Acai Overnight Oats

Overnight oats may be past trend, but they've become a staple in my house.  Easy for a quick breakfast on the run, tasty for a mid-afternoon snack, but most of all - perfect for the dorm room.

With simple ingredients mixed together the night (or a few nights) prior one can enjoy a healthy and easy breakfast that far supersedes any smooshy oatmeal from the college dining commons.

We sent Liv off with reusable empty jars, a package of organic oats, a bag of acai powder (we use the Navitas brand) and a few mix-ins.  She laughed at first and said she wasn't going to go through the trouble of putting the overnight oats together, but after a few weeks of dining commons breakfasts she called to asked for the recipe.

Sweetened to your taste, these Acai Oats pack a nutrition and fiber punch and can be tossed in a bag when you're running out the door.

Cheers to a healthy and quick breakfast!

Kim

Tropical Blueberry Cranberry Chia Jam

Have you opened your freezer only to move aside that bag of cranberries you may have forgotten you opened only to have little frozen cranberries spill all over the freezer shelf??  Did you happen to be in a rush so you decided you would remember they were there and promised yourself you'd clean them up as soon as you had a moment?  Did you then forget and next time you opened the freezer find those same frozen cranberries still sitting loose in your freezer shelf?

Don't be like me... always place opened bags of berries in a zip top bag.  And, don't let those nutritious berries sit there taking up freezer space till next Thanksgiving only to realize there are fresh ones in the store so you end up throwing them away.  Cranberries aren't just for the holidays anymore.

With cancer fighting properties cranberries can be slipped into smoothies or quick breads. Or, how about pairing them with another antioxidant filled super food - blueberries - and simmering together a sweet/tart chia jam perfect for topping a crispy slice of toast or slathering over freshly ground almond butter?

Combining blueberries with cranberries brings a virtual powerhouse of nutrition only enhanced by a few tablespoonfuls of protein-filled chia seed.  Sweetened naturally with pure maple syrup you can feel good serving a jam with no artificial sweeteners or processed sugars.

So what are you waiting for?  Blueberry Cranberry Chia Jam = Antioxidant Super Food.  Don't wait for the holidays.... Bring it now!

Shout out to my new favorite bread, that just happens to be vegan, gluten-free and Non-GMO.  Have you tried BFree?!  This Brown Seeded Bread toasted to perfection and became even a bit more heavenly when slathered with our Tropical Chia Jam!

Power Pumpkin Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a near daily affair in the Liv Life kitchen.  Wholesome and filled with fiber, oatmeal brings low glycemic carbohydrates while also bringing a healthy dose of protein to the table.  Said to help regulate blood pressure, lower risk of cardiovascular disease and decrease risks of colon cancer, oatmeal is an inexpensive breakfast (or dinner?) option  we love.

But... I've been told oatmeal is "boring".  Actually, it's "sooooo boring" (said with 16-year old eyeroll for full effect...).  And while I love the oaty grains, I guess I can see how it can get a bit old day after day.  Luckily, oatmeal is simply a blank slate just waiting to be adorned with the flavors of the season!

So today, we bring fall flavors and a dose of vitamin A-rich pumpkin to that blank slate.

Pumpkin - and it's pumpkin pie spice flavors - is also a favorite in the Liv Life kitchen, and as such a regular to our dishes year round (stock up on cans now for use in summer!).  And while we've had pumpkin oatmeal in the past, I'd simply forgotten about it until today.

Pairing a version of our Power Oatmeal (oats, flax, chia and hemp) with a scoop of organic canned pumpkin brought a lovely orange hue to the bowl.  Topped with a sprinkle of walnuts and banana as well as a dash of pumpkin pie spice today's breakfast was met with smiles all around. 

Strawberry Banana Popsicles (Shhh... no sugar added!)

Seems the rest of the country is turning to thoughts of back to school and fall, but here in San Diego summer is just getting going.  Our weather has been a bit strange this year bringing rain (a rare occurrence for us), heavy marine layers that hide the sun for days at a time, and cooler temps.  Until this week.

