Chia seeds are back!

IMG_9125

IMG_9120

Chia seeds can be turned into awesome vegan ‘yogurt’ by simply letting them stand overnight in almond milk (or regular milk).  It’s super tasty and easy!

 

Adapted from this recipe.

 

Sweet and Salty Vegan Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

 

  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1/3 cup oatmeal
  • 3/4 cup almond milk
  • Banana
  • Five heavy pinches of sugar
  • Salted peanuts

 

Directions:

 

  • In a small bowl, combine chia seeds, oatmeal, and milk.  Put in fridge and let stand overnight.
  • In the morning, remove chia seed mixture and stir.
  • On a hot and greased griddle, place banana chunks and cook on high until it begins to brown.  Flip once and sprinkle with sugar.
  • Mash half of the grilled banana into the VOO and plate. 
  • Top with remaining banana and nuts.
  • Enjoy!

IMG_9123

Looks funny, tastes amazing.

 

On the agenda:  write, write, and WRITE.  And run!  Sounds like a pretty typical Sunday to me.

 

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it.  Go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success."  (Thomas Watson)

{ 73 comments }

 

  • Jen @ Jen Is Awesome January 30, 2011, 10:57 am

    Great quote!

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate January 30, 2011, 10:59 am

    Looks good! and love the quote! 🙂

  • Alex @ Healing Beauty January 30, 2011, 11:00 am

    The recipe looks so simple and delicious and I love the quote. It is really empowering because it reminds us that mistakes and failures are both natural and not necessarily a bad thing.

  • Kristy @ KristyRuns January 30, 2011, 11:03 am

    Don’t think I’ve made a batch of sweet ‘n salty overnight oats before…good idea! 🙂 Gotta remember that quote… 🙂

  • Erika @ FoodFitnessFun January 30, 2011, 11:03 am

    That bowl of Overnight Oats looks DELICIOUS! Chia pudding sounds like a great idea, plus I just bought a pound of chias yesterday! 😀

  • Gill (snaxandthecity) January 30, 2011, 11:08 am

    love the quote. I just used chia seeds the other day, but cooked the oatmeal instead of having it cold. was amazing! they make it so fluffy and voluminous!

  • Marnie January 30, 2011, 11:12 am

    “five heavy pinches of heavy”…hehe

  • Haleigh January 30, 2011, 11:20 am

    I love the leave shaped oatmeal bowl 🙂 I never really got into the chia seed trend that took over the blog world awhile back, I’m glad you enjoyed your breakfast though!

  • Stephanie@Thorns Have Roses January 30, 2011, 11:23 am

    Love that quote!

  • Julie (A Case of the Runs) January 30, 2011, 11:25 am

    It’s been a while since Ive done the overnight oats thing. I like to top mine with raw almond slivers and bits of dried apricot. I might have to give it another go, though!

  • G January 30, 2011, 11:26 am

    “Write, write, and WRITE. And run!” = exactly what I’m doing today too! Already finished my run, now I’m writing yucky essays 🙁

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:56 pm

      Good luck on your essays!

      • G January 30, 2011, 3:13 pm

        Thank you! I hope your writing is going well too! My inner teen can’t wait till your second book is published! 🙂

  • Rachel @ No Need For Speed January 30, 2011, 11:26 am

    Excuse me ma’am, but what are “five heavy pinches of heavy?”

    Bananas chunks…lol. I love banana chunks.

    Thanks for making me laugh!

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:57 pm

      Sugar 🙂 Sorry!

  • Ashley January 30, 2011, 11:30 am

    hmmm….I’ve got a bunch of chia seeds now just chillin’ in a jar : ) I’ve been looking for other ways to incorporate them into the foods I eat so I’ll have to give this a try!

  • Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) January 30, 2011, 11:32 am

    Note to self: GET CHIA SEEDS NOW!!!

    Love the quote! That’s just motivated me to get down to some work now! Bye bye computer 🙂

  • Maddie (Healthy Maddie) January 30, 2011, 11:35 am

    I love the quotes and the overnight oats! I need to get some chia seeds, I’m using flax seeds right now.

  • Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine January 30, 2011, 11:41 am

    Oh I like that you grilled the banana instead of mashing it into the overnight oats! I need to try the chia vegan version, because normally I just go for the oats + banana + splash of milk combo.

