Take Two with Chia Seeds

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All I can say, TGIF! This is a monster post, I sure hope you enjoy it! But I also wanted to thank everyone for chiming in on the things you used to not really groove on but that now you’re into from yesterday’s post. And of course, for all the great chia chatter comments. Go say that three times fast.

Since I was on a roll with the chia seeds, I decided to try a really pared down version of yesterday’s pudding recipe. Scott was not that into the cinnamon I sprinkled in yesterday’s chia pudding version, so here was my next attempt.

Take Two with the Chia Seeds was pretty much a straight-up copycat of Angela’s recipe, and guess what, it’s really easy:
*2 Tbsp Chia Seeds *1/2 c Almond Milk *1/4 c Water *I added 1/2 Tbsp Agave & a dash of Stevia *Stirred
Here’s what it looked like at that point. I thought the green bowl nicely conjured up the mental image of a green & sprouting Chia Pet. What do you think?
Chia seed pudding before refrigeration in green bowl


And here’s what the Chia Pet looked like coming outta da fridge about 8 hours later.
Chia seed pudding after refrigeration in green bowlChia Goo, I mean Chia Pet, Close Up
Spoon showing some of the chia seed pudding out of bowl
And here’s what Chia Pet looked like after I bastardized him with some frozen Cool Whip and TJ’s Dark Chocolate Chips. I mean, it’s for Scott after all. And he ain’t vegan. His verdict: Two thumbs up! Waaaay better without the cinnamon, he said. Cool, we have a winner, folks!

I know I could have made Gena’s cashew cream and there are vegan whipped toppings, but we didn’t have any of those. And this seemed to work quite nicely for hubs.
Chia seed pudding topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips

And as promised at the end of my last post, here comes the chocolate!

Now, do you think I am going to make something new for a change, or make another batch of Raw Vegan Freezer Brownies? If you guessed the former, you’re dreamin’. I love these things too damn much for a change-up. Call me HEABs and oat bran.

Here was today’s version after the Vita-Mix had been worked over harder than The Real Housewives of Atlanta work over their man for a new Gucci bag.

Into the V went: *1 heaping c of medjools *1/2 heaping c walnuts *1/2 heaping c cocoa powder *1/2 c agave *3 Tbsp+ of vanilla (I like to catch a buzz off the vanilla from the brownies, can’t ya tell?)

And here’s what the mixture looked like inside the V. For all your ladies that have written in telling me you made these in a food processor, I give you props because the Vita-Mix was shimmey’ing and shakin’ all over the counter today like I’ve never seen it do. Probably because I really loaded up the dryer ingredients today and didn’t increase the agave/liquid. Doin’ the brownie shuffle, I tell you.
Raw vegan brownies being mixed in blenderAnd after I scraped the chocolate thickness into the container, it went into the freezer. Why do I freeze it? Because I like too. Remember I like my watermelon frozen, too. Totally not a necessary step and room temp or fridge temp is fine for the brownies, but hey, I’m an extremeist, what can I say.
Blended raw vegan brownie mix in clean containerClose up of the Chocolate Love
Close up of raw vegan browniesA few of my other eats from the day…and you all know I don’t post everything I eat, just the highlights, right? I mean if you think I subsist on solely raw brussels’s sprouts and chocolate brownies, you’re wrong. Well, maybe not. (kidding!)

Justine just brought this up and I thought she said it very well…just the highlights, gang. I mean are carrot sticks really post-worthy? Maybe if you eat them with my handy dandy zangy dipping sauce. Ok so there, ya go, I ate lots of carrots sticks and cinnamon ginger dippin’ sauce from this post. Take that Scott, I happen to groove on cinnamon.
Slices of carrot sticks stacked on top of one anotherCinnamon Ginger Dipping SauceAnd of course, I ate a whole bunch of rabbit food. Lots of crunchy raw veggies. Here was a sqaush-a-licious platter. I am still on the squash kick and rockin’ it.
Steamed squash, peppers, zucchini and brussel sproutsDulse, greens, smattering of raw veggies, cukes, red & orange peppers, ya know, your standard rabbit food here.
Mixed vegetable and greens salad with Dulse flakesAs for the rest of my day, well, my morning head clearing run and my yoga was invaluable to center me throughout the day. It was either yoga or the bottle. Mothers of small children, you know the days I am speaking of. And you’re grateful you weren’t living it.

Considering that it feels like it’s about November in my little corner of San Diego, I actually couldn’t go out for my run in a sports bra and shorts. Recently the folks at Be Present were kind enough to send me this awesome Be Present Renew Tee.
Woman on yoga mat doing yoga poseFrom their site: The tee is made by “melting down recycled plastic bottles and spinning the melted plastic with organic cotton. Each be present Renew Tee produced diverts three to five plastic bottles from a landfill. The process also requires little energy and water during production.”

I think it’s super cool that rather than 3 to 5 plastic bottles ending up in the landfill, they end up in my tee shirt. Which yes, is very soft. A perfect shirt now that fall is rollin’ around. It fit me really well, I am wearing a size Large, but I also don’t like my clothes skin tight. After motherhood, sportin’ skin tight tees make me self-conscious so I opt for a little more looseness and this one delivered.

