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I love this fresh green.

 Rainy days after many sunny, warm ones.

I love that there is no school and no rushed mornings.

I love this berry-filled brunch enjoyed together in the garden.

I love the splashes of sun surprises on cloudy days, the wet ground and the smell of pine and eucalyptus in the air.

So much beauty.

Daily walks and adventures.

Brightly lit nights.

A moon that is almost full.

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This is a simple, satisfying, and delicious breakfast. It can be ready in less than fifteen minutes. The chia seeds are expensive, but a little goes a long way.

chia seeds

contain high amounts of complete protein and omega-3 fats, antioxidants, excellent-quality fibre and great calcium, iron, potassium and zinc levels.  They have a wonderful binding quality when in contact with liquid, and because of this gel-like consistency, they act as a binder in your digestive tract, which helps regulate your bowels and improves digestion.

oats

are a wonderful source of protein, high in folate, vitamin E, iron, magnesium, and zinc. They are the only grain that contains both soluble and insoluble fibre. This helps moderate blood sugar levels, has been shown to fight heart disease, and lowers cholesterol. Oats are also known for their cleansing properties. Soaking the oats increases their digestibility, enabling the nutrients to be better absorbed by your body.

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CHIA OAT BLISS BREAKFAST BOWL

serves 3

There are so many ways of serving this.  Sometimes, if I am short of time and short on a variety of fruit, I mash a very ripe banana in the bottom of a bowl, sprinkle a  few nuts and seeds, and then layer in the chia mixture with a drizzling of honey.  For a quick dessert, the chocolate and hazelnut version sounds delicious. Add cocoa powder to the chia mixture, drizzle it with maple syrup, and sprinkle it on cacao nibs and coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts.

ingredients

½ cup rolled oats

1½ cup almond milk

a drop of freshly squeezed lemon juice

4 Tbsp chia seeds

2 Tbsp each soaked overnight sunflower, pumpkin seeds and goji berries

2 Tbsp ground flax seeds

Serve with a mixture of the following

yoghurt or nut milk of choice

1 mango, 1 apple, 1 banana, finely chopped and 1 cup fresh blueberries and raspberries (you change the fruits to what is available seasonally)

a handful of raw granola, dates or raisins

drizzling with honey, strawberry sauce or maple syrup

fresh mint leaves from the garden

preparation

  1. In a small bowl or jar,  stir the oats, milk, lemon juice and chia seeds together. Cover and set aside for 15 minutes, or place in the fridge for 8 – 12 hours.  It will keep for four days in the refrigerator.
  2. Add the seeds and goji berries to the oat-chia mixture, sprinkle over the ground flaxseeds and mix well to combine.
  3. Add yoghurt or more nut milk, depending on your desired consistency.  I prefer my chia mixture to be in between; if you like something on the runny side, you can increase the amount of nut milk.

assemble

  1. Place a few spoonfuls of the oat-chia mixture in the bottom of each bowl. Layer some fruit, another layer of the oat-chia mix, fruit, and so on. Sprinkle over raw granola, toasted coconut, a drizzling of strawberry sauce, honey, granola, fresh mint leaves, or whatever toppings you desire.

Find a little bit of sunshine and enjoy.

tip

My daughter was soaking this in the evening in a screw-top jar, in the morning layering in the fruits and yoghurt, screwing on the lid and enjoying later that morning at school.

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Goodness shared from Stacey