Chocolate Coconut & Banana Milk Tapioca Recipe

Because you need comforting right now (sugar & dairy-free).

There’s something about nostalgia and memory that comforts and calms.

I believe it was my great-grandmother McClellan who introduced me to tapioca. She also introduced me to carrot-raisin-mayo salad, but I prefer the tapioca. Tapioca feels comforting in only a way that an old-fashioned dessert can. Straight out of the pan, bubbling, thick, warm, or cooled like custard, a week like this one calls for good old-fashioned tapioca, dear friends.

The chocolate was a creative last-minute addition. As I was stirring, and it bubbled, I thought of lava, then I thought of the black chocolate powder in my pantry. This is a very dark -almost black- chocolate that’s fun to use in Hawaii, where lava cakes, not to mention lava and volcanos exist.

The result was beyond! It tastes a bit like the Jell-O chocolate pudding of your childhood. It was so good I had difficulty waiting for it to chill, so I didn’t.

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Remain Hopeful

For three decades, I was unable to eat chocolate which, when I think about it, is criminal. This is because I cannot eat sugar (no, not even honey, or dates) and chocolate is pretty medicinal without that granulated white stuff.

But then, monk fruit sugar hit the scene. Honestly, it changed my life. I can now bake the things that require the texture and similar taste of sugar, without the health issues. Excuse me while I JUMP FOR JOY on the page!!! Because I never thought I’d be able to eat chocolate again, not to mention eat a birthday cake substitute that wasn’t seriously depressing.

Let me reiterate: I spent three decades unable to eat sweets and now I can. Things can change. Victories do occur. The world remains a place of wonder.

May this, in and of itself, offer you a semblance of hope… against all odds!

Monk Fruit Sugar

Monk fruit sugar is genius. It does not feed yeast overgrowth, which is an invisible underlying health problem for women, especially. It is safe for diabetics. It doesn’t spike blood sugar. And it is CALORIE FREE. Yes, you did read that right. Most of the calories from sweets come from the sweet.

But that may not even be the best part. Monk fruit is health-supportive.

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‘Monk fruit has been associated with enhancing qi (also spelled "chi" or "ki") in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practices, though it is typically used for its cooling and balancing properties rather than directly for "raising" qi.

In TCM, monk fruit is often classified as a "cooling" or "yin" food. It has been used to reduce "heat" in the body, especially in the lungs and throat, and as a remedy for conditions like cough, sore throat, and dry lungs. By reducing "heat" and supporting overall balance, monk fruit can contribute to greater energy flow, which might indirectly support a person’s qi.’ -Chat GPT

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