  • Raya January 30, 2011, 11:41 am

    After reading this, and Kath’s morning post, I’m totally having oatmeal for breakfast.

  • rebecca lustig January 30, 2011, 11:45 am

    love how fresh that recipe looks!! need to get my hands on some chia seeds 🙂

  • jen @ taste life January 30, 2011, 11:47 am

    Sweet and salty overnight oats sounds very tasty. I love that quote, and it’s so true…but it’s so hard to do things when there is a fear of failure!

  • Sarah for Real January 30, 2011, 11:49 am

    I’m not usually into inspiring quotes (I find stories of success more inspiring than just pretty words strung together), but I Love this paragraph! Exactly what I needed to hear this morning.

  • Zo January 30, 2011, 11:51 am

    I’ve seen those “fail to succeed” quotes a lot lately (maybe the universe is telling me something). I totally agree, but wouldn’t mind if the failures could be kept more on the quiet side (of course, that’s the type of thinking that holds me back)!

    That’s really interesting about the chia seed “yogurt”…how does its taste compare to yogurt?

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:55 pm

      Its definitely NOT actually yogurt but its pretty good especially when you add flavoring.

  • Baking 'n' Books January 30, 2011, 12:00 pm

    I love that quote. Wow, y’know I get so hard on myself and give up or “panic” before even trying to move forward and be positive and work towards being a writer or finding my passions in life…I always think I’ve screwed up too much – mentally and physically – already wasted too much time, did everything wrong, etc…

    But, as the quote says, they’re just other failures – move on and be prepared to fail again. But at least try.

    I’d rather fail at trying to do something I want or love than succeed at doing something that sucks out my soul…

    ….

    (and on a lighter note, I want that maple leaf bowl 😉 )

    • Baking 'n' Books January 30, 2011, 12:01 pm

      …maple leaf – because I am Canadian – eh? 🙂

      • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:53 pm

        EH!! 🙂 hehe

        you’ll be fine!!

        • Baking 'n' Books January 30, 2011, 3:58 pm

          Gosh – thank you Caitlin. I don’t feel like it – I feel on the verge of a breakdown at work. Just trying to keep it together or I’ll end up with nothing.

          …and the Banks won’t accept “going through a post-quarter-life-crisis” as an exception…

  • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 12:10 pm

    does this bowl of oatmeal fill you up? I normally eat 1/2 cup (without add-ins) and that just fills me up! Maybe I need to lessen my portion and use more add-ins!

    also where do you buy chia seeds?

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:51 pm

      Its all the add ins… the bananas, nuts, chia seeds, etc add another 250 calories or so.

      In the health food store or online. I’ve ordered from chiaseeddirect.com

      • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:52 pm

        chiaseedsdirect.com

        • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 4:34 pm

          Thanks!

  • Natalia - a side of simple January 30, 2011, 12:11 pm

    Chia seeds + milk = yogurt? Reason number 324958 why I need to stock up on some asap. Happy writing and running today!

  • skinnyrunner January 30, 2011, 12:14 pm

    ive never tried chia seeds before but maybe its about time to try them…

  • Kara January 30, 2011, 12:19 pm

    I like the idea of vegan yogurt. I’m going to have to learn a lot more about vegan food if my baby doesn’t grow out of her milk allergy. Well, maybe she’ll be like her mother and hate yogurt and I won’t have to come up with an alternative 🙂

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:48 pm

      There’s so many alternatives, though!

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) January 30, 2011, 12:20 pm

    Love the quote! 😀 Have a great day Caitlin!

  • Michelle (The Runner's Plate) January 30, 2011, 12:27 pm

    I love putting chia seeds in my overnight oats!

  • Katherine: Unemployed January 30, 2011, 12:28 pm

    who does not LOVE that combo

  • Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews January 30, 2011, 12:35 pm

    Yum! I love chia seeds. What a great bowl of oats!

  • Caitlyn (A Spoonful of Life) January 30, 2011, 12:37 pm

    I put chia seeds in my yogurt this morning! Yum! Good luck with your writing, today.

  • Caitlin @ TPL January 30, 2011, 12:45 pm

    Yum!! I have been totally feeling some salty breakfast lately! Salted cashews in oats? Yes please! Good luck writing!

