I’ve been up since 3am (when Bobby went to sleep) – insomnia much? I crashed around 10:30pm last night though (very early for me). So I decided to just get out of bed, call my mom (who is on the east coast, and 3 hours later than me), watch the news, and make a post. It’s peaceful being up this early. I might do some morning yoga or go for a walk when it starts to get light out.
I finally discovered the amazingness that is agar agar powder. Who knew you could make such a nutritious, yummy dessert in about 10 minutes? Agar agar comes from seaweed. It’s very popular in Asian desserts, especially in Japan. It’s a vegetarian/vegan substitute for gelatin too.
Since I’m kind of a linguistics nerd – agar comes from the Malay word “agar-agar”, meaning jelly. Other names are kanten, China grass, and Japanese isinglass. Cool, right? There was actually a diet fad in Japan called “the kanten diet” where you eat it with every meal.
Unsweetened Dessert Jelly
Ingredients
- 3.5 cups water
- 1 tablespoon agar agar powder
- 1 can coconut milk OR 2 cups fruit juice (I used coconut milk for one batch; POM pomegranate juice for another)
- optional: chopped fruits (I used 1 chopped apple in the POM version)
Directions
- Add the agar agar powder to the water and bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes (until the powder has completely dissolved).
- In a separate pot, heat the coconut milk OR juice for 3-5 minutes.
- If you’re using fruit, put it on the bottom of a large flat pan/dish.
- Then add the warmed coconut milk OR juice and whisk around until they are mixed well.
- Let cool completely before refrigerating. Cut in squares and eat!
I liked the subtlety of this dessert/snack – usually Jell-O is sickeningly sweet, but that was not the case at all here. Bobby thought the flavor was almost too subtle, but I liked it. If you do want to sweeten it, just add sugar/other sweetener to the water and agar mixture and let it dissolve.
I got this salad at Sprout Cafe the other day with lunch – I don’t remember what was in it though. I know there were lots of kalamata olives, which I love. They are one of my favorite salad additions! The salad dressing was a chili-lime vinaigrette, and it was wonderful.
Do you ever get insomnia or wake up really early? What do you do?
TheSaladGirl Tweets
Interesting stuff!
Thats really cool looking! I love linguistics too, so I think thats neat.
Sometimes I get insomnia but more often I wake up too early. I usually try to sleep, but I think I’m happier if I just get up. Its nice to have the extra time sometimes.
I hate when I have insomnia, some hot tea or melatonin helps me the most!
Ughh I hatee not being able to sleep. I usually read or put on my ipod with like nice sleep music
I usually get up at the same time everyday so on the weekends it sucks because I go to bed later. I just can’t sleep in!
Neat idea for the agar, I might just try this sometime soon!
This agar agar powder looks fascinating! It would make an awesome weekly food challenge item, too!
As for waking up early, one time, I was traveling for work and staying in a hotel room (maybe being away from home threw me off?). I remember waking up, taking a shower, and as I was styling my hair I thought, “Hmm…I don’t remember hearing my alarm clock this morning. How weird?” I went to check the time and it was like 2am!!!! I had to finish styling my hair, which was prob going to get messed up by me sleeping on it, and try to go back to bed for a couple hours. So weird! lol
dear dear, I was up at 3am today too!!! we really have some connection here!
I enjoyed a lot my early morning. 3-4am reading in the bed, then some snack, 4-5 blog reading, 5-6 blog writing, 6-7 yoga, and then my normal breakfast!
it was so enjoyable to explore new blogs that otherwise I don’t have time to do it.
Fortunately I’m not asleep right now, just finished my lunch and going to work soon!
oh…. I used to make fruit jelly with agar agar very often during summer! they’re great!
My mom uses agar agar powder to make these dessert gelatins..
Glad that your bout with insomnia turned out to be a blessing in disguise!!
Vegan jell-o!! Fun!!
Uck, insomnia. Three words: Nick at Nite.
Dessert looks too inviting. And I like your change in template.
Oh wow, that is awesome Maggie!
Mmm sounds very tasty. I have big problems with sleeping, haven’t really figured out a way to solve them yet though.
No way!! It’s agar agar! hahah that stuff used to gross me out because we grew bacteria on agar jelly in college. hahaha but now I’ve come to understand that agar agar is EVERYWHERE and creates tasty foods!! Your jello totally reminded me of almond jello! Good for you for being so creative with you breakfasts!
Hope you have a kick butt weekend!!
I really suffered through insomnia in college. It’s been better in recent years, but it still a problem sometimes. Have you tried valerian root? It’s nice and gentle and really is relaxing.
I learn a lot from your blog, especially posts like this.
Great work.
NAOmni
Hey that is exciting that u are tutoring also! I think it will be a perfect job for me right now
That totally sucks about the insomnia..i will wake up randomly at like 2 unable to sleep..i try and force myself, just think, sleep for 4 more hours then u can go eat!! Otherwise I’ll just get up and go with it! Good luck
wow!!! i love learning about new foods. was the consistency similar to jelo?
sounds delicious!
i love being up when no one else in the house is – its so relaxing.
thank you for all your lovely comments
ooh, i like this idea
i’ll have to give it a go!
That’s it? I always thought agar agar was so tricky to use, but you made it look easy. Hmm, I’m thinking major pudding action soon.
that jelly looks really good! I do have insomnia pretty often actually, and I don’t really have any good solutions – I sometimes resort to taking a sleeping aid, but I want to try something like reading until I get tired.
ooh, i just bought agar agar the other day in hopes of making some of this! i was planning on using some orange juice, but i think that coconut milk sounds way better! thanks for the idea
Very cool info on agar agar. Thanks for the read!
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