As far as fruit goes, this is my favorite time of year...PEACH SEASON! My farm share has been full of peaches. In fact, these are the best peaches I have ever tasted. These are the kind of peaches that you bite into & sweet juice just runs right down your chin no matter how graceful you go about eating it. AMAZING!!!!
Did you know peaches contain 10 different vitamins & averages less than 40 calories per peach? They are a great source of antioxidants, linked to reducing risks of cancer & improving eye health and brighten skin. And duh, they taste soooo good! As much as my kids & I love just plain peaches, they are so easy to cook with. Cakes, cobblers, preserves & more. But my favorite....PEACH CHIA PUDDING!!!! Trust me, you will want to try this recipe. I have had more peaches than we can possibly eat so in addition to the peach buckle I am making today, I have been making jar after jar of this peach pudding to keep for fall. Along the way, a few neighbors & friends have sampled it & asked for their own jars. It is simple & super nutritious!
If you haven't used chia seeds before you maybe wondering what they are. Well, I will tell you what they are, INCREDIBLE! These tiny seeds form a little jelly like substance around them when they come in contact with liquid or juicy substance (like my peaches). They have no flavor but act as a thickener basically. The best part though is what they do for your body!! Chia seeds are full of fiber & protein. They are an excellent source of calcium, manganese & magnesium as well. Combine the powerful vitamins in those peaches with these tiny super seeds & you literally have the perfect breakfast, dessert or afternoon snack!
Making this tasty treat will only take a few minutes. Go ahead & double it. You will want more, I promise. It stores easily in the fridge for a couple of weeks or you could freeze it. If you don't have peaches, make it with whatever fruit you have. It tastes just as good with blueberries, apples and pears!!
Peach Chia Pudding
18 (or so) juicy peaches
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chia seeds (I like to use the white ones but black works just as well)
Peel the peaches, break apart with your hands to remove the pit & place peaches in a heavy sauce pan. Over low/medium heat, use a potato masher to break up the peaches. Add the cinnamon, ginger & vanilla. Let the peaches simmer over the low/medium heat for about 10 minutes, continuing to mash them down as they soften in the pan. Don't puree them, leave them kind of chunky. Remove from the heat & stir in chia seeds. Let sit for about 10 minutes. Stir again & you are ready to enjoy!!! I love to eat this warm for breakfast with a cup of tea but it tastes just as good out of the fridge! I even spread it on toast or mix into a warm bowl of oatmeal. Serve as an after school snack or save for dessert this evening!
Remember, this works with every fruit I have tried so far! Blueberries are amazing & apple picking season is right around the corner so you know I am looking forward to apple chia pudding then!
In Health & Wellness...Live Radiantly!