Chia Fruit Pudding

Chia Fruit Pudding was an accidental discovery. I was making a smoothie without measuring – if you know me, you know I have an aversion to measuring things – and I got too many chia seeds compared to too little liquid. I discovered that using a spoon and a cup is just as tasty as using a straw and a glass. You can make a smoothie with this recipe. Just add juice or water. I have used grape juice, orange juice, and Simply Lemonade – all terrific. This recipe gives you the right to play with your food. Try different fruits and juices for a different taste every time. If you don’t mind little seeds between your teeth, mixed berries make a really good addition to chia pudding.

1 can (15 oz.) sliced peaches

1 ripe banana

2 cups frozen fruit (I like sweet cherries)

¼ cup chia seeds

Process all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into a bowl, seal, and refrigerate for several hours to give the pudding time to set. Or – pour out a little cupful, add a splash of juice, and enjoy a healthy smoothie before putting it in the fridge.

This is a good way to use up overripe bananas. If you have surplus, don’t toss them out. Peel them, cut them into 3-4 pieces, and place on a cutting board. Freeze for several hours and store in a freezer bag. When it’s pudding/smoothie time, just pull out a few chunks and you’re ready to go.

FYI: Don’t freeze a whole banana with the peel. As a time saver, it seems like a good idea. But when you attempt to peel a frozen banana, you wind up getting your steak knives out to finish the job, and your fingers suffer frostbite...

Enjoy!