Apple Kudzu

this is my new favorite treat to satisfy the sweet tooth. It's also a perfect bedtime snack and sleep aid. Kuzu, a thickening powder made from the root of the kuzu plant, is used often in Japanese cooking. It is soothing to the GI tract. This apple kuzu pudding is also good for calming anxiety and reducing hyperactivity in children.

1 cup apple juice (also would be good with pear juice, peach nectar, etc)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 tablespoons kuzu (aka kudzu, a starch used as a thickener in Japanese cooking)

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Stirring constantly with a whisk, bring to a boil and continue stirring until mixture thickens and becomes more translucent. Eat warm or cold.