Budyń o smaku (raspberry pudding)

I heart trying new things. And being a food-hearter (apparently the word "foodie" is taboo now), I especially heart trying new foods. It always amazes me when I discover foods that are a simple (and perhaps common?) pleasure from one culture and how that food can be completely unknown to everyone else.

This weekend, I was lucky enough to try budyń o smaku (which I think, roughly translates from Polish to English as raspberry pudding...apologies if I got the translation wrong). The pudding mixture comes prepackaged (the one I tried was made by Nestlé) and starts in powder form.

I watched my friend make this dessert, and from what I gather, the cooking process goes like this: heat up milk, add powder to milk (mixing constantly), stir, wait for the mixture to thicken, pour into bowl, serve hot or cold (the instructions I've found online are in Polish, so I'm strictly pulling this from my memory).

The process reminded me of making Jello - except it was faster and dare I say it? Yummier.

The pudding tasted milky/creamy and the consistency was nice and thick (in many ways, it reminded me of steamed Chinese egg custard). There was a subtle taste of raspberries (though I'm told it comes in many different flavours) and the best part of it? It was just the right amount of sweet.

I ate the bowl of pudding with wonder, savouring every spoonful and marveling at the wonderful consistency. It was warm and soothing - good for when the nights are cold. And the best part of it all?  I got a doggy bag (bowl?), which is now sitting in the fridge. It's supposed to be even yummier when it's cold...I can't wait until tomorrow...is it okay to have dessert immediately after breakfast?