Prunes Archives - Strength and Sunshine

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by California Dried Plum Board and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

A spiced rice porridge cooked with cashew milk and dried plum. Perfect for a unique and naturally sweet breakfast to fuel your day. Gluten-free, vegan, and free of refined sugars, a whole grain breakfast never tasted so good!

Dried plums, prunes, whatever you want to cal them, they are actually pretty tasty! Apparently, May is also National Osteoporosis Month (really, May is a great month for health awareness!) and bone health is extremely important, especially for women. There’s been a recent study showing that eating 2 servings of (100g) dried plums a day over a year, was associated with increased bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. An even more recent study just last month showed that even just one serving of dried plums may be just as effective at preventing bone loss.

Some other fun dried plum tid-bits: every serving (4-5 dried plums) has less than 100 calories, 3g of fiber, 293mg of potassium, 16mg of magnesium, and are loaded with more vitamin K than other dried fruits. I’d never personally eaten dried plums or used them in my cooking before, but after getting a chance to do so, I am now a new fan! All those health benefits and a great natural sweetener, they’re pretty powerful little things 😉 O, and they’re great for digestive health too….I’m always in need of that!

I also took this plum-tastic opportunity to make a breakfast “rice porridge” so to speak. Oats, quinoa, buckwheat, all great for breakfast, but so is rice! I need my carbs and sweetness in the morning, it’s the only way I can start my day. I even made this one sans chocolate! I know! Shocker! but I included my other favorite thing…cashews!

All the spices I included play so well with the sweetness of the dried plums and the creaminess of the cashew milk. It’s kind of an Indian dish too. The porridge has that subtle golden color from turmeric which I adore! While I was making this down in my dorm’s floor kitchen, I got many inquires as to what smelled so fantastic! I knew I had a winner on my hands before I even got to try it.

Spiced Cashew Plum Rice Porridge

Ingredients: (serves 2)

+ 1/2 Cup Country Wild Rice (rinsed)

+ 1 1/4 Cup Silk Unsweetened Cashew Milk

+ 1/2 Cup California Dried Plums (roughly chopped)

+ 1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

+ 1 Cinnamon Stick

+ 1/4 Tsp Turmeric

+ 1/8 Tsp Nutmeg

+ 1/8 Tsp Allspice

+ 1/4 Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract

+ 1/4 Cup Raw Unsalted Cashews

Directions:

+ Bring the 1 1/4 cup of cashew milk to a boil, add the rinsed rice, plums, and spices (everything but the cashews) in to the pot and reduce to a low simmer.

+ Cook covered for about 40-50 minutes. It depends on the rice you use, or until the milk is absorbed. Remove the cinnamon stick and let sit for 10 minutes.

+ Now mix in the cashews and serve!

Sweetness, spicyness, superior health benefits, and super creamy cashew goodness, this is a spectacular breakfast 😉 (Please applaud the “S” alliteration, I tried!). Or maybe I should just post recipes and pictures with now words…That might suit my calling a little better!

Side note: after I forced myself to make this recipe in the dorm floor kitchen on gluten death, I had to carry this dish, (plus another I had made), my camera and lenses, a white board, and what-not down to the dining hall where there are windows for natural light. I actually didn’t get many weird looks which was surprising, but having to swipe my card and open many doors was rather difficult. At least I don’t have to do that again! (Just a few more days!)

So tell me:

+ Ever eat dried plum/prunes? (No jokes, I know what you’re thinking!)

+ Any unique breakfast recipes you’ve whipped up lately? Share!

*Recipe linking up for the week! Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Real Food Recipe Roundup, Tasty Tuesdays, Meatless Mondays, Lena’s Tasty Tuesdays!*