August 2016 - The Southern Magnolia

Meal Prepping

August 31, 2016 No Comments

Something I’ve started doing recently is meal prepping. For those of you that don’t do it, I’m going to explain all the benefits I’ve noticed since meal prepping. I’ll also give you a little idea of what meal prepping looks like for me.

For one, meal prepping helps me to make healthier food choices throughout the week. If I already have a healthy prepared lunch in the fridge I am less likely to grab fast food or snack foods instead of a meal. It is a huge timesaver as well. It may take some time on Sunday when I prep all the food but throughout the week when I am busiest it makes it so easy to grab my already prepared lunch. It also is more cost effective than eating out for lunch. My grocery bill is larger when I buy all the extra food but when you compare it to the cost of eating out, it is still cheaper.

I tend to eat lunch either right before my workout or right after. Since I’m eating so close to my workout I want to make sure I am properly fueling my body to either workout or recover from my workout. I can definitely tell a difference in how I feel during my workouts based off of what I’m feeding my body.

A typical meal prep for me consists of a lean protein, a carb, and fiber. Lately I have been grilling chicken tenders, and cooking quinoa and broccoli to go with it. I marinate my chicken tenders in olive oil and low sodium Dale’s seasoning for a couple of hours. I simply coat my broccoli in olive oil and place in oven to roast at 400 degrees F for about 30 minutes. When preparing the quinoa, you need to make sure to rinse it thoroughly before cooking as it has a coating called saponin, which has a bitter taste and can cause some abdominal discomfort. I make sure to wash my quinoa in a fine mesh strainer for several minutes to try to remove as much of the saponin as possible. I simply cook it on the stove top and flavor it with some black pepper and olive oil once it has finished cooking.

It may take some time to prepare my meals but I’m so thankful that I have something quick to grab when its lunch time. I don’t have to waste time cooking something when I’m already hungry or grab something unhealthy. Clean up is also easier throughout the week since I’m not having to cook my lunch each day. What types of foods do you fix in your meal preps?

Food

Low Carb Cauliflower Lasagna

August 30, 2016 4 Comments

Low Carb Cauliflower Lasagna

Anyone else out there love lasagna but hate all the carbs that come along with it? Well I’ve got a recipe for you today that will help you to enjoy that lasagna without any guilt. I will be discussing my low-carb lasagna recipe that tastes just as good as the traditional lasagna.

If you’ve read my post on cauliflower crust pizza, you will already be ahead of the game. We will be using the same recipe I used for the crust to replace the pasta used in traditional lasagna. You can refer back to that recipe here. Since fixing the cauliflower layer is the most time consuming part, I strongly recommend starting with this step. Start with the same steps we used for the cauliflower crust in our pizza and simply use a cookie sheet instead of the pizza sheet, creating a rectangular shape instead of round this time.

cauliflowerlasagna4 Once the cauliflower layer is finished, start cooking the meat for the lasagna. For my lasagna I used 1 lb of deer meat we had in the freezer but any lean meat will work. Cook meat thoroughly before moving to next step. cauliflowerlasagna1 When the meat is completely cooked, pour in the peeled tomatoes. Cook another 5 minutes and stir occasionally.

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Set the meat aside and begin on the cheese layer next. Mix together the ricotta cheese, an egg, and the mozzarella cheese. Stir until ingredients are completely mixed.

cauliflowerlasagna5 At this point we have all the different components of our lasagna complete and we just need to layer it together. I used a 9×7 Pyrex dish and sprayed with nonstick spray. I first layered the meat into the bottom of the dish and then added a cheese layer on top. I then cut the cauliflower into square pieces and layered them on top of the cheese layer. I added one more layer of meat, cheese, and cauliflower, which filled my dish to the top.

cauliflowerlasagna6 I then place the dish into the oven at 400 degrees F to let it bake for about 30 minutes. Make sure you allow it to stay in the oven long enough to completely melt the cheese layers. Once it has baked completely, I pull it out of the oven and it is ready to enjoy.

