste testers around here somewhere…guess they didn’t smell the “purding” cooking like the little guy did.)

Hey, be sure to come back tomorrow for more Healthy Treat Recipes and ideas!

Let us all know how your NO SUGAR Plunge is going…or if you’re ready to jump in with us!!