Pudding Bliss: Maple Cardamom

You'll need:

2 cups milk
1/4 cup cornstarch (less if you like less firm pudding)
little pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon instant coffee crystals
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar

3 ounces pure maple syrup, the darkest you can get
ground cardamom

1. On medium-low heat, combine all ingredients except the maple syrup.
2. Whisk while they come to a simmer and simmer for about a minute.
3. Remove from heat, pour in the maple syrup, and whisk hard for another minute or two.
4. Pour into containers to cool, sprinkle with ground cardamom, and chill.

This is very sweet and you might want to omit the brown sugar. But don't omit the instant coffee, which keeps the earthy maple flavors from fading out.

My local grocery store sells miniature graham cracker pie crusts & this would probably make cute and delicious little maple pies.

Oh, and whatever you've heard about folks with Seasonal Affective Disorder craving sugar? Ugly rumors.