Who would ever think you could put kale in a pudding recipe?? That is one of the many things I adore about raw foods--the unexpected. I have learned to create recipes with ingredients I never imagined could "go together". I have explored new tastes, textures and aromas that have opened my senses to a whole new world. Everyday I learn something new and exciting. I am so grateful and I feel so blessed by this lifestyle. Today I was experimenting with the children's leftover smoothie and decided to make a thick, creamy pudding. The two ingredients that are crucial to its texture are avocado and chia seeds. The green component, merely for its powerful nutrients, is KALE. Don't let the green color scare you. Children think it is really cool especially if you call it 'green slime'. I ate kale for the first time in my life, over 4 years ago when I discovered raw, living foods. Here is my recipe:
Mango Banana Pudding
by Elizabeth @rawlivingandlearning.blogspot.com
2 C frozen mango, allow to thaw
4 ripe bananas
1/2 of a Haas avocado
vanilla to taste
1 Tablespoon of Chia seeds
1 cup of raw kale
Blend all of the ingredients in a blender until creamy and smooth. Allow to "set up" for 30 minutes and then ENJOY!
+JMJ+ Today I am grateful for my beloved kale.
Comments
I ate 28 ounces worth! You know I can put away the raw food. Peace.
I've been thinking about you lately and me trying to increase raw. I have stupid FODMAP issues which prevent me from consuming certain veggies/fruits/quantities comfortably. Makes me mad. No matter. What I was wondering had to do with eating raw and the temperature. Although we love smoothies and juicing, it is so darn, darn, darn cold here. So cold. Eating cold foods is not very comforting in winter. Do you encounter this? Have you read of people encountering this? Just this morning my daughter said, "I want something creamy and warm for breakfast." I know she was thinking of oatmeal or hot cocoa. Maybe I should look more into the hemp and chia you use more for them.
Sometimes when I juice in winter, I just heat the juice a little on the stove to make a warm drink. That helps and is nice.
Done rambling!
Allow the fruit for the smoothies to thaw in the blender and to get a bit warmed at room temp prior to blending the smoothies. This really works. The smoothies are barely cold this way. Then after the smoothie give them something warm to eat. But always start with smoothie first, prior to any other food in the meal. Fruit first is the key, fruit first. Better for digestion. I go around the house chanting that so the kids will memorize it and do this when they are out of the home...fruit first!
As far as juices do the same thing. Set out the vegies or fruits you are going to juice and allow to get almost room temp then run them through the juicer. I actually have never had a cold juice, it just doesn't chill me. Smoothies could but only if people add ice and don't thaw their frozen fruit.
It is something that you just get use to the more you do it. Trust me. I sit out on the deck at the rental cabin in 30 degree weather eating my green smoothie soups!! Once you adjust temperature has no effect on eating raw foods. I'm not really explaining this that good but hopefully this helps.
SO excited for you to add in more raw! Do try the chia and hemp with the children. It has done wonders for our son with Crohn's.
Peace.