Chocolate Chia Pudding

Almost everywhere you look at this time of year there is another cleanse to set you strait, loose a few pounds and help you feel lighter and brighter. Although I haven’t put myself on a cleanse yet, I have enjoyed simpler meals, happily trading out the cheese and rich holiday foods for more greens and whole grains. But, when asked what my secret food desires and dirty little secrets are, I find myself having to think hard… It might sound strange but nothing comes to mind. In my heart of hearts, I really and truly love foods that are good for me; they have to taste delicious too, which isn’t always the case when eating out, but at home anything is possible.

It’s no secret that I love really good desserts and baked treats. If they are in the house then you will find me enjoying them until they are gone. But the desserts have to be really good and “worth it” for me to indulge. You won’t catch me eating an average slice of chocolate cake or any old cookie. I want the ingredients to be really good and as minimally processed as possible; otherwise I’m happier with a nice juicy Medjule date filled with generous spoon of almond butter! No I am not joking, and by the way that combination is perfection, especially with a toasted almond added in for some crunch.

When I make something sweet that turns out well, I find myself looking for every excuse to sample it. Tonight, my latest experiment happens to be in the refrigerator: a chocolate chia pudding that is so good that I can hardly stop eating it. Kind of like when you’re eating really good ice cream and you seem to get thirsty for even more but the thirst isn’t quenched... then it’s too late and sometimes you end up feeling ill.? Well that won’t happen with this pudding – the feeling ill part, because the ingredients are as good as they get. The pudding gets it’s tapioca-like texture from chia seeds as they thicken when stirred into a creamy milk that is made from cashews, vanilla, coconut butter and dates. I then stir in a generous amount of dark cocoa powder and chill the mixture for an hour. There is no cooking required. Served with fresh raspberries, it tastes like a dream. What I love most is that it’s satisfying and sweet enough from the dates alone. If you’re into raw foods, it also classifies as 100 percent raw and since chia is a super food you can check that box too! I’m off to the fridge to make sure it still tastes as good.