This morning I woke to a brilliant sun peeking over the horizon and temps already warmer than some of the highs from the past few weeks.  And with no air conditioning in our house, popsicles seemed a "cool" plan.

Serving double duty, these popsicles also served as temporary ice packs filled with fruit for my girl who underwent oral surgery yesterday.  Her somewhat confused teeth set a permanent tooth shooting horizontally low in her jaw and left  unchecked would have sheared off the roots of her front teeth.  Hence, the tooth needed to come out, and along with a bit of bone, she's now free of the rouge bicuspid and nursing a sore jaw.

As we know from my prior post (surgery has been all in the family this last week) the after effects of anesthesia and pain meds can be not so pleasant, hence the all fruit popsicle to reset my girl's tummy.

A simple recipe of bananas, strawberries, chia and a few splashes of oj, brought all of Liv's favorite ingredients together and packed the nutrition I was looking for.  Banana?  Filled with fiber bananas can help ease the uncomfortable after effects of narcotic pain meds, and acting as a prebiotic the fruits assist the growth of friendly gut bacteria which are wiped out by antibiotics.  Add in the fact that the high levels of vitamin B-6 can help reduce swelling and we have a real winner.

Next we have strawberries, rich in antioxidants, the Vitamin C in the berries gives the immune system a boost along with more fiber and their fabulous sweetness.

"Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with leafy green wings reaching heavenward."

Jasmine Heiler

And next orange juice... also packed with that immune boosting Vitamin C, orange juice is said to help reduce inflammation and heck, it's also good for your heart.  A few splashes perk up any smoothie or popsicle and work as the perfect liquefying agent for our blend.

So here's to summer, fat lips and simply hanging by the pool.  Wishing you a happy and healthy day filled with balance and a little bit of chill.

Almond Butter Chia Protein Balls - Otherwise Known as Awesome Balls

Hospitals are no fun.  Unless you are coming home with a baby... but even then, the hospital part isn't so great.  And the food.  Seriously, they really expect you to get healthy on some the food they serve?

This week my 86-year old dad finally called Uncle and agreed with his orthopedic surgeon that the time had come for his knee replacement.  Dad is a tough guy and really hard to keep down, but anesthesia and he aren't best buddies.

Taking a little longer than others to expel the drugs from his system, yesterday's anesthesia brought waves of nausea to his otherwise very successful surgery.  For a man who never misses a meal (and yet he maintains a proper and fit weight), hospital food left a lot to be desired in his queasy state - they brought greasy meatloaf, butter slathered mashed potatoes with puddles of gravy and wished him Bon Appetit.  All a no-go in his book and he stuck with one Saltine cracker.

Concerned that his IV wasn't delivering enough nutrients and refusing the chilled bottle of Ensure purely based on the less than desirable ingredients, (sugar, salt and maltodextrin...??) I promised I'd bring healthy food.

He maintained he needed nutrition, not just calories, and I set to putting together something that brought a nutritional punch, helped with potential constipation issues due to pain meds** (see note below), but yet remained tolerable on the still slightly off tummy.

And with a few super foods and a medium sized bowl I created just the concoction.

Already a favorite, almond butter and maple syrup bring a tasty base that blends beautifully with rolled oats and flax.  Chia seeds add much needed potassium, magnesium, iron and calcium, and vanilla extract?  Well, that simply brings a taste of heaven to the mix.

Rolled into balls, these little bites pack the nutrition punch I was looking for, but it wasn't until my college boy arrived home from the gym and I ran down the protein profile for him that I discovered they are also irresistible.

Filling his summer days with hours at the gym, my son has morphed his body in ways I can reminisce about from my younger years.  Craving protein after his workouts he often turns to chicken, but touting my plant-based diet I've been teaching him plant-based protein sources and he's actually been listening.

Hearing almond butter, protein powder, oats and chia as I ran down my ingredient list he readily reached for one of the little balls topped with a tiny square of dark chocolate on top.  His eyes spoke before his words, and he proclaimed them "Awesome Balls" as I scampered to save a few for my dad.