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Cauliflower Lasagna

Ingredients

2 Heads of cauliflower
3 eggs
2 cups of mozzarella cheese
15 oz Ricotta cheese
1 lb lean meat
1can (25oz) peeled tomatoes

Instructions

Break the two heads of cauliflower down into cauli-rice by using a food processor.
Place cauli-rice onto cookie sheet covered with parchment paper
Cook the cauli-rice for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F
Remove cauli-rice from oven and allow to cool
Once cooled, squeeze all water from cauliflower by using a cheesecloth or wash cloth. Make sure to get as much liquid as possible from the cauliflower as it will help the cauliflower layer stick together better. Cauli-rice should now resemble more of a ball of dough.
Add 2 eggs and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese to the cauliflower. Stir until completely mixed.
place dough mixture back onto parchment paper and bake another 15 minutes at 450 degrees F.
Once finished baking remove from oven and set aside to cool.
Place a small amount of oil into pan and begin to cook meat. Cook meat thoroughly before moving to next step.
Once meat is completely cooked, add in can of peeled tomatoes. Cook mixture another 5 minutes and stir occasionally.
Next mix together 1 egg, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Stir until completely mixed.
Spray nonstick spray into 9x7 baking dish.
Begin with layering meat into bottom of dish
Next add a layer of the cheese mixture on top of the meat.
Cut cauliflower into squares and layer over top the cheese mixture.
Repeat layer of meat, cheese, and cauliflower.
Place baking dish back into oven and bake at 450 degrees F for another 30 minutes or until cheese layers are completely melted.
Remove from oven and enjoy

https://www.thesouthernmagnolia.com/low-carb-cauliflower-lasagna/

cauliflowerlasagna13

Uncategorized

3 Must-Read Devotional Books

August 26, 2016 No Comments

With so many different devotional books out there it can be hard to narrow it down to one. You can spend forever reading the description of each one but I find the best way to find if one is a good fit for you is by hearing reviews from others who have already read one. Today I will be discussing three of the most recent devotional books that I have read and give you my thoughts on each.

The first book I will be discussing today is Wives After God: Drawing Closer to God & Your Husband. I went through the devotional study shortly after marrying my husband. I think it is great for newly married women but I really think it is a good study for any married woman. It takes a look at God’s design for marriage and the roles we play as husband and wife. It explores the importance of our relationships with God which in turn effects the relationship with our spouse. The study explains that by drawing closer to God we are better able to be the Godly wives we were meant to be. I find myself often referring back to passages and scriptures that I looked at during the study to guide me in times when I feel I am struggling. Our role as wife is not always easy but this study reminds us that it is easier with God than without.

The Search For Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God’s Eyes is the second devotional study that I want to discuss today. I think this study is such a great one especially in today’s society. It is so easy for us to get caught up in what “the world” says about our worth. We tend to look to other people to determine our worth when in actuality we should only look to God for our self-worth. We tend to rely heavily on our accomplishments or on other’s opinions for the basis of our self-worth but that is not as God intended it. We are driven by a desire to be accepted and seek to gain the praise of others which ultimately leaves us feeling hopeless. This study helps to learn to base your self-worth on the truths of God’s Word which ultimately results in our behavior being a direct reflection of Christ.

The third study that I want to share with you today is more lengthy than the first two and delves a lot deeper into Gods Word. This study is Nourishing the Seed: Learning to Please Father God. This study really helps to deepen your relationship with Christ by dissecting scripture and analyzing our role as Christ followers here on Earth. It illustrates the importance of loving as God loves which is not always an easy task. Loving what God loves only comes as we mature in our walk with Him. Strongly recommend this book for anyone looking for a deep study of God’s Word to grow in your relationship with Him.

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Beauty

Four Favorite Beauty Products

August 24, 2016 No Comments

Today I will be discussing four of my current favorite beauty products. I’ll start by talking about a new to me product, the Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes. These wipes are perfect for cleaning your face when you are in a hurry. I love to throw them in my gym bag and use them when I’m finished with my workout before running errands. They leave you face feeling clean and refreshed. These wipes contain no harsh chemicals and remove waterproof mascara. I have also used the Simple Exfoliating Facial Wipes and love how smooth they leave you face feeling.

The next product I will be discussing is probably my favorite. It is such a lifesaver, especially if you tend to have oily hair like me. I have tried several different types of dry shampoo but the Batiste Dry Shampoo is by far the best. Washing your hair too often can actually strip your hair of its natural oils and proteins, which causes your hair to dry out faster. I have fairly oily hair so until I had tried dry shampoo, washing my hair daily was my only option to keep my hair looking fresh and clean. The Batiste Dry shampoo helps to stretch the time I can go in between washes and therefore protecting my hair from too much washing.The next two products I’m going to talk about are facial scrubs. I try to do a scrub or mask at least once a week. One of the facial scrubs that I like is the Derma E Purfying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask. It combines both a mask and a scrub. After cleaning your face you simply apply the cream generously, covering your entire face in a thick layer. Let the cream sit for about 10 minutes or until you can see that the mask is completely dry. Once the mask is dry, wet your hands and begin to massage the scrub in a circular motion. It will begin to exfoliate your pores and leave your skin feeling incredibly smooth.

