Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Ch-ch-ch-chia Pu-pu-pu-pudding!

This easy pudding recipe will make you sing. Not because it is drool-worthy delicious, but because that stupid Chia Pet song will get in your head for days. The Big E is a real pudding guy - he loves the stuff. But the fact that pudding is made from eggs and milk makes it a little tough to veganize. There are some great tofu recipes that make more of a mousse-like dessert, but true vegan puddings are more elusive.



Now good ol' Trader Joe's sells Chia Seeds. They are so good sprinkled on oatmeal. The flavor is mild and nutty. Right on the back of the bag is this recipe for Chia Pudding:

1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup coconut milk (or Rice Dream or Almond Breeze, or I guess you could even use mi-mi-milk)
1/4 cup (or less) honey or agave syrup (I used maple syrup)
flavor with vanilla or almond extract or even chocolate syrup

Mix together and stir every few minutes to keep the seeds from clu-clu-clu-clumping. Refrigerate for several hours. There you have it - a slightly weird colored yet nutty tasting no-cook pudding with fiber, protein and Omega-3s. Just don't add lime juice, because your pu-pu-pu-pudding won't ge-ge-ge-gel and you'll end up with a sm-sm-sm-smoothie.