It’s easy to be tempted into concocting delicious combinations of ingredients while we are sheltering in place, but with that possibility comes the ever present danger of the dreaded weight gain. Probably most of us would not welcome any additional avoirdupois climbing aboard our bodies for a free ride.
Some months ago (about the same time that the cost of our favorite ice cream [Talenti] jumped up to $6. for a PINT!), I discovered the wonders of tapioca pudding. After cutting the amount of sugar in half, and then forgetting it completely in the next batch, I found that if there were no sweetening in it at all, that left room for any topping or mix in, sweet or even savory. Mixed half and half with the ice cream worked really well, too.
At some point, fairly quickly, I started experimenting with different add-in items, and found almost anything was more interesting than just the sweetness of the ice cream. Peanut butter and granola was particularly satisfying.
Crumbled Graham crackers and a sprinkle of cinnamon, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or gingerbread spice – WOW – that was a big surprise at the satisfaction level.
A drizzle of maple syrup, or a small amount of any kind of delicious jam, marmalade, or jelly, some chocolate chips or syrup, concentrated orange juice, tart cherry juice, or pomegranate juice concentrates, crunchy nuts, or anything that appeals to you, provides a very satisfying experience without a huge caloric intake.
I won’t bore you with all of the things I have tried, but as of this writing, I can’t think of a single one that was not repeatable with glee.
Above you see my current “crush”. The red and white stuff is crushed candy canes. I got it already in that format from King Arthur Flour when they cleared out their holiday items. I don’t see why this couldn’t be easily done with a hammer or meat pounder and some sort of containment cloth, utilizing perhaps any leftover candy canes from the holiday season at the end of the year!
Since the ingredients in tapioca pudding are tapioca, eggs, milk, and a sprinkle of salt, and it is super simple to put together, I always have a big container of it in the refrigerator – for experimental purposes, you understand! ;->
With this super simple and mild-flavored dessert on hand, you can be incredibly innovative with a topping of small proportion, while having the underlying goodness working for your body’s benefit.
Did I mention pistachios or roasted pecans? ;->
Adventures of Dorrie Anne 