In most cultures, desserts are a “must;” at least for special events. The question is how to make something tasty that is on the healthier end of the dessert spectrum, especially for individuals who want to avoid dairy products. Enter Mori-Nu Silken Firm Tofu—advertised as having no preservatives, non-GMO, and gluten-free. Its listed ingredients are water, soybeans, isolated soy protein, gluconolactone (a non-dairy coagulant derived from food starch), and calcium chloride. While I don’t eat tartlets every day, they make a fast and easy dessert for special occasions.

Some people think they sense a strawberry shortcake flavor, others a strawberry-topped cheesecake flavor. I like them equally well with mango or strawberries. When fruits are not in season, a can of prepared cherry pie filling works as a great substitute.

Ingredients

• 1 package Jell-O® French Vanilla Instant Pudding
• 1 cup coconut milk (I like Trader Joe's boxed coconut milk)
• 1 tsp real vanilla
• 6 ounces of Mori-Nu Silken Firm Tofu
• 8-10 mini graham cracker tart shells or small dessert dishes or parfait glasses
• Slices of fresh mango or sliced or cubed strawberries or a can of prepared cherry pie filling

Preparation

Place tofu, water, and vanilla in a blender (I use my bullet blender as I lose very little of the ingredients under the blades) and whiz until very smooth.

Pour into a bowl and add package of French vanilla instant pudding.

Mix well. I like to use my portable electric mixer.

Fill tart shells nearly to the top. (If there is any filling left over, place it in a covered container in the refrigerator for later.)

Cover each tart with tin foil and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend.

Serving

Place mango or strawberries on top of the each tart just before serving.

NOTE: You can refrigerate filling in the mixing bowl if you prefer not to use the mini graham cracker crusts. In this case, after the filling has refrigerated overnight, spoon filling into individual dessert dishes, garnish with fruit, and serve.

You can also serve this dessert in parfait glasses using cherry pie mix. Place a spoonful of refrigerated filling into a parfait glass and cover with a thin layer of cherry pie mix. Alternate filling and pie mix layers to within an inch of the top of the parfait glass. End with a garnish of cherry pie mix.