Strawberry Pudding

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 lbs strawberries
• 1 cup sugar (to taste)
• 1 quart water
• 1/3 cup cornstarch (if you like your pudding very stiff, use 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (optional)

Recipe

• 1 clean and rinse berries. if they are large cut in halves or quarters.
• 2 bring water to a boil over medium heat. add sugar and strawberries and simmer until berries are tender, about 8 minutes. you will still have lumps of berries. if you want a smooth consitency, break the fruit up by pushing the berries with the back of a spoon on the side of the pan.
• 3 dissolve cornstach in a little water and add to fruit, stirring constantly. add vanilla or zest if desired (one or the other not both).
• 4 bring to rolling boil, stirring constantly. continue stirring and allow pudding to boil a few minutes. the pudding should no longer be cloudy and regain its shine and gloss.
• 5 transfer to a bowl and place in the refrigerator until thouroughly cool. depending on the bowl size and shape, this could take several hours.
• 6 if you are planning to substitute part of the sugar (would not suggest all) with baking splenda, add the splenda to the bowl just before cooling.
• 7 optional serving ideas: top with whipped cream, cool whip or vanilla yogurt. chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa are also nice.