CHOCOLATE AVOCADO PUDDING

This was a dessert for today’s dinner.  No dairy, no eggs! I have childhood memories of chocolate pudding, but when I stopped eating dairy, pudding was no longer an option.  So when I stumbled upon Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s website www.marcussamuelsson.com and he had a non-dairy chocolate pudding recipe made with avocado I was certainly game to try it.  It is now a dessert staple in my home.  We can make this in 10 minutes top. Anyway, I simplified the recipe to include staple ingredients you always have on hand. Enjoy! 

 You will need: (2 servings)

1 large ripe avocado

1-2 tablespoon maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon vanilla 

1 tablespoon water (optional to make more creamy)

2 tablespoon unsweeten cocoa (chocolate) powder  (add more if you like more chocolate)

Optional - You can top with shredded coconut.

In a small food processor or blender (or by hand), puree avocado and maple syrup until smooth.  Add water, cocoa powder and vanilla and continue pulsing until creamy.  

If serving later put in the fridge until ready to serve. 

QUINOA PATTIES

Chinese greens

Crispy outside and moist inside supergrain patties.  Quinoa grain can contain 16 percent protein and is rich in minerals.  I added tender leafy Chinese greens in the patty for color and extra taste.  I used Chinese greens because they are growing in my garden now, but baby spinach, cilantro, chard or parsley is just as good.

Cook quinoa soft for this recipe.

2 1/4 cup filtered water

1 cup of rinsed quinoa.

Sea salt

Thyme

Coriander

To cook quinoa: 

1. Salt water to taste, add a pinch of thyme and coriander (or your favorite spices), then add rinsed quinoa.

2. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium, cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the grain is soft.

3. Let sit covered 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.  Let it cool before adding veggies and forming patties.

 To make patties you will need:

1/2 Green pepper

1/2 Red pepper

Medium Onion

Handful cilantro, baby spinach or any tender green.

1 tablespoon of garbanzo (chick pea) flour

1/4 tsp each obay, sea salt, dulse, chia seeds

1. Mix quinoa, chopped veggies, flour and spices together.

2. Gently shape patties.

3. In a pre-heated non-stick or cast iron skillet with a small amount of olive oil, fry on each side 3-5 minutes or until crispy golden brown.

Eat with a salad of avocado, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper and romaine lettuce tossed with olive oil, lime dressing.

Can breakfast cereal cause hairloss?

This is interesting.  I always felt like cereal smelled like dog food but did not know the affect on the body.  As a young girl I remember a cousin of mine who ate nothing but cereal and milk, he was suicidal. He would climb to the roof of our house and threaten to jump and kill himself.  I suspected  35 years ago it was not good to live on only cereal and milk.  I consult many women with hair loss who

eat cereal for dinner because they are too tired to cook.

HOMEMADE HAZELNUT MILK (non-dairy)

I prefer to make my own nut milk.  I find that carton nut-milks have a lot of added ingredients and have an after taste.  It is so easy to blend up fresh and the taste is creamy, clean and delicious..  Once you taste homemade nut-milk you won’t drink it from the carton anymore.   If you don’t strain your milk it can take less than five minutes to make. 

If you do strain, use the pulp in your favorite grain as it is cooking.  

You will need:

High speed blender

1 1/2 cup filtered water

1/4 cup hazelnuts (best to soak overnight and drain the water off)

1 teaspoon maple syrup or to your taste

1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder

Blend on high speed water and hazle nut .  Strain thru cheesecloth or fine strainer for a

 smooth non-pulp texture.  Add vanilla and maple syrup then blend for a one minute more.