Back to the hospital, the balls did indeed tempt Dad's appetite, and along with a bowl of organic blueberries and grapes he finally turned the corner and pushed those anesthesia meds from his system.

Seeing his roommate's eyes move from dad's Awesome Balls to his plate of chard and chicken we simply had to share, and my job was complete.  Moments later I left the two octogenarians chatting about their combined 122 years of marriage, heart surgeries and now new knee joints all while saying "Huh?" every few sentences as neither of them had their hearing aids in.

Funniest thing ever though, was walking out the door as the nurse entered and hearing the roommate say, "Hey... have you seen his Awesome Balls?"  Chuckling all the way to the car I think that night nurse had her hands full with those two.

Vegan Crispy Belgian Waffles with Flax and Vanilla

All I did was blink and July disappeared.  Busy weeks filled with family events sped by with lightening speed, and while we've enjoyed time together those leisurely days of sleeping in with no schedule just haven't materialized.  Until today.

With the first completely unscheduled day of summer upon us, my thoughts drifted to waffles.  Lonely in the cabinet, my Belgian Waffle Maker hadn't seen the light of day since the holidays and deserved a work out.

Assembling ingredients from the pantry I eased up on the "health" facet for these waffles in favor of a sort of "healthy summer treat".  Using my everyday recipe as a base, I increased the white flour/whole grain ratio to a higher white content.  I also added additional oil to bring extra crispness, and of course poured a generous splash of our beloved vanilla extract.  Unable to help myself chia and flax found their way into the mix as did a small handful of rolled oats.  But these additions only served to add additional nutrients in addition to increasing that creamy center that makes Belgian Waffles so special.

Watching my summer bikini figure (insert crying/laughing face emoji here), I promised myself I'd only take a quarter triangle... simply for tasting purposes, of course.  But here's were my self control (it's not known for it's strength anyway) completely disappeared.

A fan of crispy waffles, these are the first Belgian Waffles with baking powder (as opposed to the plan ahead yeasted versions) that have crisped to perfection.  Perfectly crispy on the outside and lightly creamy on the inside, the texture made them irresistible.  Add the exotic vanilla flavor and you can throw all willpower out the window.

Wafting waffle aromas filled the house, and as I knew it would it drew my sleepy teens to the kitchen.  Bleary eyed and hungry, comments of "Oh wow... these are awesome!" filled my heart.  Even my son, a man of very few words and not much of a breakfast eater, mentioned he wouldn't mind if we had these waffles every day till he leaves for summer school next week.  Apparently the UCSB dining commons doesn't serve waffles like Mom.  Yes... he still needs me.

Chia Seed Round Up

Gone are the days of the quirky Chia Pet and here to stay is a healthy ingredient that seems to be finding its way into all facets of our diet.  From drinks to breads to super protein bars, chia boosts a recipe's nutritional value with a mere tablespoon or two.

Bursting with protein, calcium, fiber and potassium, chia swells with nutrition just like it swells to 10 times its own weight when added to liquid - it's gel-like qualities earn it a place in diets as an egg replacement and gelling ingredient for puddings, jams, etc.

Chia, the Mayan word for "Strength", was once a staple in the Incan, Mayan and Aztec times, and ranked in importance only behind corn and beans.  Sometimes even used as payment for taxes or offerings to the gods, chia also fed the people and provided nutrition and energy.

A potent little seed, 2-tablespoon of Chia contains 138 calories and 9 grams of fat along with a whopping 10 grams of fibre, 5 grams of protein and 18% of the daily value for calcium.  Also packed with omega-3's, chia provides more per ounce than flaxseed.  (sited from Food and Nutrition)

So... has chia found its way into your diet?  We've asked some friends from around the world for their favorite recipes and the scoured the web for even more recipes to increase your chia repertoire.  Which one is your favorite?

