Chocolate or Carob Chia Pudding ~ and more Simple Summer Scrumptuousness

I thought summer was supposed to be slow.

Sipping lemonade, reading books, trips to the beach.

It hasn’t been that way in my home this summer.

Somehow we got the kids involved in too many sports and we’re taking another run at our large garden.

And trying to purge the clutter a bit.

I could go on.

Needless to say, I’ve needed simple meals and no-bake snacks and desserts. Who wants the oven on in 95+ degree heat?  And for a whole food family, that can be tough.

But it is still important to me to make things taste good–and to sometimes make “something special” so that the “fill my tummy” love language of the men in my home gets spoken.

And let’s face it–I like good food too.

So today I’m sharing some of my standby easy things to make so that dinners and snacks can be easy but still “scrumptuous.”

And–the recipe for a favorite of ours—Chocolate / Carob Chia Pudding.

Easy Summer Meal Ideas and Tips

1.  Many nights I’ve just thrown together a grain, a protein source (meat, poultry, cheese or eggs), and veggies and called it dinner.  Because it is.  Or look how easily you can make a wonderful meal like this “Clean Out the Fridge Pasta Dinner.”

2.  One thing that makes even simple meals taste special is yummy toppings on the table.  We always have Chat Masala and Moroccan Vinaigrette on our table.  And you might just want to follow my blog because we just found a wonderful dressing that is even better than this one.  These two toppings go with almost everything and taste great together.  You will love them on Moroccan Carrots and with Pakistani Kima.  Promise.

3.  Plan Ahead.  Have beans precooked and stored in your freezer.  Thaw the beans, and you can whip up a super-fast batch of our favorite Savory Hummus or Fast and Yummy Bean Dip and serve them with veggies and a Flat Bread.  They are always winners.

No-Bake Summer Treats

My boys are growing fast and are always asking for a snack.  And we are all on special diets, so it’s nice to have something that they can really enjoy when others are having treats.

One of our favorites for dessert, or even breakfast, is Chocolate Chia Pudding, inspired by many other similar ones on the internet.

Chocolate or Carob Chia Pudding

Makes 3-4 servings

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups milk or dairy-free alternative
1/2 cup white or black chia*
6 tablespoons cocoa OR carob powder*
2 scoops (1/16 teaspoon) stevia extract powder (or approx. 1/4 cup acceptable sweetener, to taste)
1/8 cup of additional sweetener*
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt (I recommend Real Salt)

Method

1.  Add all ingredients to a high powdered blender or professional food processor.

2.  Blend until smooth.

3.  Serve in dessert cups.

4.  Store remaining pudding in the fridge.

Notes:

1.  Thanks to fellow Balanced Platter writer, Ricki, I have a great tip if you don’t have a high-powered blender.  Grind the chia seeds first in a coffee or spice grinder and then blend all ingredients together.  You could also leave the chia whole and you will have a tapioca-like texture for the pudding.

2.  We use carob to avoid the stimulants in chocolate.

3.  I used xylitol due to candida.  Please choose a healthy option.

Other no-bake treats that we love include:

• Berry Mousse
• Chocolate Coconut Bars
• Silky Bean Fudge
• Almond Truffles
• Homemade “Jello”

Do you have a simple summer meal tip or no bake treat to share?

Adrienne Urban of Whole New Mom is a wife and a homeschooling mother of two boys, one of whom has Asperger’s and life-threatening food allergies.  In her past life she worked in the financial services industry and also taught in Japan.  She has a passion to help others navigate the sea of information on the road to healthier lives while trusting God for the results of their efforts.  Because she loves to (and can’t afford not to ), she specializes in frugal living and simplifying special diets (allergen-, gluten- and sugar-free).  You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.