Baked Cherry Oatmeal Dessert Puddings

It's amazing how cooking in ramekins can turn a fairly ordinary recipe into something that looks gourmet. That's just what I did with a baked cherry oatmeal breakfast pudding that I enjoyed recently, turning them into these gorgeous soft and spongy cherry and oatmeal dessert puddings with a few tweaks like marinating the cherries in balsamic vinegar to deepen their flavor. They were also an excuse to use up some the bags of fresh sweet cherries that somehow keep arriving at my house.

The aroma of cherries and almond essence baking in the kitchen will make anyone want to get right to the dessert course, but these elegant little puddings are not too sweet at all and healthy enough to eat for breakfast if you have any left over.

Baked Cherry Oatmeal Dessert Puddings

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on August 6, 2014 Soft, spongy and healthy oatmeal dessert puddings baked with balsamic-marinated sweet cherries Print this recipe Ingredients: 3/4 cup rolled oats 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 1 cup fresh sweet cherries, pitted and chopped 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup raw almonds, chopped 1 cup almond milk 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 teaspoon baking powder pinch of teaspoon sea salt Instructions: In a large bowl, combine the oats and yogurt. Cover with a clean dish towel and let stand overnight at room temperature. Toss the cherries with the balsamic vinegar and let sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, toast the chopped almonds in a dry unoiled skillet over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring or tossing frequently, until lightly browned. Remove from heat and set aside. Generously butter 8 4 oz ramekins and preheat an oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, almond extract, baking powder and salt. Pour the mixture into the oats and stir to combine. Scatter half the cherries between the ramekins. Gently spoon 1/3 cup of the oat mixture in each ramekin and scatter the remaining cherries over the top. Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes or until the top is browned and the pudding is slightly set (it will finish setting while it's cooling, but it should not be too liquid-y either). Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Scatter the toasted almonds over the puddings and serve warm. Makes 8 servings

More pudding ideas you will enjoy:
Lemon Sponge Pudding
Cherry Pudding Cake
Cherry Clafouti
Chia Seed Pudding

On the top of the reading stack: Vegan for Fun: Modern Vegetarian Cuisine by Attila Hildmann

Audio Accompaniment: Talk Talk - Wealth

Baked Cherry Oatmeal Pudding

Fresh sweet wine-red summer cherries might be my favorite snacking fruit, which can make pitting enough of them to get past my mouth and into a recipe an uncertain exercise — always better to have far too many on hand, at least in my house. But when they do survive long enough to be put into something like this oatmeal pudding, the results are extraordinary — baking cherries elevates their sweet taste and, combined with the essence of almonds, fills your kitchen with heavenly aromas.

This recipe is a remix of a baked apple-blueberry oatmeal breakfast pudding that scored a huge hit with me and my husband a little while ago, and if anything this proved to be an even greater success. The process of soaking oats overnight in yogurt not only breaks down the grain's complex proteins into easily digestible components, in addition the results bake into a soft and creamy spongey pudding that can be eaten as a dessert or for breakfast.

Baked Cherry Oatmeal Pudding

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on July 18, 2014 A simple and healthy soft spongey pudding made with baked oatmeal and fresh sweet cherries Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups rolled oats 2 cups whole fat plain yogurt 1/2 cup coconut (or brown) sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 2 cups whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 cups fresh sweet cherries, pitted and halved Instructions: In a large bowl, combine the oats and yogurt. Cover with a clean dish towel and let stand overnight at room temperature. Generously butter a 9 × 9 ceramic or glass baking or casserole dish. Preheat an oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Gradually whisk in the milk, vanilla and almond extract until combined. Pour the mixture into the oats and stir to combine. Scatter half the cherries in the baking dish, and gently spoon in the oat mixture. Scatter the remaining cherries over the top, and bake uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes or until the top is browned and the pudding is slightly set (it will finish setting while it's cooling, but it should not be too liquid-y either). Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream, toasted slivered almonds, or by itself. Makes 6 servings

Other ideas from Lisa's Kitchen:
Baked Apple-Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Pudding
Apple-Oatmeal Breakfast Streusel Cake
Cherry Vanilla Ricotta Muffins

On the top of the reading stack: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

Audio Accompaniment: sweet silence

Roasted Balsamic Cherry and Goat Cheese Crêpes

If you were to ask me what my favorite fruit is at any given time, I'd likely say whatever fruit happened to be in front of me. But I do have a special weakness for sweet cherries when they're in season — plump, firm, sweet and so bold and striking in flavor, I buy large bags full of them as often as I can for snacks, breakfasts and treats.

This time around, I've tossed them in balsamic vinegar and roasted them in preparation for a crêpe filling. Roasting softens the cherries and deepens the flavor into almost a cherry pie filling taste without the sugar, and the balsamic vinegar further intensifies the flavor by lending it something like the taste of a robust red wine — definitely not vinegary! Combine with toasted almonds and tangy soft goat cheese and roll up in a soft, light and chewy crêpe and you have a sweet and savory treat that's perfect for brunch or lunch.

The crêpes themselves — adapted slightly from Joanne at Eats Well With Others — are quick and simple, and work out perfectly every time into a soft, light and easily rollable or foldable crêpes that are ideal for filling or stuffing. They're also unsweetened, and are a great crêpe for any savory or dessert idea.

