7.20.2013

Let's Try This Again

After saying to myself that I'll get back to blogging about a dozen times, I'm finally doing it! The last time I declared I'm back on the blogosphere, it lasted a tragic 2 months with sporadic posts that were far and few. To my defense, there are only 24 hours in a day and 20 of those were consumed by a less than ideal job (yes, 20 hours a day because work never left my brain and haunted me in my sleep). So now that nightmare is over and has been over for about 7 months, I'm ecstatic to report I've reclaimed my happiness, rediscovered my passion for dietetics, found time to jot down my adventures in the kitchen here, and most important of all, my stress pimples are gone!


Instead of using this space to rant about the injustices and outrageous practices of our food system, HEALing Foodie will now be a documentation of my trials, successes, and errors in the kitchen. It might be a while before I work up the courage to share my cooking blunders (they happen more often than you might think). But here's an uber successful recipe I've been excited to share since I first made it back in February 2013. It's uber successful not because I think it is, but because it has won many praises at an office potluck, wowed a few guests at dinner parties, and has been a highly requested recipe from coworkers and friends. If you're searching for a no-cook summer dessert that's light, refreshing, and healthy, your search can come to an end with the Chia Seed Pudding.

Chia Seed Pudding 
Makes 4 generous servings or 6 petite servings
1/2 C chia seeds (available at health food stores and grocers like Trader Joe's and Sprouts) 
2 1/2 C vanilla-flavored sweetened almond milk (can substitute with soymilk, rice milk, or hemp milk) 
1/2 C sweetened shredded coconut, lightly toasted in skillet or in toaster oven using shallow pan 
Diced mangoes, strawberries, and/or pineapple. Blueberries and cherries work well, too. 

To a quart-size or larger container (more convenient if it has a matching lid), add chia seeds, shredded coconut, and almond milk. Stir well with fork so chia seeds are submerged in liquid and reduce formation of lumps. Some seeds will like to float. Once well-stirred, cover with lid and put in fridge. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, overnight preferably. Before serving, stir mixture to make sure no lumps of chia seeds are settling on bottom.

To serve, spoon mixture into bowls and top with choice of fruit.

If you like your pudding to be looser, add 1/2 to 1 more cup of almond milk to the mixture. Refrigeration and time are essential for this pudding since chia seeds soak up a lot of liquid and gel up when given time. This pudding keeps well in fridge up to a week.

The amount of sweetness is just right when using both sweetened milk and shredded coconut plus the fresh fruit. If you usually have unsweetened milk on hand, no need to buy a sweetened carton just for this recipe. Simply swirl in some agave nectar or honey after the mixture sets.

Chia seeds are native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala but are now largely grown in Australia. You might have seen these little black seeds floating in agua frescas served at Latin American restaurants before. In each tablespoon of dried seeds, you'll find 6g of fiber, 3g protein, and 2.9g of omega-3 fatty acid. And yes, chia seeds are the precursors to the green grass on ch-ch-ch-chia pets.

6 comments:

Terry said...

Never had a chia seed that I know of but it does sound good.

Elizabeth @HEALingFoodie said...

Try it, Terry! It's super easy to make and packs a nutritious punch!

Tiffanie Ma said...

YUM! I can't wait to try this! Or have I with you on a previous occasion? I'm so excited to hear that you will start sharing your wonderful thoughts in that wonderful brain of yours :) Look forward to sharing my beauties and blunders in the kitchen with you!

Elizabeth @HEALingFoodie said...

I don't think I've made this for you, Tiff. Let me know what you think after you try it :)

Debra said...

I just put this on my menu plan for next week. Can't wait to try it! How did you know that I needed a healthy dessert? Of course, you're my nutritionist!

Elizabeth @HEALingFoodie said...

Debra!! Hope you like the chia seed pudding :)

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