The last product I will be discussing today is the Pacifica Glow Baby Youthful Face Scrub. One of the things I like the most about this product is that it is free from parabens, petroleum, and phthalates. It is also cruelty-free. You simply apply the scrub to your damp face and massage in a circular motion. It leaves your skin looking radiant and feeling smooth.

What are some of your favorite beauty products? I’d love to hear recommendations for other products to try.

Food

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

August 22, 2016 No Comments

In trying to eat healthy, I try to steer clear of certain foods that may be delicious but are in no way good for you. One of those foods is pizza. I definitely still crave some of those unhealthy foods but know that eating them would make me feel sick so I have tried to find ways to make healthy versions of some of my favorite unhealthy foods.

Today I will be sharing my recipe for a cauliflower crust pizza. In my opinion, it taste just as good as the real thing but leaves me feeling so much better afterwards. I can eat seconds (or even thirds) without feeling guilty. The recipe is a little time consuming but is definitely worth it, just trust me.

You only need a few ingredients to make the crust and then whatever toppings you want for your pizza. We start off with cauliflower and a food processor. You can use just one head of cauliflower but I typically use two heads of cauliflower to achieve a thicker crust.

You will need to break down the cauliflower before placing into the processor. I find cutting the cauliflower into fairly small pieces makes it easiest and prevents the food processor from clogging up. Process the cauliflower until it is a rice-like texture.

Preheat your oven to 375 degress F. Place some parchment paper on a pizza sheet and then pour the cauli-rice onto the prepared sheet. You don’t want to skip the parchment paper because the cauliflower has a tendency to stick and will make it difficult to remove from the pizza sheet in one piece even when using nonstick spray.

Bake the cauli-rice for 15 minutes and then remove and allow to cool. Place a cheese cloth over a large bowl and pour the cauli-rice into it after it has cooled. You can also use a dish cloth for this step if you do not have any cheesecloth.

Next you will squeeze the cauliflower until little to no water comes out of the cheese cloth. It is time consuming and a bit of work out but is very important. You want to get as much water out of the cauliflower as possible to insure that the dough sticks together well. When finished the cauliflower should now resemble a ball of dough.

At this point you mix in the remaining ingredients; the egg, the Italian seasoning, and the parmesan cheese. Once completely mixed, pour back onto the prepared pizza sheet until it is even. Increase oven to 475 degrees F and cook for another 15 minutes.

Your crust is now complete and time to add all of your favorite toppings. My husband and I try to keep it healthy by not adding tons of cheese but instead loading it up with tons of veggies. On this particular pizza we precooked some chicken and cut it up and placed on the pizza. We chose to use pesto for our pizza sauce instead of the traditional tomato based sauce. We can’t always agree on what toppings we want so on his half you see olives and onions while I went with pepper and onions. We then put some mozzarella cheese on top sparingly.

Lastly we placed the pizza back in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese. Believe it or not the two of us devoured this entire pizza in one sitting. It is so delicious and leaves you feeling guilt free. What toppings do you plan to add to your pizza?

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower ( I use 2 heads of cauliflower to make a little thicker crust)
1 egg
1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese
2 tsp of Italian seasoning

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Break down cauliflower and place in food processor. Continue to process cauliflower until it has a rice-like texture.
Prepare a pizza sheet with wax paper (make sure you use wax paper because the cauliflower tends to stick)
Pour cauli-rice onto pizza sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
Remove cauli-rice and let cool before moving to next step.
Once cauli-rice has cooled, pour into cheese cloth over a large bowl. (Make sure you fold the cheese cloth over several times to create several layers or you can also use a dishcloth)
Squeeze the cheesecloth until little to no liquid comes out of the cauliflower. You want to make sure to get out as much liquid as possible as it will help the crust to hold together better. It can be time consuming and is quite the workout but is very necessary to get the best results.
The cauli-rice should now resemble a ball of dough. Mix in the other ingredients, egg, parmesan cheese, and the Italian seasoning. Stir until completely mixed.
Next pour dough back onto pizza sheet and smooth out with you hands until it is flat.
Increase the oven to 450 degrees F.
Cook the dough for another 15 minutes.
Now you are ready to add on whatever toppings you wish! Enjoy!

https://www.thesouthernmagnolia.com/cauliflower-crust-pizza/

Fashion

What’s In My Bag

August 19, 2016 No Comments

I have several items that I always keep in my purse and hate to do without. Do you have items that you make sure you always keep with you? Today I will be discussing the four items that I always keep in my handbag.