Roasted Balsamic Cherry and Goat Cheese Crêpes

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: French Published on July 16, 2014 Simple soft and light brunch crêpes filled with fresh sweet balsamic-roasted cherries, toasted almonds and tangy goat cheese Print this recipe Crêpes: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour pinch of sea salt 2 cups milk 3 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla 3 tablespoons olive oil Filling: 3 cups (1 lb or 450 g) pitted cherries 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup chopped raw almonds 1 cup soft goat cheese, crumbled Instructions: Preheat an oven to 450°. Toss the cherries with the balsamic vinegar and place on a baking sheet. Roast for 12 to 15 minutes until the cherries are soft. Remove from the oven, transfer to a bowl, and set aside. Meanwhile, toast the chopped almonds in a dry unoiled skillet over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring or tossing frequently, until lightly browned. Remove from heat and set aside. In a large bowl, Whisk together the flour and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla and oil. Slowly whisk the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing until the batter is smooth. Let stand for 20 minutes. Lightly butter or grease a non-stick skillet and place over medium heat. When hot, add a scant 1/3 cup of batter to the pan. Using the back of a ladle, gently spread the batter into a thin circle about 8 inches round. Cook until the top surface is dry and the edges release easily from the sides, just a minute or so. Gently flip and cook the other side for a seconds, then gently loosen the crêpe and slide on to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. Place a couple of tablespoons of the cherries directly in the center of the crêpe and scatter with almonds and crumbled goat cheese. Fold or roll up the crêpe and serve warm. Makes 12 to 14 crepes or 6 brunch size servings

Other cherry recipes you may enjoy:
Cherry Ricotta Crêpes
Cherry Clafouti (Baked Cherry Pudding)
Cherry Pudding Cake
Baked Cherry-Stuffed French Toast with Cherry-Orange Sauce

On the top of the reading stack: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

Audio Accompaniment: Geotic

Banana Cherry Garcia Soft Serve

 Cherries + dark chocolate is always a winning pair. Here I have continued my love of banana based ice creams and have added the duo to make this Banana Cherry Garcia Soft Serve ice cream. The inspiration comes from one of Ben & Jerry's top selling ice creams 'Cherry Garcia'. Here I have veganized it using simple ingredients that come together making a quick and easy soft serve to enjoy during the coming summer months. Gather some of the season's cherries, freeze some bananas and get your chocolate ready...all in the name of good health and a tasty treat that you will enjoy time and time again. Eating healthy and cruelty free is as delicious as can be!

Dark chocolate can happily be a part of your healthy diet as long as it's enjoyed in moderation. I usually have a small chunk every night with a dollop of almond butter as my dessert. Some of the benefits of dark chocolate/raw chocolate are its powerful anti-oxidants. These anti-oxidants may help to control blood sugar levels by helping the body use its insulin more efficiently. This in turn may help with reducing the risk of diabetes. It also can help improve and lower cholesterol. Dark chocolate has flavanols that may lower the risk of Alzheimer's and slow the onset of dementia. These same flavanols may protect your skin from UV damage. It's also rich in vitamins and minerals, can improve your mood, and reduce your stress.. These are just some of the benefits associated with dark chocolate. It's best to consume chocolate that is 70% cocoa and above or pure raw chocolate, as it will have the most benefits. And to the men out there, it has been found that men benefit most from eating dark chocolate in moderation. So enjoy your dark chocolate without feeling guilty. For more information: Web MD...Dark Chocolate For Health Benefits, Huffington Post: Chocolate Benefits & Men Benefit Most From Eating Dark Chocolate

And then there are cherries, the real star of the recipe! Cherries, known as a 'super fruit', are one of the few food sources that contain melatonin, an antioxidant that helps regulate heart rhythms and the body's sleep cycle. These little red beauties are also packed with antioxidants called anthocyanin's which aid in the reduction of heart disease and cancer. This same anti-oxidant can help reduce inflammation and swelling associated with arthritis and gout. They are a perfect post work-out snack for those looking to reduce pain and joint soreness, like runners and heavy training athletes. Cherries are abundant in vitamins C, E, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate, fiber and contain 19 times more beta carotene than strawberries and blueberries. They are perfect for any healthy lifestyle. For further reading take a look at these: Huffington Post: Cherries For Health & Seven Benefits of Cherries

Banana Cherry Garcia Soft Serve

Ingredients

• 2 frozen bananas, cut into 1 inch chunks
• 1 1/2 cups cherries, pitted and frozen (divided)
• splash of unsweetened coconut milk or almond milk
• scant 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks (70% +), cacao nibs or raw chocolate chips

Place banana chunks, 1 cup cherries and splash of milk into blender/food processor and blend until just combined. You may need to scrap down the sides a few times or add another splash of milk to help the mixture move. Add in chocolate and remaining 1/2 cup cherries, pulse until just combined. Serve immediately as this is a soft serve ice cream. Top with shaved dark chocolate, cacao nibs or raw chocolate chips. Serves two generously.

Notes: It helps to freeze your serving dish beforehand if possible. Will keep your soft serve chilled a bit longer.

Variations: If you don't want any chocolate chunks try adding 1 heaping teaspoon of raw or dark cocoa powder instead. Adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract never hurts either. It adds another flavor level.

Enjoy!

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A note on bananas

These are perfectly ripe bananas and just about ready for the freezer. I usually wait until they're a bit more ripened before peeling and storing, that is when they are the sweetest. Using them in their sweetest state means the less added sweetener you will need. So let your bananas ripen well before storing. I freeze mine unpeeled and either whole or broken into pieces. Having these on hand you can add them to smoothies, shakes and ice creams. They will stay well in the freezer for about 6 to 9 months.