Chia Drinks
Chia Agua Fresca from girlichef

Chia Meyer Lemonade from Shockingly Delicious

Green Tea and Chia Energy Drink from In Sonnet's Kitchen
Banana, Chia and Spinach Smoothie from What's Gabby Cooking
Beet, Berry, Apple Chia Smoothie from The Roasted Root
Chia Fresca from Oh She Glows
Raspberry Lemonade Chia Drink from Busy Mommy
Pre-Workout Hydration Powerhouse from Walk, Jog, Run
Cherry Chia Seed Juice from Vibrant Wellness Journal
Apple Arugula Detox Drink from Liv Life
Chia Fresca from The Local Vegan

Sweet Chia Treats
Chia Cupcakes from grilichef
Chia Rice Krispie Treats from A Healthy Life for Me
Blood Orange Upsidedown Cake from Recipe Renovator

Ultimate Granola Cookies from An Edible Mosaic
Gluten Free Pie Crust from The Tomato Tart
Lemon Chia Protein Cookies from Amy's Healthy Baking
Chia Peanut Butter Cookies from Yummy Mummy Kitchen
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chia and Flax from Cooking Melangery
Banana Chia Bread from Savvy Naturalista
Mango Chia Pops from Jelly Toast
Whole Wheat Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Chia from Joyful Healthy Eats

Chia Pudding
Coconut Almond Chia Pudding from Food Babbles
Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding from Frugal Foodie Mama
Dairy Free Chia Seed Pudding (with Coconut Milk) from Apron Strings
Bananas Foster Chia Pudding from Eats Well with Others
Vanilla Chai Chia Pudding from Blissful Basil
Orange Coconut Chia Pudding from Well Plated

Cranberry Pistachio Coconut Chia Pudding from Happy Food Healthy Life
Tropical Coconut Chia Pudding from Gourmet Innovations
Peanut Butter and Jelly Chia Pudding from Eats Well with Others
Lemon Raspberry Chia Pudding from The Healthy  Maven
Super Green Chia Pudding from Poppies and Papayas
Chunky Monkey Chia Pudding from Do you Even Paleo
Mint Chocolate Chip Chia Pudding from Fresh, Fit and Healthy
Cake Batter Chia Pudding from Edible Perspective
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Chia Parfait from Vegan Yack Attack
Mango Chia Pudding from Ashley Neese
Coconut Pomegranate Chocolate Chia Pudding from Natural Chow
Sticky Bun Chia Pudding from I Heart Eating
Chocolate Chia Pudding from Liv Life

Protein and Healthy Chia Treats
Protein Packed Energy Bites from Tasting Page
DIY Protein Powder from Fork & Beans
Super Seed Bars from The Muffin Myth
Chocolate Chia Coconut Energy Bites from The Lemon Bowl
Apricot Cashew Granola Bars from Mariah's Pleasing Plates
No Bake Energy Bites from Cooking on the Front Burner
No-Bake Apricot Chia Energy Bars from Cupcakes and Kale Chips
Tropical Snack Bites with Almond and Chia from Two Healthy Kitchens

Chia for Breakfast
DIY Homemade Waffle and Pancake Mix from Liv Life
Blackberry Chia Seed Jam from Fork & Beans
Cranberry Chia Granola from 365 Days of Baking and More
Cranberry Vanilla Chia Jam from Liv Life
Raw Raspberry Vanilla Chia Jam from Shockingly Delicious

Coconut Cranberry Chia Granola from A Cedar Spoon
Strawberry, Blueberry,  Mango Chia Jam from Liv Life
Yogurt Breakfast Bowl from Diethood
Lemon Chia Seed Pancakes with Roasted Strawberries from Two Peas and Their Pod
Blueberry Rosemary Chia Seed Jam from Tasty Yummies
Coconut Strawberry Overnight Oats from Liv Life
Strawberry Banana Steel Cut Oats with Chia from The Lemon Bowl
Blueberry Buckwheat Chia Muffins from An Edible Mosaic
Blueberry Chia Jam from Liv Life
Paleo Granola from The Tomato Tart
Overnight Almond Oatmeal with Chia and Maple Syrup from Liv Life
Power Pumpkin Pancakes with Chia form Liv Life
Ancient Power Oatmeal with Chia, Walnuts and Flax from Liv Life

See also our book review from Mama Chia herself for The Chia Cookbook: Inventive, Delicious Recipes Featuring Nature's Superfood

Have more recipes to share?  Feel free to leave links in the comments below to help spread the chia love!

