Rich, Creamy Guilt-free Chocolate Pudding & the Bake Sale

This is the easiest chocolate pudding EVER and can be made literally in under 10 minutes!

First step is making sure that you have the right ingredients! The 4 ingredients are: coconut meat and water, agave nectar and maca. That's it!

I purchase my coconut meat by Exotic Superfoods from High Vibe . I am all for easy- and, I love it because I purchase tons of the coconut meat frozen and then just keep it in the freezer until I need it. This coconut meat can be also be used in smoothies, curries, you name it!

If you don't have access to this frozen meat and are dying to make this then you have two other choices! Option 1: purchase approximately 3-4 thai coconuts at the grocery store (Whole Foods usually has them) and use the fresh juice and meat from them. Or, Option 2: the cheaters version! Soak 2 cups of unsweetened shredded coconut in filtered water for an hour until soft.

Chocolate Pudding
Coconut meat with water (approximately 3 cups of meat)
3 tbsp raw cacoa or chocolate powder
3-4 tbsp agave nectar
1 tbsp maca (optional but gives pudding more punch!)

Blend in blender until smooth, and voila! The best chocolate pudding you have ever tasted without all of the sugar and dairy!

I suggest pudding the pudding in the frig for an hour or so to let it thicken and chill a bit!

My son had his bake sale today to benefit Haiti! The boys raised $800, which I think is huge for selling cookies!!!

So, this is what we made for the bake sale- Brownies with Extra Chocolate Chips & M&M's. I would post the recipe but basically we used a Cherrybrook Kitchen mix so it was dairy and gluten-free. And, we just added some more extra chocolate chips in the batter and on top and some all-natural "M&M's" by Sunspire.

My son, Oliver, certainly enjoyed his bake sale! I am not sure if the boys sold more to themselves or to others!!!

Yum!

Chocolate and Vanilla Coconut Cream Pudding

People always ask me, "so, how do you stay on a vegan diet?" I am not (and have never been) a meat-lover so becoming a vegetarian was fairly easy feat for me. But, I have to admit  that rich and creamy foods were the foods I craved in my former life. So, when I take my daughter to 16 Handles (frozen yogurt lover's paradise) or see someone devouring a container of creamy Fage Greek yogurt, I am sometimes tempted until I remind myself how much better I feel not eating dairy!

Having a healthy arsenol of foods to fall back on when so you don't feel deprived I found is key. My absolute favorite go-to food for dessert/treat/breakfast is Coconut Cream Pudding! Not only is it very easy to make but it is also outrageously delicious! Here is the basic recipe:

Coconut Cream Pudding

2 cups of coconut meat (you can also use 2 cups of unsweetened shredded coconuts)

¼ cup agave nectar

1 vanilla bean

Touch of water or coconut water (as needed for desired consistency)

Optional: Oh Alaska Chocolate Sauce, Shredded Coconuts, Blueberries (as you can see, I went for them all!)

Place the coconut meat or shredded coconut in a blender along with the agave, vanilla and a touch of coconut or filtered water and blend. If you are using shredded coconut, be sure to soak it for 15-20 minutes or so in water to soften (and you can use this same water to add back to your mixture!) If you are going the "fresh" route you can either open the coconuts (watch this video to see How to Open a Coconut) or use frozen meat. Blend for approximately 2-5 minutes or until smooth. It may be slightly warm when you take it out so put the pudding in the refrigerator to cool off and thicken. 

Here are my two favorite new finds! Exotic Superfoods Frozen Coconut Meat and Coconut Water!!! You can either order these directly from them or, if you live in New York, purchase them from High Vibe. These are staples that I just keep in the freezer to pull out when I need them.
 

If you don't have these, don't fret! Shredded coconut and boxed coconut waters like One and Vita Coco will do as well!!!

So, here is where is gets fun! If you adore chocolate like I do, take half of your pudding mixture above (or just make double the amount) and make a chocolate pudding from it. So easy.

Chocolate Coconut Pudding

Vanilla coconut pudding

1-1 1/2 tbsps unsweetened chocolate powder

2 tbsp agave nectar

Continue to blend in your blender and chill. I love taking the Coconut Cream Pudding and making a dallop on top like whipped cream!!! So delicious and completely hits the spot!

Raw Chocolate Pudding Kids & Grownups Will Adore!

Tonight I got home late with the children from their dance and drama classes and while they sat at the kitchen counter having dinner, I made this delicious pudding. It is so easy to make and truly addicting!

Raw Chocolate Pudding with Vanilla Cream
2 Thai coconuts (if you do not have these you can substitute 2 cups of raw cashews and 1 1/2 tbsp coconut butter)
2 vanilla beans (or alcohol-free vanilla extract)
1-1½ tbsps unsweetened chocolate powder
½ cup agave nectar

Open the Thai coconuts and take the meat of both coconuts and the juice of another and blend until smooth. A Vitamix blender works best. Add the agave nectar and beans from the vanilla pods and run. Take some of the pudding and put it aside for the vanilla cream. Add the chocolate powder to the rest and continue to blend. Serve the chocolate pudding in a fun glass or bowl and add a dollop (or more!) to the coconut cream on the top.

My crew devoured it up! And, I felt good because they were not filling their bodies with sugar or dairy-laden desserts.