Chia Pudding with Roasted Almond and Cherry

Chia pudding with Roasted Almonds and Cherries! Never heard of it? Then you have no idea... what you've been missing. It's considered a top-notch healthy pudding dessert that calls for the use of ch-ch-ch-chia seeds - which are an excellent source of Omega-3s that promote heart health.

It has become very popular in the last few years and many people that eat healthy diets are loving it. To be totally honest with you... people (including myself) love it so much that they're buying Chia Pets to grow their own seeds.

The other day, I needed an evening boost of energy for a project that I had to get done for a client of mine and lucky for me... I had created a simple Cherry-Almond Chia pudding recipe a while back that came to my rescue. I had made the pudding the night before, so all I had to do was get up, go to the fridge and chow down.

Talk about the perfect evening snack – filling, but not overly heavy, sweet tasting but not sugary. However, it's not just a snack; many people eat it for breakfast too. Not only are Chia seeds, delicious, nutritious and contain Omega-3s... they're packed with fiber and protein as well.

Here's an interesting fun fact and a little bit of history I thought I'd share with you here... we're not the only ones that have realized the health benefits Chia seeds provide. The Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans discovered the benefits of them also, many years ago. Chia is actually the Mayan word for strength.

These little black seeds are actually pretty easy to turn into pudding too. All you have to do is soak them in liquid for a few hours to allow a gelatinous coating to form a tapioca like-texture. For a thicker consistency; I usually leave mine soak overnight in the refrigerator.

Chia pudding isn't only great tasting and easy to make; it also allows you to create a recipe of your very own because you can add different flavors and toppings to it. When cherries are in season... I add fresh cherries to mine, but you can use bananas, blue-berries, watermelon, strawberries, and whatever else you want to use.

Personally, I thought almond milk would go well with the cherries, so I added them to my Chia seed mixture. And you don’t need any sweetener as the cherries are already sweet... that you don't really need to add anything.

Since Chia seeds are becoming more popular... you can find them in the health food section of your local grocery store – I found them at my local Safeway! You don't even need a cherry pitter to remove the pits. Let me tell you a little secret...

Secret tip to remove Cherry Pits Using A Pastry Tip:

Press a cherry on top of a pastry tip and the pit will slide right out. Awesome Right?