Eat Your Pudding

Abby: Is there any other way I can drink milk besides...drinking it?

Me: If by "drinking milk," you mean "consuming an adequate amount of calcium so that your bones and muscles grow big and strong" then yes. To get the same amount of calcium you'd normally get in one cup of milk (300 grams), you can also have:

• 1 9-ounce piece of baked perch

• 15 cups of broccoli

• 3 cups of raw kale

• 3 ounces of canned sardines with bones

• 1 cup yogurt parfait

• 2 slices cheddar OR...

• 1 large bowl of chocolate pudding

Abby: Got it. One more question: Does whipped cream have calcium?

Basic Chocolate Pudding Every time I make pudding I think the same thing. That's it? It might even take more time to make Jell-O's pudding from the box. Or put it this way: I don't know how Jell-O's could be faster than homemade. Makes 4 cups.

2 cups milk 2 egg yolks 2/3 cup sugar 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whisk together milk and yolks. (I do this in a measuring cup to save a dish.) In a heavy medium saucepan, whisk sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Whisk in milk mixture and turn heat to medium. Whisk until pudding thickens and comes to a boil, about 5 minutes. Continue boiling one more minute, whisking constantly so it stays smooth. (I wasn't so great at that part, but whatever.) Remove pudding from heat and add vanilla extract. Divide pudding into bowls or containers and chill for a half hour and up to a week. Top with whipped cream, bananas, or graham cracker crumbles.