Chai Spiced Pumpkin Custard (vegan, paleo)

If you have been craving something pumpkin and spice, but don't fancy yourself a baker, or just want to try something new, then this recipe is for you.  My Chai Spiced Pumpkin Custard is rich, creamy, perfectly sweet and spicy, and it's filled with lots of fiber and healthy fats so you can feel great about indulging in this decadent treat.  It's also incredibly simple to make.  You just blend the ingredients and then pour into ramekins and let it set up in the fridge.  No cooking, no fuss!  My boys absolutely love this custard, and it's something that I am happy to give to them at any time of day.  Whether you are looking for a new healthy dessert option for your family, or planning an autumnal meal for guests, I hope you enjoy this pumpkin deliciousness as much as we do.

Prep time: 10 minutes       Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup full fat coconut milk, from the can (I used the Thai Kitchen brand)

2/3 cup + 2 tbsp pureed pumpkin

1/3 cup coconut butter or coconut manna (not coconut oil), room temperature

3 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1-2 tsp chai masala* (purchase at a health food store or Indian grocery, or check out my recipe here)

pinch of fine sea salt

*You can use pumpkin pie spice in place of the chai masala, or make your own spice mix by blending 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp clove, 1/8 tsp cardamom, 1/8 tsp of nutmeg and a pinch of black pepper (all ground).  Mix well, then measure out 1-2 teaspoons for your recipe, depending on how spicy you like your desserts.

DIRECTIONS:

Place 6 small ramekins or serving bowls on a tray, and set aside.  My ramekins can hold 1/2 cup each, but I filled them with about 1/3 cup of custard to create 6 servings.

If your coconut butter or coconut manna has separated in the jar, you'll need to stir it before adding it to your recipe.  To do this, close the lid tightly and place the jar in a bowl of hot water to allow it to soften for about 5 minutes, then carefully stir until the coconut solids and the coconut oil are completely blended.

Place all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and blend with a hand immersion blender until the salt has dissolved and the custard is completely smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender you can puree the mixture in a standard blender until smooth.

Pour about 1/3 cup of your prepared custard into each ramekin.  I used a measuring cup with a spout to achieve a clean pour.

Place your filled cups in the fridge, and allow the custard to set up for at least 4 hours.  Cover with plastic wrap once it has set, to keep it fresh.  It's best eaten within a few days, although I doubt it'll last that long!

Wilted Kale with Orange & Ginger (paleo)

A dear friend of mine invited us over to her place yesterday for a lovely day-after-Thanksgiving get together.  Nikhil and Felix are good buddies with her two girls, so it turned out to be a fun playdate for the kids, and a relaxing afternoon for us adults. I had bought kale at the farmers market on Tuesday knowing that I wanted to make a hearty green salad for Friday's meal, but I was undecided about the specifics.  This warm, citrusy salad is what I threw together at the last minute as my offering to the table, and I thought that it turned out pretty tasty!  Oranges are back in season again, and they come together nicely with fresh ginger, golden onions, and a sprinkling of crispy bacon to create a fragrant kale dish that is both a little sweet and a little savory.

INGREDIENTS:

1 large bunch of kale

2 tbsp virgin coconut oil

1/3 cup thinly sliced yellow or white onion (shallots would work well too)

1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (you can also use mandarins or clementines)

1 tsp orange zest

2 1/2 tsp crushed ginger

1/4 cup chopped crispy bacon

sea salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Start off by cooking your bacon.  I already had some chopped bacon leftover from our Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, so I just threw that into my mix.  If you are starting from scratch, you'll need about 3 strips of bacon.  After the bacon is cooked, cooled, and chopped, prepare your kale by first washing it, then remove the tough stems from each stalk and roughly chop the leaves. Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and add the onions to the pan.  Add a pinch of of salt to the onions, then saute until they are lightly browned.

Place the kale in the skillet, and drizzle another tablespoon of coconut oil and about 1/4 teaspoon of salt over the top.

It'll seem cumbersome in the skillet at first, but as the kale starts to wilt down, it'll get easier to stir.  Add in the fresh orange juice, orange zest, crushed ginger, and chopped bacon and give it a good stir. Once everything is incorporated and the kale is just wilted, remove it from the heat and do a taste test.  You can add more salt and even more orange juice or ginger to your liking.

I hope you enjoy this warming, wintery dish!