The first item that I can not live without is a pair of sunglasses. There is nothing worse than being stuck out in the sun without sunglasses and having to squint the whole time. It also provides added protection for your eyes which is a plus. One of my favorite pair of sunglasses (pictured above) is the Costa KC sunglasses. I own them in the blue mirror lens with a silver frame and the green mirror with rose gold frame. I have always had trouble finding sunglasses that fit and look right on my narrow face. These are a smaller fit which is a great option for those of you with a narrow face like me. As much as I adore the big lens sunglasses that I see others pull off so effortlessly, I simply can not pull them off and tend to look more like an insect.

The second item that I always carry with me is my Tory Burch coin purse. A big wallet tends to take up too much space in smaller bags so I typically store my drivers license and debit/credit cards in there. It makes it much quicker and easier to switch purses, especially when I’m switching to a small crossbody that my wallet does not fit well into.

The next item is probably the most important item that I never leave home without. I always make sure I have some type of chapstick with me at all times. I have a slight obsession with chapsticks and become anxious when I know I don’t have any with me. It’s like the day I leave it at home is gonna be the day that I seem to need it most. My current obsession is the Vaseline Lip Therapy in the rosy lips flavor. It’s available in a few other flavors as well.

The last item that I always keep in my purse is some type of lotion. Being a nurse, I have a habit of constantly washing my hands which is not a bad habit but it causes my hands to dry out. I currently use the Eos hand lotion. I like this product for it’s sleek design, which makes it easy to carry in even a small handbag. It also has only a mild scent and works well to moisturize with just a minimal amount of lotion.

Food

Beat The Heat With a Cool Treat

August 17, 2016 No Comments

Living in the South, we experience some pretty hot summers. We have high temperatures but that’s not even the worst part. The humidity can make those temperatures feel 10x worse. If you’ve never traveled to the south and experienced a humid summer day, you are truly missing out (Not Really). Besides having your clothes stick to your sweaty body, that hair that you spent forever perfecting will fall flat so fast it will make your head spin.

One of the best ways to beat that summer heat is by enjoying a sweet treat. I have a major sweet tooth and I’m always looking for ways to create healthier options to help curb my sweet cravings. One easy way is by creating popsicles from a variety of different fruits. Popsicles remind me of summer days spent at the pool or lake as a kid.

One of my main criteria for making sweet treats healthy is that it still needs to taste good. Nothing is worse than trying a “healthy treat” that tastes like cardboard. One way to ensure that the end result is tasty is to include healthy ingredients that I already enjoy. Today we are going to be making Strawberry-Mango Yogurt Pops. Strawberries and mangoes just happen to be two of my favorite fruits so I knew it would be a winning combination. This recipe is quick and easy (perfect for those of you that don’t consider yourself proficient in the kitchen).

Beat the Heat with a Cool Treat

Strawberry-Mango Yogurt Pops

Yields 6 popsicles

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of fresh strawberries Beat the Heat with a Cool Treat

3/4 cup of cubed mango

2 tablespoons of vanilla Greek yogurt

2 teaspoons of chia seeds

2 teaspoons of artificial sweetener (I used Splenda)

1/2 cup of almond milk

Directions:

Blend strawberries, 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon of Splenda (or artificial sweetener of your choice), and 1/4 cup of almond milk.
Set strawberry mixture aside and stir in 1 teaspoon of chia seeds to mixture
Blend mangoes, 1 tablespoon of Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon of Splenda ( or artificial sweetener of your choice), and 1/4 cup of almond milk.
Set this mixture aside and stir in 1 teaspoon of chia seeds to mixture.
Next pour a portion of the strawberry mixture into the popsicle mold ( I use the Zoku Quick Pop Maker). I only fill each mold 1/4th of the way with the strawberry mixture. Let the strawberry mixture freeze before going to the next step.
Once the strawberry mixture has frozen, pour the mango mixture into the molds until they are half full. Letting the mango layer freeze before continuing.
Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the mold is full. you should have two strawberry layers and two mango layers.
Let popsicle molds completely freeze (with the Zoku mold the sticks are placed in the molds before any liquid is added, if you aren’t using these molds you can insert sticks in step 6).
Once the popsicles are completely frozen, pop them out and enjoy!

