Chocolate Protein Pudding

  I Was thinking of how I was going to use up my left over black beans from dinner tonight. My first thought was to make energy balls. The mix I started to make was a little too dense so I started adding 1 tbsp at a time of flax milk to moisten it up a bit. It just wasn't doing what I wanted it to do, so more flax milk was added and " BING " pudding it became. I know, some of you are saying "what" right about now. But have you ever made a dessert using beans? I know you have eaten a carrot cake at some point in your life, so why not a dessert with beans? The recipes are endless, sweet & so good. I encourage you to explore. As for tonight I think the energy balls are just going have to wait for now. 

  Come see what the flax milk joined to make this ooopsie dessert. 

Ingredient's 

1 1/4 C black beans ( canned or previously soaked & rinsed )

1/4 C walnuts ( or a nut of your choice ) 

1/3 C peanut butter ( or a nut butter of your choice ) 

1/4 C cacao powder

2 Tbsp agave syrup ( or a sweetner of your choice )

6 Tbsp flax milk ( or one of your choice )

A pinch of salt

** use organic when possible

Yields about four 1/2 C servings

Method

Place nuts in high speed blender/mixer till they resemble a crumb like texture 

Add beans & purèe till blended, doesn't have to be smooth at this point

Add sweetner, cacao powder, nut butter & blend again

Now add flax milk a little at a time. You may want to add less or more depending on the consistency you prefer. Blend till smooth

Give it a taste test & add a pinch of salt. Taste again until you are happy with it.

Fill four dessert cups with the pudding and top it with unsweetened shredded coconut, walnut peices & a few sprigs of mint.. 

You of course can serve it & top it however you wish. This is how I served it up today.

  I was thinking this pudding would be nice added to some oatmeal or even a scoop or two in a shake. Being this is so protein loaded it doesn't have to be just a dessert, it can be an addition to a pre & post workout snack. Let's stretch our imaginations even further & go back full circle and actually make an energy ball from this pudding after all, by adding it to oats, puffed cereal, rice cereal, or more nuts. Wow, maybe I got to try this tomorrow. My brains spinning with ideas. So true, but this is how I roll. An idea from an idea. :) 

  However you choose to serve it up, I hope you enjoyed it as much we did and mostly may you be Nutritionally Well.

** tip** if you have a prickly little eater like I do, DON'T let them see the beans. This will make the trying way more easy. Once mine saw the beans she gagged ( lol ) however the rule in this house is YOU HAVE TO TRY IT before you say you don't like it. Because you never know--- You just might like it :) 

Health benefits from some of the ingredients used 

Cacao

Helps digestion

Cardiovascular health

Antioxidant

Antiinflammatory 

Superfood

Antioxidant Benefits of Raw Cacao | Healthy Eating | SF Gate

healthyeating.sfgate.com › Nutrition › Nutrition in Foods

Antioxidant Benefits of Raw Cacao. Cacao beans are seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, a small evergreen tree grown in Mexico and South America. Cacao beans are roasted and ground to produce cocoa and, after further processing, are the basis of chocolate.

Black beans 

High fiber

Cardiovascular health

Regulate blood sugar

Superfood 

Nervous system health 

Black beans - The World's Healthiest Foods

www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=2

The almost magical protein-fiber combination in legumes—including black beans—explains important aspects of their health benefits for the digestive tract, the blood sugar regulatory system, and the cardiovascular system. Each area of systems benefit has a strong research basis.

You visited this page on 14/05/15.

Walnuts 

Helps deal with stress

Heart health

Cancer fighting properties 

Brain health

Weight control

Omega 3 content

Walnuts - The World's Healthiest Foods

www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=99

Walnuts are an excellent source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids, in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Walnuts are also rich in antioxidants, including being a very good source of manganese and copper. They are also a good source of molybdenum and the B vitamin biotin.

Peanut butter 

Fiber rich

Energy booster

AIDS in weight loss

Lowers risk of heart disease 

Reduce stoke

A source of antioxidants 

Protect against Alzheimer's 

Reduce risk of weight gain 

Peanuts - The World's Healthiest Foods

www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=101

Peanuts' Antioxidants Key to their Heart-Health Benefits ... Total death rates decreased 11% and 19% for nut/peanut butter intake once per week and 1-4 times ...