Homemade Puddings Make Easy, Healthful Desserts
These Low Sugar Treats Are Ideal for Children and Adults
Mar 30, 2009
It’s frightening to read the list of ingredients that are listed on a simple box of pudding. There can be up to seventeen foreign substances added to this simple dessert, most of which are not food items but are chemicals of one sort or another. From preservatives to three letter abbreviated scientific symbols, the additives are unnerving.
Healthy Puddings Are Easy to Make
Pudding is not a labor intensive dessert to prepare, even when it’s made from scratch. It’s a dessert, moreover, that children as well as adults generally like, and it’s a perfect treat for those with TMJ Disorder or other myofascial pain or disorders. It’s readily digestible unless one is lactose intolerant, and even then there are milk substitutes one can use. Some people even find that simply heating the milk to a low boil makes it digestible.
Chocolate Pudding Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ½ Tablespoons cocoa
Preparation:
- Combine cornstarch and cocoa
- Add milk and stir until everything is well blended
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick
- Remove from heat and add sugar and vanilla. Stir until sugar is dissolved
- Chill
Vanilla Pudding Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups milk
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla
Preparation:
- Slowly heat 1 ½ cups milk in pan
- Add cornstarch to the remaining ½ cup milk
- Add cornstarch/milk mixture to the pan
- Add brown sugar and vanilla
- Cook over low heat, stirring regularly, until mixture thickens
- Reduce heat and cook for about 5 – 8 minutes more, stirring constantly
- Serve warm or chilled
Healthy, Economical and Versatile Desserts
Notice how both desserts require very little sugar. As for the milk, whole milk produces the creamiest texture for these puddings, but for those who insist on using low-fat milk, these will also produce a nice pudding. For those who are lactose intolerant, milk substitutes may often be used. Some find that simply bringing milk to a low boil enables them to digest the pudding without problems.
One can also use these recipes for pie fillings as well. Pre-bake the pie crust, pour the prepared pudding into the crust and chill. A special treat can be made using graham cracker crust and pudding filling, topped with sliced strawberries or sprinkled with blueberries.
The vanilla pudding is excellent when mixed with granola mixtures. It makes a delicious breakfast when fresh fruit is added.
For an afternoon snack, blend a serving of vanilla pudding with a small amount of yogurt, honey and fruit for a smoothie.
One Pot Cooking
These and other desserts and one pot meals are available in One Pot Galley Gourmet.
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