Liv Life Note:  This post contains an Amazon Affiliate link to the Mama Chia Cookbook... if you purchase through this post Liv Life receives a small commission (at not cost to you).  We thank you for your support!

Strawberry Blueberry Mango Chia Jam... Homemade and Pectin Free!

I'm hereby proclaiming 2015 my "year of the chia seed".  That tiny little seed is finding its way into all sorts of my recipes from smoothies to pancakes, but one of my favorite uses is in jam.

A good homemade jam brings the farmer's market to your table, but I've always struggled with the huge amounts of sugar and the use of pectin in many homemade and commercial versions.  I'm not sure why the pectin bothers me so much, heck, it's in apples, right?   But for some reason, pouring that powder from a box into my beautiful freshly chopped strawberries is a no go for me.

Hence, we've switched to chia for our gelling needs, and I have beautiful jam (though not as "set" as a pectin gelled jam) with only fresh ingredients.  Adding seasonal fruits (or in winter frozen varieties) we can save nature's goodness in a bottle and bring amazing nutritional benefits to a simple PBJ.

Did you know chia brings 70% more protein than soybeans, 25% more fiber than flaxseed, more calcium than milk and more potassium than a banana?

Soaked in liquid, chia seeds (filled with soluble fiber) swell up to 10 times their weight and form a gel-like outer layer which, in the digestive system, actually slows down the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar and in turn helps stabilize blood sugar.  In addition, the seeds high soluble fiber content also helps to control cholesterol levels.  And in addition again, the gelled seeds work to "gel" our jam!

So today we bring our latest jam featuring some of the best local California strawberries of the season.  Plump, juicy and sweet, these berries mixed beautifully with farmer's market blueberries and a handful of chopped mango (we actually used frozen from Trader Joes).  Simple, sweet and good for you, feel free to slather this jam without any of the guilt from store bought, sugar-laden varieties.  Enjoy this spring in a bottle!

Coconut Strawberry Chia Overnight Oats... they're meant to travel! #DanceMom

Ahhh.... the weekend!  Those used to mean leisurely mornings sleeping to our hearts content, then casually mixing pancakes till light and fluffy while sipping a second cappuccino.  Yep, those were the days.  The days before I became a Dance Mom.

Now weekends are filled with before sunrise call times, fluttery false eyelashes, a world glittering with rhinestones and duct tape, and meals on the fly.  Many days our mornings begin in hotels which occasionally include a breakfast in the deal, however my lactose intolerant dancer usually can't partake in the dairy-laden breakfast fare leaving us on our own and with not a lot of time to go in search of a healthy meal.

But as any good dance mom does, we've learned to improvise on the fly.  Liv loves her homemade hotel waffles (yes... travel with a waffle iron!), but I'm not much of a morning person and don't usually eat until much later.  Hence, I'm frequently left to what I can fit into my cooler, and Overnight Oats have become my turn to morning meal on the road.

Mixed together before we leave home, I keep my jar on ice and make my way out to my car after I have Liv set in the dressing room.  Packing sides of walnuts and shredded coconut I can close my eyes and almost see myself in some luxurious location... after all, the show is all about illusion, and with Coconut Chia Overnight Oats you can send yourself to the tropics, even if it is only for a few glorious moments.

Cranberry Vanilla Chia Jam

Certain foods have become associated with the holiday season, but in reality there is no reason we shouldn't eat them all year.  Cranberries, for instance.  How often do you see a cranberry dish in summer?

