Low Fat Vanilla Pudding with Fresh Blueberries

If I had to chose, I would say that blueberries are my favorite of the berries. They are the perfect fruit for snaking: small enough to eat by the handfuls, sweet and nutritious. Perfect for watching a movie. Instead of popcorn, I would sometimes have a large bowl of blueberries. And at eighty calories and four grams of fiber per cup, it's not a bad idea.

Beside their anti-oxidant properties and sweet-subtle flavor, blueberries are quite easy to cook with. Especially when used in desserts. Because they are so flavorful and visually pleasing, they take center stage in pies, pastries, muffins. Here, I glazed them with liquid jam and ate them by the spoonfuls on vanilla pudding.

Low Fat Vanilla Pudding with Fresh Blueberries

Serves 3 to 4

1 cup low fat milk

1 packet unflavored gelatin

2 - 3 tbsp honey

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 oz fat free or low fat cream cheese (room temperature)

1 cup fresh blueberries

jam or honey

1. Scald milk in microwave on high for two minutes, just as tiny bubbles form . Remove and transfer to larger bowl, if necessary, and whisk slowly while adding the gelatin. Transfer to blender, add honey, cream cheese, and vanilla extract. Puree until smooth. Pour into serving dish ( or individual servings glasses) and chill until firm, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

2. In a saucepan on medium heat, melt jam or honey to a syrup-like consistency. Remove from heat, add berries and toss to coat, being careful not to mash the berries. Spoon glazed berries over chilled pudding and serve.