on chia seed pudding...

Chia Seeds are my new favorite in the whole wide world! I've been seeing it all over the place and finally decided it was time for me to try this new superfood! So happy I did. After studying about Chia I've learn that these seeds come from southern Mexico. It's a seed that is stuffed with omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and calcium! You can put them in just about anything from cereals, bars or smoothies. It's said that ancient Mayan and Aztec people used Chia for energy. Sweet mercy! Right up my ally. I'm totally digging these tiny little black seeds and for my first adventure with them I made a simple Cinnamon Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding. 

The cool thing about Chia Seed is that they swell. The best comparison I can give you is like tapioca. When they are mixed with any liquid whether it's water or milk the seeds create a gel like texture. The seeds swell and thicken up the liquid they're in hence the pudding consistency. 

Ingredients: 
serving 2
1 cup Almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
3 tablespoons Chia Seed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1 tablespoon honey (or any sweetener of your choice)
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon 

Combine all ingredients together into a small bowl. I used vanilla almond milk but you could use anything that you like, also since my almond milk is already sweetened a little I just used a small amount of honey. Whisk mixture together.

 

Once whisked together put it in a glass or jar, cover it and set it in the fridge. It really only needs about 2-4 hours to thicken up but I let mine sit over night and was perfect by the morning to take to work. This recipe makes about two servings each measuring to be about 1/2 cup. I know looking at it might not seem like much but this pudding is really filling.

This is a basic pudding that you can quickly dress up with fruit or granola. I am so excited to have this new superfood added to my diet and looking forward to experiment with this wonderful seed! Oh and don't forget to keep your seeds in a Ziploc bag that you can push all the air out of and keep it in the fridge or even the freezer for a longer shelf life!

Have you made anything with Chia Seeds? I would love to hear about it! 

on sage popcorn...

Did you ever want to put a different spin on your movie/party popcorn? Well, I'm here to save the day. Go ahead and add some sage next time you pop some popcorn :) It will be a hit. First you need about one cup of fresh sage. Place the sage onto a plate and make sure that they are spread evenly. 

Microwaving the sage is my favorite part. That gentle aroma that it lets off when heated is heavenly. I can't even explain the scent. It's almost sweet. Once it's done in the microwave it should be nice and crispy. 

You can make your popcorn next. I recommend popping kernels on the stovetop instead of using bagged popcorn. This way the flavor of the sage won't be masked by all the butter. If you do use kernels just heat up about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pot. Put a couple kernels in the pot and cover. Once they pop the oil should be ready to dump 1/2 cup of kernels. Let them pop for about 10 minutes. Shake pot back and forth while covered. 

Once you have your popcorn transfer to a bowl, drizzle with olive oil. Lastly take  the sage and crumble over the top. Toss to coat and add some salt to taste. 

There you have it. Sage popcorn :) Perfect for a Holiday party! Enjoy.

♥A.