Cha-cha-cha-chia!!!!! If you were born before 1994 you remember the oh so catchy commercials with terra-cotta statues growing chia 'fur' coats or chia 'hair'... I'm sorry if this gives you flash backs of bad hair days and dated carpet, but you know what? In my mind (just for like... five minutes, any longer and I start to believe mom jeans are ACTUALLY a good idea*) I believed those were the days... it was a simpler time, don't you agree?
In those days, chia seeds were used mostly for niche (read tacky) home decor and bird seed. The only people who actually ate chia seeds were hippies or had a health condition (now I am a mixture of both sooooo, I can't judge). Some how, over the last decade or so (two... two decades) chia seeds became an 'it' food. You can find them sprouting up absolutely everywhere! (pun intended). Pinterest is teaming with chia recipes, you can buy them in bulk at Wholefoods, get them in your kumbucha (double the 90s hippie vibes), add them to your oatmeal, your smoothies or shakes. Use them as egg replacer in vegan baked goods. Add them to your breakfast for a little added protein. All of these things are amazing uses for these magical little seeds... however, today I am using them to make dessert!
Chia pudding is like cheating the dessert gods out of all they represent; aka something full of sugar, fat, and (while divine) bad for you. Chia pudding, while nutritious and delicious, is also bad news. You see, the danger with this whipped, fluffy, creamy bowl of temptation is that we believe it to be a 'health food' therefore there is no harm in eating the ENTIRE bowl... you will make yourself ill by doing so, I promise, so please don't do that. Just because something IS good for you does not mean you should gorge yourself on it; food for thought (literally).
-CHOCOLATE MINT CHIA PUDDING-
What you will need:
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup unsweetened hemp milk (almond or coconut would also work)
1/2 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk (chilled)
2-3 tbsp raw cacao powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp peppermint extract*
1-2 tbsp honey
Whisk all ingredients together in a medium sized bowl and chill for 6-8 hours... preferably over night.
I won't lie to you, this is like a Girl Scout thin mint cookie in pudding form! If you have them, sprinkle a few cacao nibs over the top for a little added texture, it is divine to say the least (also it is full of nutrients and 'super food' ingredients... so tell your guilt to take a hike and come back later!).
Im not going to sit here and tell you to make this dessert... but you should probably make this dessert.
Have you made chai pudding before? What is your favorite flavor combo? I'm always looking for more!
xx
*In place of the mint you could add a tbsp or two of pb2 for chocolate peanut butter pudding, you may just need to add a bit more liquid to balance out the powder.