With the super health benefits of these brilliantly hued berries, it's unfortunate we don't keep them around all year.  The high nutrient and antioxidant qualities of cranberries launch them to "Super Food" status and brings an array of immunity and disease fighting phytonutrients (along with a healthy dose of fiber).

Mix those berries together with chia and fresh orange and you get even more health benefits.  Maple syrup adds a lovely sweetness to balance the tartness of the berries, vanilla rounds out the flavors with its ethereal flavors and a splash of Grand Marnier is simply for pure pleasure (purely optional, of course...).  All put together, this jam is up there with the best I've ever had.

Extraordinarily tart on their own, cranberries are not to everyone's taste, but the rich maple syrup in this jam had even my ultra-sweet loving Liv asking for more.  Whether slathered on an almond butter sandwich or topping as a dollop on goat cheese on a slice of bread, cranberries are good for more than just sauce on Thanksgiving.

Easier than getting in the car and running the the store, this jam goes together with no pectin and is done from start to finish in about 20 minutes.  So next trip to the store stock up on a few extra bags of cranberries and stash them in the freezer for a summertime cranberry fix.

Chia Hummus with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Za'atar

I've been slightly obsessed with chia lately... from my several times a week Overnight Almond Chia Oats to Liv's favorite Power Pumpkin Pancakes and this pectin-free (and oh so heavenly!) Chia Blueberry Jam, chia is finding its way into different area of my cooking.  And with good reason.

With 70% more protein than soybeans, 25 percent more fiber than flaxseed, 600 percent more calcium than milk and 200 percent more potassium than a banana, chia earns its superfood status with ease.  Adding a tablespoon to smoothies increases the nutrients without a change in flavor.  We add a scoop to smoothies, pancakes and baked goods and I love knowing I've added that calcium and protein to my daughter's growing body.

But my chia repertoire stopped at about that point and then thankfully Janie Hoffman's (Mamma Chia - based in my own hometown of Carlsbd, CA) book,
The Chia Cookbook, found its way into my kitchen.

Janie's story brings the "superfoodness" of chia even more to the forefront.  Several autoimmune disorders rendered her desperate to find help.  Struggling through chemotherapy and steroid therapies she fought not only her disorders but through side effects that left her weak and with chronic fatigue.

Moving to a strict vegetarian and macrobiotic diet didn't seem to solve her issues. Organic foods seemed to help and she began making some progress in reclaiming her healthy life.  This is about the time she discovered chia.

Recommended by a friend touting the nutritional benefits of the tiny seed, Jannie began consuming a few Tablespoons a day.  Almost immediately she saw a difference in her stamina and energy levels and months later she found herself 100% symptom free of her disorders.

Here began a quest to spread the chia love and she began creating recipes incorporating chia into snacks, meals, drinks, etc which lead to the founding of the incredibly successful company, Mamma Chia, and thankfully, this cookbook, The Chia Seed Cookbook.

More than just a sprinkle on top of yogurt or an addition to a smoothie, Jannie tells us "Chia can provide hearty dishes with a pleasing bit of crunch, turn soups creamy (without the cream) put a fresh spin on on-pot meals, make cocktail party-worthy drinks look gorgeous and keep traditional baked goods light and moist.  When you know how to cook with chia, the possibilities are endless."

Endless indeed!  With some 140 pages of recipes covering every meal of the day (including those gorgeous cocktails - Tart Cherry-Chia Mimosa anyone?), Jannie's book brings chia to life in the most inventive ways.  From Chia Green Superfood Smoothies to Sticky Brown Rice and Sunny-Side-Up Eggs and Baked Shiitake, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, the book inspires you to get into the kitchen and bring out the chia.

Bringing texture and crunch to some dishes and gel-like consistencies to others, chia is my new super hero and this book (splashed with beautiful photography - always a plus for me) earned a top spot on my bookshelf.

While we've made numerous recipes from the book, today I wanted to bring you something different from the norm (smoothies, baking, etc), and we've chosen to feature Janie's Chia Hummus.  Filled with sun-dried tomatoes and spiced with Za'atar, this hummus will be a hit at any gathering, or simply with a few carrots for an afternoon snack.