Whip these up the next time you need a break from the heat. They won’t disappoint.

Beat the Heat with a Cool Treat

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Beauty

Current Make-Up Routine

August 15, 2016 No Comments

I am such a creature of habit when it comes to beauty products. I always hate to branch out from what I’m familiar with. The thought of spending tons of money on products I may or may not like after I get home stresses me out. In the past I have typically stuck to drug store make up and never really invested much money or time into my beauty routine. I figured that if I didn’t spend much money on the products I was buying that I wouldn’t feel as bad if I didn’t like it. It wasn’t until recently that I really started to invest more money into my beauty products and I have to say that it definitely has made a difference. There are still some drugstore products that I like and will still probably continue to buy and use but I do think some things are important to invest in to get better quality products.

Today I will be sharing my current make-up routine and explaining which products I love and believe are worth the investment. If you are anything like me, it helps to hear other people’s reviews of different products to decide if its worth to take the plunge in buying that product you’ve been eyeing.

Pur 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Make-up (Light Tan):I am obsessed with this foundation and highly recommend it for those that prefer a powdered foundation. This product acts as a foundation, concealer, powder, and sun protectant (spf15). It is incredibly light weight but also provides plenty of coverage. My biggest complaint about other powdered foundations I have tried in the past was lack of coverage. You simply apply more of this product for more coverage depending on your preference but it does not feel heavy at all. I find that the Pur Cosmetics Chisel Brush is the best brush for applying this product.

Becca Luminous Blush (Snapdragon)- In the past I typically used a Covergirl blush and never really strayed. This Becca luminous blush has me hooked though. It comes in about 6 different shades so there is one for all skin tones. This blush provides just the right amount of color to the cheekbones without looking over done. I tend to prefer powder blushes to liquid or stick options, and while I don’t typically layer different blush products this one is supposed to layer great.

Pur Au Naturel Glowing Days and Smoldering Nights Eye Shadow Palette: It has only been recently that I have started wearing eye shadow. I really had no clue what I was doing when it came to eye shadow so I simply steered clear of it. The thing I like the most about this palette is that it has an option for day wear as well as an option for night. I feel this palette works great with my brown eyes but could also compliment green eyes as well. For my everyday wear, I use the brown shade from the glowing days collection on the crease of my eye lid and then use the lightest shade (True) from my crease to my brow. I then blend the two together. I then use that same light shade on my lid and mix with the Radiant shade from the smoldering nights section. This adds just enough shimmer to be noticed but not come off as too much.

Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner: This is one of my drugstore products that I just can’t quit. I have used this eyeliner for years and absolutely love it. I use the shade Black Brown. The reason that this eyeliner is my favorite is because it is the one eyeliner I have used that does not smudge or fade throughout the day. I have a bad habit of rubbing my eyes and forgetting I have make-up on them. This is the only eyeliner I have found that can hold up against my bad habit.

Pur Big Look Mascara: I used to only wear mascara for special occasions, such as weddings. I already have fairly thick and long eyelashes so I just never really felt it necessary. I tried this certain mascara because it is infused with argan oil and is supposed to help nourish you lashes and lengthen them as well. I find that mascara tends to have such a detrimental effect on my eyelashes, cause my lashes to fall out or break when removing the mascara. This mascara also has a wand that was developed to help prevent clumping. I am sort of on the fence with this product. I do like the way it makes my lashes appear even thicker and longer but I have noticed that the wand is not clump resistant as I would like.

Pur Lip Gloss Stick (Honey Pie): There are so many options when it comes to lip products that it can be overwhelming. I went with a neautral colored lip gloss stick and love it. The natural color makes it easy to pair with anything and looks great for day or night. The gloss stick makes the application easy and keeps it mess free.

I would love to hear what some of your make up favorites are and what brands you swear by and can’t live without. Any mascara recommendations? What are some of your favorite brush brands to use?

