Ch-ch-ch-ch-chia!

Chia seeds have surfaced as a superfood as of late. I am always amazed when “new’” ancient foods make it into our radar, this one happens to be a gift from the Aztecs. There are so many cool foods that we haven’t tapped into yet. A few weeks back, as I was enjoying my chia seed pudding, Tyler asked if these are the same seeds used in those hairy pets from back in the day…you know…ch-ch-ch-ch-chia! I laughed and hadn’t really thought about it, but come to find out, indeed, they are one in the same! Kind of funny! Anyway, they are the newest superfood. I am not totally sold on their “superfoodability” at this point, but I am having fun playing with them and think they are yummy! They are a little like flaxseeds nutritionally and have some of flax’s gelling properties, which I am totally digging!

A recipe I have been making lately is chia pudding, inspired by Elena of http://www.elanaspantry.com/ (find it under the dessert link and scroll down just a bit). Here is my version:

2 cups water

1 cup Caspian sea yogurt (a new find!)

1 cup raw cashews

2 Tbs brown rice syrup (a little more or add stevia to up sweetness)

3 Tbs cocoa powder

1 Tbs vanilla extract

4 Tbs chia seeds

In the blender, add the water, yogurt and cashews and blend until smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and refrigerate overnight. The gelling properties of the chia seeds totally make it pudding-like – yum!!! Very tasty, easy and raw to boot!