With a jar of Za'atar in my pantry and really no idea what to do with it, this recipe became a must try.  A Middle Eastern mixture of herbs, sesame and salt, Za'atar gives the hummus an earthy and additional depth of flavor.

However if you don't have the herb mix on hand, Janie recommends substituting fresh thyme leaves in place.  And Sun-Dried tomatoes... a favorite of mine, are always a welcome addition to recipes in my kitchen

Blending up smooth and creamy with the touch of a button in our food processor, Janie's Chia Hummus served as a lovely pre-dinner snack for my husband and I as we sat and recapped the day.

Thanks Janie for bringing chia beyond pancakes and smoothies for me!  This book is a treasure of recipes you will find yourself making again and again.  The extra chia nutrition??  That's just a bonus.

Overnight Almond Oatmeal with Chia and Maple Syrup

Once again I'm way behind a current trend.  Actually, I may be so far behind that the trend is nearly past, but I've finally tried Overnight Oats.

For months my blog reader has been filled with various versions of overnight oats.  From Pumpkin Spice to Orange Cashew, overnight oats are everywhere.  But... the thought of them somehow just sort of seemed distasteful.  Would they be overly mushy?  Would they be chalky?  Would they be just plain weird?

Nope to all the above.  Amazing, fabulous, incredible, irresistible, and perhaps even spectacular.

Mushy?  Not at all - a lovely smooth texture with just a little bit of an oaty bite.  Chalky?  Heavens no.  Not a speck of chalkiness in the cup.  Weird?  Maybe a little... but oh, so lusciously fabulous at the same time.

I am forever totally, and positively hooked.

Figuring I should start with a basic recipe - almond milk and oats - I reached for vanilla extract for a little flavor enhancement, but not paying attention, my vanilla turned out to be almond.  And a better mistake has never been made.

Textures and flavors blend together in this "ready when you are" breakfast (or lunch as it may be) creating a simply irresistible concoction I've enjoyed daily for the past week.

Topped with a handful of chopped walnuts and a drizzle of pure maple syrup, these overnight oats are setting a trend all their own.  #love

Yes... Liv really had her oats in a jar with a little string tied on it!  I think she's getting a little spoiled... :) 

Arugula Apple Detox Drink

Years ago (like over 25...) my husband mentioned "I wish we could just take a pill for all of our nutritional needs... it would make things so much easier."

Apparently bachelor guys in the Air Force may not have the time or desire during pilot training to really cook, and may perhaps end up eating Lean Cuisine type meals over and over and over for nearly a year.  Hence... the idea of a pill isn't so bad.

Me??  Growing up with a dad in the restaurant business (Dad had the Windjammer in Tiburon, CA if you happen to remember it) spoiled me rotten, and I found the idea of living on a pill somewhat appalling.  As such I've spent these 25 years showing my husband that food is a good thing, it can not only be nutritionally sound but also tasty, satisfying and fun.

I'm happy to say he's come around, and I actually laugh as he works with me to plan our vacations around researched restaurants.  He's done wonderfully well enjoying and looking forward to food until an issue about a year ago.

Last Christmas we gifted ourselves one of those super powerful blenders and began blending up all sorts of tasty drinks.  Until my husband began blending, that is.  Reverting to his old ways, he felt that the more he put into one blended drink, the healthier it was, and it didn't matter how it tasted.

And trust me... it didn't taste good.  The color of mud and with essence of grass clippings, he stuffed so much "healthy stuff" into the drinks no one else could - or would even try to - get them down.

Back to basic training, I've been working to show him that certain flavors work better together, and that perhaps stuffing an entire day's nutrition into one blended drink might not be the optimal idea.  He grumbled at first, then muttered, "Fine... see if you can do better."

So I did.

Enter the Arugula Apple Detox Drink.  Just 7 ingredients plus ice, yet bringing a few superfoods together to provide a super healthy, one has an enjoyable green drink.

