Healthy Pumpkin Pudding

The other night, Alex and I had a healthy dinner of chicken and veggies, but both of us were craving something sweet. Out of dark chocolate and unwilling to go to the store to grab a piece of vegan cake, I rummaged the cupboards for something. What I threw together was actually incredibly satisfying, and as Alex took his first bite and I asked how it was, he said, "It's like Christmas." This pudding is easy and packed full of protein, fiber and vitamins. Eat this "dessert" guilt free!

Healthy Pumpkin Pudding

Ingredients:
1 can pure pumpkin
2 scoops vanilla whey or soy protein *
2 cups soy or skim milk (if you don't have time to let it "set" in the fridge, use yogurt instead)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
crushed pecans (optional)
1 tbs. whipped cream (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and pour into bowls. Pop in the fridge until cold (or freezer for less time). Take pecans, throw in a ziploc with some cinnamon and grind the nuts with a rolling pin (or the bottom of a glass). Sprinkle on top, along with the whipped cream before serving.

Want to make your own whipped cream?

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups very cold organic heavy cream
2 tsp. organic sugar
1-2 tsp. vanilla

Put cold heavy cream into a mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer, starting with a low speed and then speeding up as the cream thickens. Once it gets soft peaks, stop. Fold in sugar and vanilla and serve!

* In a recent consumer report (July issue), many protein powders are said to contain metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Among the popular brands, EAS Myoplex, Dessert, and Muscle Milk were some of the worst.