New addiction...
can you see it?
look closer...
Chia Seeds!
This was still warm and completely incredible! The amazing Stuft Mama posted a brilliant idea the other day for fruit chia jam. Since I've been making chia puddings like it's my job these days, I knew right away I had to try this too!
I cooked 1/2 cup rolled oats with 1 1/2 cups water on 50% power for four minutes. I let it sit in the microwave while I made my jam...
Then I stirred my oats, topped it with 1/4 cup almond milk and then put my warm apple cranberry chia jam on top...
then I topped the whole thing with my peanut butter "fudge" (peanut flour, cocoa stevia, pinch of salt and a little water)!
This was the perfect mix of warm, gooey, sweet and tart!
Apple Cranberry Chia Jam
inspired by Stuft Mama and Kasey
1 large apple, diced
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/4 cup water
1 TBSP chia seeds
1 dropper NuNaturals vanilla stevia
Cook the apples, cranberries and water on medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally. The cranberries should pop and the apples should be soft, but not mush. When the fruits are cooked, remove from the heat and add the chia and stevia. Allow to rest for a few minutes or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Here's some information on chia seeds for those that are interested. I've really been focused on getting my omega fats in and this is a really delicious way to do just that. Chia seeds are a great source of amino acids too, which are extraordinarily important for our health. Also, I think they are so cute and look like tiny dinosaur eggs.
Have you tried chia or can you not get past the chia pets?
I have not jumped on the chia seeds wagon yet. Something about knowing that they "gel" up weirds me out. I should probably try it before I knock it, though, right? :)
ReplyDeleteHeather - Honestly, this was genius. Instead of using all kinds of crazy stuff to gel up jam, chia works like a charm and doesn't look like a sea creature. I'll admit that it can look weird, but this looks like a strawberry or raspberry jam would. Oh that would be so good and you wouldn't be able to tell. I've really started to focus on where our nutrients come from and the omega's are really lacking in most people's diets, but they are so important for our health. A little chia goes a long way and really they are good!
ReplyDeleteThis is the second chia jam I've seen recently. There was even a recipe in Oxygen Mag. I have started using them regularly in my oatmeal and mixing them with PB2 now. Still can't do the pudding thing though
ReplyDeletewow that chia jam looks incredible! must try making some! we love our chia puddings but still need to try it in jam form!
ReplyDeleteHUGS
~Lori
Love this! Chia's are a favorite of mine and I love the apple/cranberry combo :)
ReplyDeleteyou both are brilliant! Stuft mama and YOU! because this would be genius on your GF biscuits!
ReplyDeleteChia seeds are magical :D
ReplyDeleteThis looks yummy! I've made a variation of the jam with pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and maple syrup...but I like the idea of having chunks of fruit!
ReplyDeleteInteresting use of chia... I'm always looking for ways to use it up, since the gel-y texture often creeps me out.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Chia seeds come in handy for so many things. :-) Tonight I used them to soak up excess liquid in a pot of chilli I was making and it worked like a charm.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I usually just put chia seeds in smoothies or in my oatmeal. I had completely forgotten about the awesome hilarity of chia pets...
ReplyDeleteWell, of course your jam looks MUCH better than mine. :) ha ha! I haven't tried it with apples yet. I need to give it a try and right now I'm off to make your "fudge". I wish we lived closer so we could experiment together (or just have a chia party). :)
ReplyDeleteKristen really is a genius... love me some Stuft Mama! Chia seeds freakin' ROCK and I have been incorporating them into my breakfasts regularly lately! I'm totally going to have to jump on this jam bandwagon!
ReplyDeleteI went through a pretty solid chia phase, but I'm not eating oatmeal or smoothies on a regular basis right now and I'm having a hard time figuring out how to sneak them into things!
ReplyDeletesuch beautiful pics! i have never actually tried chia seeds but am very intrigued! i would love to have a piece of your peanut 'fudge' what a great invention!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarena,
ReplyDeleteI wrote this (and a bit more) in response to your comment on my blog, but I never know if people see my replies on there...so I just wanted to say how much I admire you for going back to school. I was reading through some of your older posts today, and it sounds to me like you will have lots of really interesting things you can do as a chef with specific nutrition training. Unfortunately, I am not trained in either, but I pursue both of these things as hobbies and I think making healthy food tasty, or tasty food healthy is incredibly important.
I also loved looking at some of your recipes. I am excited to try them out!
Happy Friday! Hope you get some rest this weekend.
~Emily~
I love chia seeds! Never tried oatmeal with cranberries before though :P
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I saw it on Stuft Mama's blog the other day too. Store-bought jams have too much sugar for my liking (most of the time anyway ;))
ReplyDeleteBoy, it sounds so simple too! That's what makes a dish taste even better.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, what a great idea! Love chia seeds...HATE how every time I tell people what they are, they're like, "you mean like a chia pet?!" and then scrunch up their faces like I just admitted to eating dirt! LOL
ReplyDeleteI just happen to still have a crap-ton of cranberries leftover from the holidays! Now I just need some apples...hmm, but that requires going to the store and I've kinda made another "challenge" for myself the other day after it took me over an hour to make sense of my pantry! It is seriously ridiculous how many things of grains/flours/beans I own....I mean, c'mon, I live by myself! Ok, so maybe the jam will have to wait, but still...genius idea! And the peanut flour "fudge" is definitely happening ASAP!