Filmmaker Makes Dinner
the simple life of a cook-from-home artistArchive for great food
CH-ch-ch-changes (and chia)
Okay. I’m back.
I’ve spent the past three weeks playing hostess, reconnecting with dear friends, and bounding around this incredible island—three things that are not exactly conducive to making a film. I knew going in that I would be less than productive as my studio is also the living room and the kitchen and, most importantly, the guest room. Thankfully, though, I was able to find time to do a studio visit with a fellow artist, and to solidify a composer for RALLY. What I didn’t realize was how disruptive this time would be for my new “minimalist” routines. I stopped sitting down to check my email once a day and returned to casually checking it and allowing emails to pile up. I started buying more packaged goods just for the “ease” (we don’t have a store with a bulk section within walking distance). I failed to refuse plastic straws. I even started checking facebook randomly and haphazardly throughout the day.
And in crept the stress.
It’s amazing how stress can cause you to fall back into old habits even when those habits just cause more stress. Part of our atypical situation right now goes beyond guests. We are moving to the northeast in 3.5 weeks. This means that we are planning the move, and I’m trying to coordinate eating all of our refrigerated and pantry goods (which, as my friends know, was an impossible feat last year when I unloaded hundreds of dollars of pantry items on them—and threw away a lot of expired food). A minimalist pantry is so much better!
One of the remaining pantry items that I don’t need to force feed my husband is chia. I’ve been experimenting with this nutrition-packed little seed for the past few weeks, and I think I’ve got a winning recipe that’s as simple as it is scrumptious.
Coconut Chia Pudding:
1/4C chia seeds
3/4C coconut milk (you may need to add more if the mixture is too dry)
sweetener to taste
Stir all ingredients and let sit for about 30 minutes (the seeds will absorb all the liquid in that time). Stir again and add more liquid if necessary. Prepare this the night before and have an instant breakfast waiting for you in the morning! Top with fruit and enjoy. Makes one serving.
Not only is this tropical treat super yummy, but chia is a nutritional powerhouse with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, protein, and calcium. Using coconut milk only adds to the health benefits with its electrolytes, lauric acid, and anti-fungal properties. Great news for pudding lovers!
