Nourish the Budding Lotus

Warm Chia Seed Nog – Dairy Free

As soon as the weather gets cool, I am ready to start enjoying my homemade “egg nog”. I think this year it was actually early October that I made my first cup because we had an unusual cold-snap for a few days, and the instinct kicked in. We had a huge rain storm throughout the Northern New Mexico region, and we woke up to the mountains of Santa Fe covered with snow. Thankfully the snow didn’t really last, but it was definitely a surprise to even have some ice on the windshield that morning.

Since then, I have been playing around with my nog recipe and a few days ago came up with the idea to add some chia to the mix. Chia seeds are fun to experiment with. As they absorb water they puff up in size and become sort-of gelatinous… They add a thickness to beverages which I find surprisingly exciting. And then of course there are the nutritional benefits of chia seeds. Chia seeds are a powerhouse of Omega-3 fatty acids, are a great source of fiber for the body, assist with hydration and lots more!

So it was a match made in heaven to add chia seeds to my warm nog recipe. I am finding it to be a great way to start or end the day. Sort of like having warm milk before bed, it feels calming and nurturing to the belly. For some reason this is reminding me of the conversation in the movie White Christmas about liverwurst and buttermilk before bed. Yes, I love that movie, and yes, my sister and I would watch it every year before Christmas. It was our tree decorating entertainment at our father’s house. But now I am getting ahead of myself… Its not even Halloween!

So as the chill of late fall sets-in wherever you are, I hope you enjoy this variation on an old favorite.  It could become a new family favorite in your family of choice!

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Chia Seed Nog

Makes 2 servings

2.5 c almond milk (or other dairy free milk of your choice)
2 T chia seeds
1/2 T agave
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
1/8 t cardamom

In a large glass or medium bowl combine the almond milk with the chia seeds and let soak for at least 30 minutes. You will want to stir the mixture every so often to make sure the seeds do not clump together.

NOTE: if you don’t have time for this step you can skip the soaking, but the seeds do not get as plump.

Once the chia seeds have soaked, you can now mix in the rest of the ingredients whisking until everything is combined.

Transfer the mixture to a medium saucepan and heat on medium heat until the beverage is warm. You can test the temperature with your finger! I don’t let it heat too much because you don’t want to cook off the benefits of the chia seeds. So just warm enough to sooth the belly is good.

Pour the nog into two mugs or heat proof glasses and enjoy!

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