chia-mel tarts

Get it? Caramel + chia seeds = chia-mel! I'm proud of the cleverness. Don't judge me.
Something else I'm proud of is the fact that these aren't primarily chocolate! However, I couldn't resist and put a little cacao in the crust.

They're super tasty, and super nutritious. Think of the healthiest, most delicious granola bar - this is like that in dessert form I guess. The crust is mostly almonds and prunes, while the center is pine nuts, chia seeds, dates, maple syrup and cinnamon. Oh... and I added a little peanut butter.

I actually used my caramel recipe, using chia seeds. But instead of almond butter and tahini, I used peanut butter =} And instead of Brazil nuts I used pine nuts. Equally as delicious. I had leftover filling so I ate it with a banana for breakfast - yom. I could also eat balls of the crust... it might even be better than the filling.

Either way, make these for a healthy snack and get your dose of EFA's, fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, plus a bunch of other goodies.

Chia Caramel Tarts: makes about 3, if you can resist eating the ingredients while you're making it

Crust:

Handful each of walnuts, almonds & coconut chunks

1/3 cup prunes and/or dates

1 Tb agave/maple syrup

Dash of salt, cinnamon

1 heaping Tb cacao

Filling:

Handful Brazil nuts

2-3 Tb raw agave/maple syrup

1 t vanilla extract

7-10 dates, soaked for 30 minutes or so if you can - but don't dump the water!

3 Tb almond butter

2 Tb tahini

2-3 Tb coconut butter, melted 

1/2 t cinnamon
Pinch salt 

Water as needed (preferably the date water)

1/6 cup or so coconut flakes

2 Tb chia seeds gelled with water (see note)

Crust: pulse nuts, dates/prunes and coconut together until they become very fine pieces, stating to stick together. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until it forms a ball. Press into tart tins and set in the fridge while you make the filling.

Filling: process Brazil nuts into fine pieces, add all other ingredients EXCEPT coconut flakes and chia seeds. Process until it has a caramel-y consistency. You may need to add some water or more of the other ingredients. Try it. Your mind should be exploding now. If not, continue tampering until it reaches the mind-blowing stage.

NOTE: Now if ya want, add the coconut flakes and gelled chia. This basically just dilutes the sweetness and gives you more. I did this to make the filling of the b-day tart. It's up to you, depending on what you're gonna use it for. Personally, I could just eat it all straight-up.

chia shots

My mom bought a loaf of chia bread at Cobs last week, and they gave her this free package of a chia shot. I thought it was cute. I love chia seeds. They're definitely the new goji berry of 2012, if ya know what I mean. (Never before heard-of "super food" that will soon be in health stores/magazines everywhere.)

I already have a good supply of chia seeds in the house but I figured I'd use the chia shot for my breakfast. A serving of chia is about 2 Tb, and that's what they gave me.
I added water to it, along with some goji berries, coconut flakes, and raisins. I spiced it with cinnamon and nutmeg. YUM! Simple and delicious.

One thing - of the many, many things - I love about chia is their insoluble fibre aspect. When you add water, they gel up. This is exactly what happens when you eat them too, and that's why they're great for keeping your bowels moving - yes, you understand. Basically they soak up extra "waste" in your digestive tract ... it's a beautiful thing. Flax seeds also hold this ability.

On top of that, they're a good source of omega-3's (EFA's), which most people don't get enough of. They also have a substantial percent of protein, like most other seeds and nuts. And of course, with any raw plant food you're gonna get a ton of antioxidants and phyto-nutrients.  

You can research yourself about the benefits of chia, and I've also found this link. It's pretty basic.

I'm not saying adding chia to your diet is gonna change the world, as if it's the missing link to superior health and longevity. However, it's a nutrient-packed raw plant food that's a heck of a lot better than cheerios for breakfast. I think everyone could benefit from incorporating some chia into their diet. If not, no worries.

Protein Chia Pudding

I had this after my workout a few days ago. It was very tasty and full of protein to rebuild the muscle tissue I just broke down =) If you like chia - and it's unusual texture - you'll love this.

Chia is a superfood. It has tons of protein, healthy fats, fibre, and gives you long-lasting energy. And yes, it IS the seed that grows those goofy ch-ch-chia pets. Who knew one of the most nutritious foods on the planet is only used to decorate our porches?

I want to talk more about chia and it's benefits but I gotta go workout!
Here's what some are saying!
Here's another good site talking about it's benefits.
Or just google it.ORR read Brendan Brazier's books. He is an elite endurance athlete who is a vegan and mainly raw. He talks loads about hemp, chia, flax, etc.

Muscle-building Chia Pudding: makes 1 serving

2 Tb chia seeds

1/2 cup water

1 Tb hemp

1 Tb ground flaxseed

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t vanilla extract 

Handful of raisins

Honey (optional)

Mix water with chia and let it gelatinize a little, add other ingredients and flavour to your liking. Enjoy!

raw chocolate pudding: eat it for breakfast!

*Also check out avocado pudding - it's insane.

Today my friend Emily came over and we studied for our Philosophy midterm... somewhat successfully. But then it was time for a distraction and Emily wanted some chocolate pudding.

Well, rather than making sugary, chemically-flavoured pudding from a "milk ingredient"-derived powder like Sugar, Modified Food Starch, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Disodium Phosphate (For Thickening), Contains less than 2% of Natural and Artificial Flavor, Salt, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (For Thickening), Mono- and Diglycerides (Prevent Foaming), Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Artificial Color, Bha (Preservative) - Yum?

I made a delicious concoction out of bananas, chia seeds, raisins, agave and cocoa. We also added some cinnamon and almond butter. It was creamy and very satisfying.

It seriously took just a few minutes, so if you're short on time and want a healthy, filling and rad breakfast/lunch/snack/even dinner pudding - this is for YOU =)
And as with EVERY RAW RECIPE: it's so friggin' easy and totally adaptable to anything your little heart desires.

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Chocolate Pudding: Makes 2 servings, though I could eat it all myself

2 bananas

2 T almond or other nut butter

1 t vanilla extract

2 T agave (or to taste)

1/4 cup raisins (try to find no sugar added, ex. Sun Maid)

3 T chia seeds, gelled with water (explained in recipe)

Cinnamon (to taste, I added maybe 1 t)

Cocoa (to taste, I added maybe 1/6 cup or so)

I think that's all we put in there... 

Cover the chia seeds with water (maybe 1/4 cup or more) and as they're gelling, process the other ingredients until smooth. When chia is gelled - it only take a couple minutes - add them. Taste it and add what ya want.

Serve in bowls topped with coconut flakes and goji berries and/or other fruit - tasty in my tummy!

This is one chocolate pudding you can feel GOOD about eating!