Strawberry Blancmange

(Another South Beach Diet recipe. Happy Valentine's Day!)

Serves 2

PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 5 minutes
CHILL TIME: 2 hours or overnight

Similar to a Bavarian cream or Italian panna cotta, blancmange is an almond-flavored milk pudding, often thickened with gelatin. The name comes from the French blanc (white) and manger (to eat).

Ingredients

3/4 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons cold water
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup light or fat-free whipped topping
1 cup diced strawberries
2 small perfect strawberries for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Lightly coat 2 (1/2-cup) ramekins or heart-shaped molds with cooking spray. Sprinkle gelatin over water in a cup and let stand for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, heat almond milk in a small saucepan over low heat, until it comes to a bare simmer. Add gelatin mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until dissolved, about 1 minute. Stir in almond and vanilla extracts. Transfer to a small bowl set over a bowl of ice water and stir until the mixture is thickened slightly. Add the whipped topping and diced strawberries; stir to combine. Divide mixture between ramekins and chill for 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, run a knife around the edge of the blancmange and, using your finger to help coax it from the ramekin, gently turn each out onto a plate. Top each blancmange with a whole strawberry, if desired, and serve.

Nutritional Information

Per serving:
60 calories
1 g fat
0 g saturated fat
1 g protein
10 g carbohydrate
2 g fiber
35 mg sodium

(Hint: Pair with a protein shake or another protein portion for a Body For LIFE-friendly meal or snack!)