Chia Seed

Healthy Multigrain Chia Waffles

It’s a new year and so many people out there have made resolutions to get healthy which is awesome! Being healthy isn’t just a diet, it is how you live your life and making changes as needed for a healthier life. I am all about being healthy. Many of my friends know that I eat all sorts of weird foods like, chia seeds. Chia is awesome in my books and it isn’t just for sprinkling on top of your yogurt or smoothies when you have breakfast. How about adding some chia to your morning waffles?  Chia is wonderful in waffles and these Healthy Multigrain Chia Waffles are a great way to start your day. Just add some real maple syrup and your favorite berries, no butter needed at all.
Healthy Multigrain Chia Waffles | Country Girl Gourmet

Healthy Multigrain Chia Waffles
 
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Ingredients
  • cooking spray
  • 1¾ cups milk (cow's milk or almond milk)
  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1¼ cups gluten free all purpose flour
  • ½ cup gluten free rolled oats
  • ¼ cup flax seed meal
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar, or more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat a waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions; spray the inside with cooking spray.
  2. Whisk milk, applesauce, egg, chia seeds, and vanilla extract together in a bowl; let sit until chia seeds start to thicken the mixture, about 2 minutes. Whisk flour, oats, flax seed meal, baking powder, sugar, and salt into almond milk mixture until batter is smooth.
  3. Scoop ½ cup batter into the preheated waffle iron and cook until crisp and golden, about 5 minutes per waffle. Repeat with remaining batter.

adapted from Allrecipes.com

Maple Pumpkin Spice Granola with Chia and Quinoa

It is the first day of fall so i’m bringing you a great fall recipe! Fall brings so many great things especially to the food world. Soups, stews, comfort food galore, apples and pumpkin, yes pumpkin! We love pumpkin in our house and while I keep pumpkin in my pantry year round there is just something about eating it during the fall and it appears i’m not the only person who thinks that either. Other than Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte have you been to a grocery store and have seen all the pumpkin spice goodies they have now? It can be a bit overwhelming but at the same time really tasty.

While the world is on pumpkin spice overload there are still a few things that have not found a pumpkin spice version so I decided to make my own. My kid’s and I are addicted to granola. While it is easy to make I kept picking up bags of our favorite brand and it was devoured in no time at all. So I decided to save my $4 a bag and make my own, pumpkin spice flavored of course and it was delicious!

If you like granola and pumpkin spice this is the granola for you! Plus I added all sorts of other goodies to it like quinoa and chia seeds to add to the nutrition factor. Just don’t tell my kids that it is healthy.

Maple Pumpkin Spice Granola with Chia and Quinoa | Country Girl Gourmet

Maple Pumpkin Spice Granola with Chia and Quinoa

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Rolled Oats
  • 1/2 cup Ground Flax Seed
  • 1/4 cup Quinoa
  • 2TB Chia Seed
  • 1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree (canned or fresh)
  • 1/2 cup Pure Maple Syrup
  • 1T Cooking Oil (canola, coconut, etc.)
  • 2t Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/2 t Cinnamon
  • 1/2t Nutmeg
  • 1.2t Ground Ginger
  • 1/2t Cloves
  • 1/2t Salt

optional add in’s include your favorite nuts (such as pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds etc.) and dried fruit (such as craisens and dried cherries). I have a kid in braces so I leave these things out.

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees . Line a large baking sheet with parchment or aluminum foil.
  2. Combine the oats, ground flax seed, quinoa, chia seed and nuts (if you are including them) in a large bowl. Stir in pumpkin puree, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, nutmeg,cloves,salt and vanilla in a saucepan and coat oat mixture well. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
  3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring  at 30 minutes. Due to differences in ovens  bake until toasted and crispy.
  4. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Dried fruit can be added once the granola has completely cooled also.

ch-ch-ch- Chia!

That is right what you once heard in holiday commercials, ch-ch-chia is the newest health food craze. Chia is pretty awesome stuff and I can say I am a fan. It’s not just for Chia pets anymore. This isn’t about the wonderful health benefits that chia seeds offer, to find those check out this link. This is about how to use them after you buy them and are wondering what do I do now? Then again you could always sing ch-ch-ch- Chia!

First up is a Chia Seed Chip or Cracker.

The star of the recipe Chia!

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The ingredients are simple, whole wheat flour, seasoned salt (adjust salt to your personal taste) and of course Chia!
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add water and you have your dough.

IMG_1646roll out as thin

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and then cut into desired shape and sprinkle with sea salt if desired.

IMG_1654They don’t look much different after baking but they become nice and crispy.

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and there you have it Chia Seed Chips or in this case crackers.

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Chia Seed Chips

from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup chia seeds
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 pinch seasoned salt

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.Mix flour, chia seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt, and sea salt in a bowl; stir in water until dough is completely combined. Form dough into thin bite-size rounds and arrange on a baking sheet. Sprinkle rounds with seasoned salt.
3.Bake in the preheated oven until crisp, about 15 minutes. Cool completely and store in an airtight container or resealable bag.
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Wait a minute I have more Chia goodness for you!

Looking for a way to incorporate chia seeds into your favorite drinks? Chia Fresca is a new favorite of mine. It taste like lemonade with chia seeds.

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Chia Fresca

from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
1.Stir water, lemon juice, and sugar together in a glass until sugar is completely dissolved; add chia seeds. Let stand until a gel forms around the chia seeds, about 10 minutes; stir.