Ch-ch-ch-chia.
Yep, those funny little things are actually quite tasty. A few years ago I got into the chia seeds and enjoyed chia frescas and puddings but then my interest seemed to fade. I’m terrible with remembering favorite recipes because I also tend to just google as I cook. So when I decided to get back into the chia craze I found this recipe and remembered to bookmark it this time. Now, I don’t quite follow the recipe to a T and I have basically just used it as a base to play with different flavors and combos. It makes a pretty big batch so I can easily split this one base into 4 different flavors. The convenience of mason jars is big for these flavor splits. I can simply divide the chia seeds among the jars, and either add the flavorings to the jar or have a reserve to use if I’m blending the flavor in the blender. I will keep the puddings in the fridge and grab during the week or scope out as needed to add to other recipes, such as the dragon fruit/tapioca dessert or the ricotta milkshake. Easy enough to pack for work and versatile enough to not tire of.
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A bit of a disclaimer here - I’m not actually going to post any of these recipes. At least not now.
This Christmas, life was just too much of a whirlwind to be organized enough for everything. I made the most of what I could and did the best that I could to enjoy the holiday for myself, to share with others, and to spend time with family. In some ways I feel I failed at each but in other ways I recognize the balance. Two things inspired this recipe - first, I was craving the apple spice donuts and had bought a large bottle of cider. Second, I woke up this morning and glanced out the window before walking the dog-despite, the constant 80 degree weather-the sky was one big misty fog. That felt like fall. Walking and feeling the weather. Low visibility with lights a blur. A chill that reminded me it is time to pull out the winter wardrobe.
Unfortunately I did not take many photos of these or the process because I wasn't sure they'd come out on the first try and they were so delicious I ate them pretty quick.
I came across a recipe around the same time my mom did and the recipes were pretty similar. She made hers with a few substitutions and loved them so I followed suite. Therefore, this is a combination of a recipe found online and modifications for what we stock in our pantry making it easier to make on a whim. Here is another recipe for our popcorn series. I always struggle to write and post these recipes because it seems so unlike me. But I do find these as goto recipes when I have certain cravings and just need a snack. It also works out well for me because since I don’t really like popcorn I don’t end up overeating and eating too much. It works out to be just enough to hit the spot.
When I was growing up our house could get a bit hectic at times. Especially during the school year when between the five of us kids we were often attending at least three different schools and all playing and doing various extra curricular activities. How my parents managed I'll never know but I have so many great memories to cherish from the busyness and chaos that presumed.
I remember Sunday nights were always our formal family dinner nights, but Thursdays were usually pizza night. The night we would all gather as a family and eat dinner in front of the tv watching shows like The Cosby Show and A Different World. It meant eating together but sitting on floors or squeezed in the coach or at the puzzle table. It may not be a proud memory for my family that I should be admitting to on the internet but it still brought us together. We'd work on homework, talk during commercials or about the shows, we'd sit on each other if our seats got stolen. For busy hectic weeks it was a good break to formalities, a chance to relax. Pizza, while not quite my favorite food, is a food I could never and will never turn down. I love pizza. So going gluten free seemed hard, will I ever find a good gluten free crust? Maybe I haven't tried the best yet but I have managed to find many I could eat every day. Trying to go vegan I found myself questing if I could like pizza without cheese. Heck yeah! With veggies piled high on it you don't even think about missing cheese. So here is a recipe we have found to be a quick dinner fix on a busy night that packs in a solid gluten free meal. I’ve never been a big fan of popcorn. I’d eat a couple handfuls at the movies but could easily stop at any time. Yet somehow, popcorn became a part of our Friday night, movie night rituals. We’d mix in small marshmallows, peanut M&M's, gummy bears, really whatever we’d be in the mood for. But as she grew up, we grew into a more sophisticated palate and the candy varieties just didn’t cut anymore.
We have learned to make savory flavors, sweet flavors, and holiday flavors. Here is my recent version. Coconut, Cinnamon, Maple Popcorn As vegetarians we would eat a lot of portobello mushrooms as substitutes for meat. Being gluten free meant we could no longer stuff them with gluten. Being vegan means no more topped with cheese.
A standard, goto option for us was to bake it in the oven on a layer of tomato sauce, topped with shredded spinach. Now this was very good with cheese on top - mozzarella, parmesan, provolone - vegan’s are the only ones I think that don’t like melted cheese. We had a long day today. It included back to school shopping and an unplanned trip to the tire shop after pulling over and changing a flat. The fifteen year old now knows how to change a flat for future reference when she gets her license and is off on the road. Nothing like two short women on the side of the road being self sufficient changing a flat. I did pull off on to a side road at least. So dinner naturally should be easy. All she’s been asking for lately is salads. Cleaning out the fridge today I regretfully threw out a lot of fruits and vegetables that had various molds on them...I'm a little over ambitious when I'm grocery shopping. I did find a few that I could save but that didn't have much time on them - so I dropped them in the blender.
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