Oh and as a footnote, I have a few pairs of these Be Present pants that I bought myself a few years ago, which have been washed no less that 427 times each and have literally been worn on me around the world. I kid you not. And they are still going strong. This is me in one of them. You can disregard Skylar’s face stuffing.
Woman and young girl smiling on pier with ocean in background
Onto this morning’s yoga…Hand to Big Toe Pose (Utthita Hasta Pandungustasana)
Woman doing Utthita Hasta Pandungustasana yoga pose
And out to the side.
Woman doing Utthita Hasta Pandungustasana out to the side yoga poseTry to make sure when you’re doing any kind of standing pose that you don’t let your pelvis become misaligned. It should be level. The temptation is to let the side of your pelvis with the raised leg, rise up. Try to ground that puppy and square it off.

Also try to keep your shoulders back and dropped. Don’t scrunch ’em up by your ears. I know it’s alot to think about, after you’re able to balance which is step one, but just some other little tweaks to remember if you can, of course based on where you’re at with your pratice. And if Tree is what works for ya, start with there!

Moving right along to headstand (sirsana)
Woman doing headstand yoga poseAnd then drop it down peeps. How low can ya go? Here’s half (arda) sirsasana (headstand). For all you in search of defined abs, oh the vanity my peeps, well, this will do the trick. Practice makes perfect if it’s a washboard you covet.
Woman doing half headstand yoga poseAnd with that sweet smile, it was time to wrap the yoga and get crackin’ on toy cleanup duty.
Young girl smiling in purple shirt with cat graphic:)
Averie

Tip of the Day: Go check out my friend RawJuiceGirl’s DVD Giveaway! Woo-hoo!

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Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. I'm with you…I don't like coconut oil….I tried, but I find it too overpowering. People suggest using the refined, but I don't see the point. I usually use grapeseed oil, but I know it's not the best.

  2. Hi. First time finding your blog. Great site. As a vegan yogi myself I have to say I'm loving it. And that raw vegan chocolate pie is on my to make/do list for this weekend. It looks amazing. Take Care.

  3. Omg those sweet potatoes you told me about really DO look amazing!
    I think I want to try that protein powder you use–I need some and haven't found anything I'm too crazy about!
    And that broccoli slaw looks delicious! It's not anything like real cole slaw right? Now THAT I don't like!
    Wow, I really wish I was flexible enough to do yoga the way you do–seems so peaceful!

  4. I do like coconut oil, but many of the raw recipes definitely use it in excess. It definitely seems to overpower to me too when the ratio is that high.

    Yoga on Thursday, you are getting me psyched :)

    Great to find your blog too!!

  5. Sorry, Averie, I'm in the LOOOVVVVvEEEEE coconut clan :-) And Pina Coladas for that matter- YEAH baby! :-D

    You are one bendy gal- impressive!!
    Deb

  6. For all those of you who love coconut oil..that's awesome! I have heard that the more expensive (i.e. UNrefined) it is, the more it will actually taste like coconut and the more refined, more highly processed stuff which is usually less expensive has the coconut taste stripped right out. After buying a little jar for $15 bucks and not liking it, and then buying another one for $13, I was like screw it…and I just use it on my lips, and in that case, I like the way it smells/tastes, just not *in* the food. What brands does everyone use? I am gonna post that question on tomorrow's post…

    VG-do you ever use Stevia? I used to hate it, now I use it occasionally. But not in my PP's where the slightest trace makes me think I am drinking nutrasweet. Skeeve.

    Justine-do you like the NuNaturals stevia? Does it give you that shudder I just downed a bunch of nutrasweet fake sweetener icky aftertaste?

    Thanks everyone for the LOVE. Means the world! I heart you guys :)

  7. Really? Not feelin the coconut oil. I dont think it has a taste at all really. At least the ones I have tried. I use it in place of oil in a lot of the recipes I make the man and the little one. Like pancakes, and other baked goods as well as some savory stuff like stir frys and they said they cant taste it but they love things so much more when I use it!! Now coconut butter, that on the other hand has a strong taste!!

    ~Justine

  8. Sorry, Averie… don't have any issues with coco-madness…the coconuttier the happier I am!

    i had a coconut oil that had no taste or smell… I just figured it was lower quality cuz my last jar is DELISH… we wear it eat it..even my babe gets slicked down at night…

    we're kuckoo for coconuts here!

    ha

    and the protein issue…I am still figuring that out. I have a hemp protein powder that I am adding to lots of good eats …

    I am building some decent muscle with what little resistance band training I am doing but I have no idea what a good number a day I should shoot for.

    I like the info on these powders… I have yet to try them

    okay…enough rambling

    LOVE the butterfly pose… crack ..pop…AHHHH my hips and knees are noisy!

  9. I actually am a big fan of coconut so the taste is fine by me:)

    Glad to hear you now have sampled two SW flavors, yum!

  10. Hell yes for no stevia aftertaste – that's definitely a killer.

    I need to go do those poses right now – stressed and need calmness!!

  11. I did once read that if the coconut oil tastes coconut-ty it's too old or not good quality. Saying that, I don't mind the coconut flavor at all and I think this might be why I don't necessarily taste it… I just use organic cold pressed extra virgin, which I'm sure is what you've experimented with :)