Combat the effects of SAD with Vegan Rice Pudding

Just to be clear the SAD* I’m talking about here is Seasonal Appetite Desires.

I don’t know about you, but as the temperature drops and daylight hours shorten I find myself craving different foods to those I cherish in summertime.  In July, ‘crispy organic lettuce drizzled with vinaigrette dressing’, is a phrase guaranteed to provoke an almost Pavlovian response within me, but come November my palate seems to change as radically as the weather.  It’s goodbye to ‘fresh’ and ‘light’ and hello to ‘hearty’ and ‘rich’! Whilst I’m not quite ready to start my menu planning for Christmas dinner just yet, comfort food has established itself firmly at the top of my menu wish list.
We all have our own favourite comfort food, that dish which we adore, not only for its pleasing taste but also for the sense of contentment that it delivers. For me it has to be Rice Pudding, and here’s my absolute favourite recipe for it. It’s inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare, especially with the slow cooker.  I just can’t recommend it enough ,except, did I mention that it’s organic and suitable for vegans too?
Ingredients:
1L Provamel organic Vanilla flavoured Soya Milk
115g Suma organic Arborio Rice (uncooked)
95g Equal Exchange Fairtrade & Organic Raw Cane sugar
20g Suma Organic Desiccated Coconut
1 tsp Steenbergs Vanilla Extract Fairtrade 100ml
0.5 tsp Suma Organic ground Cinnamon
a dash of salt
1.5 tbsp vegan margarine

Preparation:
This is so easy.  Just combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.

(I used the Morphy Richards Ecolectric Slow Cooker)
Cook on high for 5 hours. Stir once every hour, until the desired consistency is reached.
Cooking time may vary, depending on your slow cooker and the consistency which you like your rice pudding.
Grate some of your favourite dark chocolate on top before serving, (I used Organic Seed & Bean Company Dark Fairtrade Chocolate Bar, 60g)

Serves: 4  hearty portions.
Looks gorgeous presented (as photographed) in our stylish, red, 100% recycled martini glass too.

*Sorry if you came across this page whilst searching for some relief from Seasonal Affective Disorder, you may want to check out some of light therapy products, click here.