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Cherry Chia Juice

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May 162011

One of the best things about Chia is how many folks experiment with them to create their own recipes. This one is obviously a labor of love:

I have been seriously OBSESSED with this drink for the past week, and could not wait to share it here! If you like gooey, jello-y type drinks (think tapioca pudding and bubble tea-type things), this drink is for you. And if you are not sure if you like that type of drink, please try it anyway. Just trust me!

BUT WHAT IS IT?

What you see in the jar is a soaked chia seed drink. We sell a bottled drink at the store called Mamma Chia, which is juice, agave, and chia seeds. They sell pretty well, but of course my first thought was ‘I could make that!’ But it was actually my rad boss who turned me onto the idea (and the tricks- see below). My particular favorite is a combination of cherry juice, apple juice, and water (I don’t like straight juice) shaken with 3 tbsp chia seeds. I also have made a cherry lemonaide which was spectacular as well, while my boss uses just iced tea. The chia seeds soak up water and create a gelatinous texture throughout the whole drink- each sip is gooey and a bit crunchy from the teeny seeds- it is a super fun texture for a drink. I am totally addicted to it, and have to limit myself to one jar a day!

Best of all, chia seeds are incredibly healthy. According to the Mamma Chia site, chia seeds are an ancient source of energy, nutrients, and healthy oils. These teeny seeds contain good amounts of fiber, omega-3, complete protein, calcium and potassium, magnesium, and iron. And unlike flaxseeds which must be ground to obtain their benefits, chia can be eaten whole and you still get all the nutrition (but you can grind them too!). It was revered by Native cultures throughout the Americas for their battles and long-distance travels… but now we can enjoy it for our long-distance days at the computer or working it at the Maui Ag Fest! And here is how to do it:

Cherry Chia Juice:

4 oz cherry juice (or other!)
3 oz apple juice
5 oz water (or to taste)
3 tbsp chia seeds

Add the juices/water to a jar, in whatever combination you like (the photo above is a standard 16oz jar). Add the chia seeds and shake vigorously. Let the drink settle and shake again. Give it a shake about every 30 seconds for the next few minutes. The chia gets sticky very quickly, and if you simply shake and walk away it will solidify into one chia-mass, which is not good for drinking. My boss taught me that there is only a three minute window in which to obtain the PERFECT texture. So keep shaking while you’re doing the dishes, cooking dinner, or what have you. After a few minutes, the seeds should be mostly evenly distributed, though some will rise and some will sink. Store in the fridge for at least a few hours, but overnight is best for the thickest texture. If you think about it, give it a shake every few hours, but this is not really necessary. When ready, the chia seeds will be evenly distributed and suspended in the gooeyness they created, as you can see in the photos. Enjoy!

this photo kind of gives you an idea of the slightly thick, viscous texture of the drink

and YES, chia seeds are the SAME chia of our childhood chia pets.Cha-cha-cha CHIA!

From http://bakerymanis.wordpress.com:

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Chia Seed Omlete With Asparagus

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Apr 222011

(Originally from www.saddleback.com)

By Stefanie Cassetto

Virtually a perfect food, Chia has the highest omega-3 profile among natural foods, high in protein, antioxidants, calcium, iron, magnesium, B vitamins, boron and dietary fiber. Similar in size to Flax Seeds, Chia seeds are more user-friendly and virtually tasteless, making them an excellent addition to your diet.

The magic of Chia is what happens when mixed with water. The seeds have hydrophylic qualities which means they absorb more than nine times their volume, and create a gelatinous substance. Once in the gel form, dieters can slurp Chia as a meal-replacement. Long-distance runners and skiers can take Chia gel and benefit from long-term hydration. Chia also allows the body to absorb more nutrients while aiding the digestive cycle. This process effectively slows the rate at which carbohydrates are converted into blood sugar, rendering Chia a great addition to a diabetic diet.

Chia uses are numerous from adding the gel to your tea, in soups, to yogurts, smoothies or as a thickener for sauces. The Chia gel can also be used in baking to replace oil, adding nutrients into your baking.

Chia is Loaded with Powerful Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3′s are important for healthy skin, cardiovascular health, nervous system development, immune function, and inflammation reduction. So, just the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids in Chia make it worth adding to your weekly meal routine. But, research has linked this valuable food as a being beneficial for many other health issues as well, including diabetes, hypoglycemia, celiac disease, and lowering cholesterol.

So, when you are tired of the same old routine, experiment with this nutritionally-dense superfood. Here’s just one example:

CHIA SEED OMELET WITH ASPARAGUS

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 tablespoons water
2 eggs
4 asparagus spears
1 teaspoon grapeseed oil

Preparation

Soak 1-tablespoon chia seeds in 2 tablespoons of water for 20 minutes or more; stir once or twice to prevent clumping. This will make a very thick gel. Gradually stir in 2 eggs and whisk well. Steam 4 asparagus spears. Add grapeseed oil in a nonstick pan. Whisk egg and ground chia seed mix again to prevent seeds settling out. Pour into pan and cook gently until top is set. Using a lid will help the top set faster. Season to taste, put asparagus spears in center, fold the omelet over and serve.

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Chia Home Made Energy bars

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Apr 202011

This recipe uses Chia seed and is from Leanne Vogel’s blog Healthful Pursuit. She uses both hemp and Chia seeds in this mix.

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup almond butter*
* 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
* 2 eggs
* 1/3 cup Manitoba Harvest hemp protein powder*
* 1/4 cup hemp seeds
* 1 tbsp cacao powder
* 1 tbsp ground chia seed
* 2 pinches of white stevia powder*

*note — you can replace the hemp protein powder with a powder of your choice. If you don’t like stevia, you can replace it with 2 tbsp brown sugar.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
Add all ingredients to a medium sized bowl and stir until mixed. The dough should be pretty dense.
Pick up about a 1/4 cup of dough in your hand and shape into a bar. Place the bar on the prepare cookie sheet and repeat with remaining dough.
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean [mine were perfect at 15 minutes].
Allow to cool for five minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

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Chia Is A Natural Source Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

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Jan 102011

Omega-3 molecule

Chia seed is derived from Salvia hispanica which is a species of a flowering plant in the mint family native to central and southern Mexico. It is similar to flax but has far more nutritional benefits than either flax seed or flax oil. While still relatively new to the U.S. market, Chia continues to gain popularity as a healthy food source.

But chia is certainly not a “new” food; quite the contrary. Chia seed was a dietary staple Continue reading »

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A Personal Trainer Talks About Chia Health Benefits

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Jul 062010

This is Jean Allen’s take on chia health benefits for overall fitness and general nutrition. My only disagreement with her conclusions is that you do not need to mix the Chia into a gel before using. The seed can be successfully added to just about any recipe you can think of without changing the taste.

Jean Allen is a personal fitness trainer and has her own website TrainWithJean.com

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Chia Benefits