After a weekend of indulging I often find the need to fill myself with healthy ingredients, and I find this green drink a nice way to start the day, or perhaps to finish a day off.

But... best music to my ears?  

"Honey... can you make that blended drink you made the other day??  You know... the one that didn't taste like grass clippings??"   My work here is done. 

Power Pumpkin Pancakes

Pancakes... here at Liv Life, pancakes bring balance to the table.  For some 18 years I've made pancakes 3-5 times a week, and over the years I've done my best to keep that balance of a "light, fluffy pancake" with healthy ingredients that help get my kids through their mornings.

Hence, I've stuffed everything from whole grains to bananas to avocado to black beans into pancakes with mostly wonderful results (the black bean version was accepted,  but noted as "different... and not in the best way imaginable ;)

Pumpkin Pancake Instagram

Pumpkin, though, is always a hit.  Tweaking a version from 4 years ago (a special post with pancakes that brought comfort to our family), we've turned this pumpkin version in a power version - one that you can count on to get you through the morning in a healthy manner, but also one that will have the kids asking for them again for dinner.

Filled with whole grains, flax, chia and pumpkin, these pancakes bring an array of nutrients and healthy properties including fiber, vitamin E, easier digestibility and a lower glycemic index from the Organic Spelt.  Flax brings a high content of Omega-3's in addition to cardiovascular health, and pumpkin blasts us with vision-healthy vitamin A.

But it's the chia that brings on even more power.  Prized by the Aztecs and Mayans to provide sustainable energy, chia also brings bone healthy calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.  We've been adding chai to all sorts of recipes, and I'm finding I'm somewhat obsessed with this little seed that swells incredibly when added to liquid.

All these benefits leave me happy with our choice of morning meal, but add in a few dashes of pumpkin pie-like spices and you have flavors that will send aromas of the holidays through your kitchen.

Power Pumpkin Pancakes - they're what's for breakfast.  Or dinner.

Strawberry Blueberry Chia Jam

I may be somewhat repeating myself with this recipe... but as I explained it to a girlfriend and described it as "You know... just like the blueberry one I made only you add strawberry?" she exclaimed, "But I never would have thought of that!!  You have to post it!!"  So... usually one to follow directions, here we go!

This season I've become somewhat obsessed with chia jam.  Simply put, it's fruit, a little pure maple syrup and chia.  Just real food, nothing else.

We've always purchased jam, and while I've become familiar with the store-bought sweetness, the different varieties we've made this summer have allowed the actual fruit flavors to shine.  Sort of like storing the farmer's market in a jar, the flavors simply tantalize with realness.

Gelled with chia in place of the usual packaged pectin, Strawberry Blueberry Chia Jam brings a nice dose of calcium and protein along with its incredibly fresh flavors.  

Chia Seed, yes the seed of the the Chia Pet era, is everywhere these days.  Once a staple in the Inca, Maya and Aztec cultures, chia is actually the Mayan word for "Strength".  Filled with protein, calcium, potassium, iron, and Omega 3 and 6, chia takes on the title of a true super food and can help maintain energy and endurance.
Soaked in liquid, chia seeds (filled with soluble fiber) swell up to 10 times their weight and form a gel-like outer layer which, in the digestive system, actually slows down the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar and in turn helps stabilize blood sugar.  In addition, the seeds high soluble fiber content also helps to control cholesterol levels.

But back to our jam... maple syrup in place of granulated sugar gives a lovely depth and has me happy we've kept the entire recipe real and healthy.

With strawberry season in full swing here in San Diego, our markets are flooded with fresh, juicy, bright red berries for good prices and purchasing more than you actually need is easy to do.

Just an hour after our last market and some 24 hours since picking our strawberries simmered along with a basket of blueberries into this fabulous, sweet Strawberry Blueberry Chia Jam.

If your markets are bursting with berries you'll love this version... bursting with strawberry flavors you'll be searching for new ways to use jam.