Fashion

SheInside Review- Are Those Prices Too Good To Be True?

August 12, 2016 No Comments

Have you seen bloggers post the cutest clothes that they bought from an overseas website for an unbelievably low price? If you are anything like me, you probably think it’s too good to be true. Or you think they are only saying those good things about the clothing because they are sponsored to say so. Well that’s how I felt. I mean a super cute top for only $9 that is actually decent quality?

I decided to order a few things to see if it was really worth all the hype.(This post is not sponsored. I paid for the items and am not receiving any compensation from SheInside) I decided to shop on SheInside because they had several items I liked and had read bloggers who had good experience with the website. SheInside also offered an additional percentage off for first time customers. A percentage off the already low prices was just too good to pass up.

I ordered two off the shoulder tops (because I just can’t get enough of that trend) and a maxi skirt. Below I will discuss each item and give you my thoughts on the quality of each product.

SheInside Review

Royal Blue Ruffle Off the Shoulder Blouse: I was incredibly impressed with this item. I ordered an X-small and that is my typical size. I found this top to be TTS. One thing that bothers me about off the shoulder tops is when the sleeves keep sliding up and over your shoulders. That is not an issue with this top. I have worn the top multiple times and have not had any trouble with the sleeves sliding up. For only $14.99, this top can not be beat. It is totally on trend and super cute. The top looks great with blue jeans or white skinnies.

SheInside Review

Red Off The Shoulder Long Sleeve Blouse: This top is the second off the shoulder top that I ordered. I also ordered this top in an X-Small and found that it ran TTS. The color is actually more of a coral than a red though. It is super lightweight so even though it may be long-sleeved it can still be worn during the summer. These sleeves actually stay in one place as well. This top cost less than $10.

SheInside Rview Green High Waisted Pleated Maxi Skirt: This was my favorite purchase of the three. It is absolutely GORGEOUS in person. I recently wore it to a wedding with a white ruffled top. I ordered the X-small and found it to be TTS as well. It fit perfectly in the waist and was the perfect length after I added some wedge heels. It hit just above the floor, so I didn’t have to worry about it dragging the ground. (I’m 5’4″, if that helps at all). I can’t believe that I snagged this beautiful skirt for only $22.99.

SheInside Review

Some final advice when ordering from these websites: I highly recommend reading the measurements for each item before purchasing to make sure it will work for you. I have read comments of people who bought a dress that fit more like a top in length and vice versa. I also highly recommend reading the customer reviews. This helps to give you an idea of the quality and fit of the different items. Some customers will even post a picture with their review so it gives you a good idea what the item will look like on.

Have any of you ordered from SheInside or other oversea websites? What are your experiences? Which are your favorite?

Food

Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding

August 10, 2016 No Comments

As I’ve mentioned before, I have a bit of a sweet tooth. I strive to eat healthy so giving in to that sweet tooth only happens occasionally. I had been seeing a lot of people claiming that chia seed pudding helped them to satisfy their sweet tooth. I figured why not give it a try. I opted to experiment with a strawberry chia seed pudding.

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Begin by adding 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 8 oz of fresh sliced strawberries to the blender. Blend together the ingredients until smooth. Next pour the mixture into a glass and add 1/4 cup of chia seeds and 1 teaspoon of Agave (of whichever sweetener you prefer). Cover glass with plastic wrap and allow to refrigerate for at least 4 hours so that pudding can set. Your strawberry chia seed pudding is now ready to enjoy.

Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
8 oz of fresh strawberries
1/4 cup of chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of Agave ( or other sweetener of choice)

Instructions

Blend the almond milk, vanilla extract, and strawberries together until smooth
Pour into cup and add chia seeds and Agave. Stir until completelymixed.
Cover cup with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 4 hours to allow pudding to set.
Remove from fridge and enjoy!

https://www.thesouthernmagnolia.com/strawberry-chia-seed-pudding/

Overall, I really enjoyed my first attempt at a chia seed pudding. Before placing in the fridge, I was slightly concerned about the consistency. However, it did set up to a pudding consistency after being in the fridge several hours. It does help to fight sweet cravings and is definitely a healthier option. I am excited to experiment further and create other options. The possibilities are endless. I’m thinking that my next creation will be a chocolate chia seed pudding.

Do any of you have some favorite chia seed pudding recipes you would like to share? I would love to see your favorites.