  • Allison @ Happy Tales January 30, 2011, 12:48 pm

    Ohhh, that’s a really powerful quote. And a VERY good reminder. Thanks for sharing that. And I’ve never had yogurt made with chia seeds! That’s so neat, I’ll have to try it! Glad to see you’re back home… make sure to spend some time outside today!

  • Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans January 30, 2011, 12:51 pm

    I can’t do VOO but I will throw chia seeds in my yogurt mess in the morning.

  • Heather January 30, 2011, 12:53 pm

    I love the quote by Thomas Watson! Thank you! I needed the inspiration as I feel I have been making a lot of mistakes lately!

    I will think of mistakes as part of practice. For example, falling over while learning to ride a bike!

  • Kelly January 30, 2011, 12:55 pm

    Yes! I love quotes about failing and taking chances. I’m such a play-it-safe kinda person. I need all the encouragement I can get to get out there and do something I might not succeed at.

  • Judy January 30, 2011, 1:11 pm

    Awesome Caitlin! This is one 60 year old that can use being reminded of that. Our girl is so smart! 🙂 Love ya!

  • Camille January 30, 2011, 1:19 pm

    Yum! I love the sweet and salty combo 🙂

  • Kiran January 30, 2011, 1:23 pm

    Yummy in the tummy! and I love the quote 🙂

  • MaryBe@AccidentallyVegan January 30, 2011, 1:25 pm

    I’m always eying the chia seeds but haven’t bought them. I have visions of knocking the container off the counter onto the floor

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape January 30, 2011, 1:55 pm

    Ooohh, I am definitely making this tomorrow morning!!! I make OO a lot but usually add the chia seeds in the morning.

  • Angela (Oh She Glows) January 30, 2011, 2:03 pm

    I love the sweet and salty idea for VOO! Sounds awesome. 🙂

  • Runeatrepeat January 30, 2011, 2:08 pm

    I’m really digging salty peanuts lately! I put them on salads all the time.

  • Michele @ Healthy Cultivations January 30, 2011, 2:13 pm

    Nice quote. Someone once told me that it’s important to try things that may be too difficult or that may not work out because that’s the only way we’ll find out just how far we can go.

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 2:45 pm

      Agree 🙂

  • Emmanuelle January 30, 2011, 2:14 pm

    Yum, haven’t had overnight oats for ages, good idea!
    And I love that quote, thanks for sharing 🙂

  • Sara (Miles and Manhattan) January 30, 2011, 3:16 pm

    love the quote and i need to stop being scared of things like chia seeds..hahah!
    xoxo
    s

  • annette January 30, 2011, 3:30 pm

    LOVE this quote!!! p.s. I made my husband grilled banana french toast and he loved it 🙂

  • Renée January 30, 2011, 4:26 pm

    Do you suppose flax seed would give a similar result in the vegan yoghurt? That’s all I have on hand right now but I’m curious to try that!

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 4:31 pm

      i do not… chia seeds expand and gel, and I know flax gels, I don’t think you would get the same expansion process!

      • Renée January 30, 2011, 4:46 pm

        Ah alright, looks like a trip to the grocery store might be necessary then 😀

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss January 30, 2011, 5:11 pm

    Chia seeds!! I was just thinking about having them in some oats!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin January 30, 2011, 6:55 pm

    Great quote! It’s so hard tell my inner perfectionist that it’s OKAY to fail though. I need to stop letting my fear of failure get in the way of things! 😛

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit January 30, 2011, 7:36 pm

    I just bought some chia seeds after not having them for awhile and now I need to remember to use them!!

  • Tracy @ Commit To Fit January 30, 2011, 7:40 pm

    Love the quote! Just what I needed on a Sunday night to get ready for the week.

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) January 30, 2011, 7:48 pm

    I’ve never put chia seeds in hot oats, but for my first overnight oat experiment, I used them and they were delicious! Except for the whole getting stuck in your teeth part… maybe not the best thing to eat in the car on the way to class 🙂

  • Kathleen @ Kat's Health Corner January 30, 2011, 8:50 pm

    I’ve never put chia seeds in my almond milk before. I totally want to try that!!!! Are chia seeds very hard to find?

    • Caitlin January 30, 2011, 9:36 pm

      Naw you can find it at a health store, like Whole Foods. You can buy them online too.

  • Aggie January 30, 2011, 11:23 pm

    oh my goodness this looks so good and I’m tempted to go into the kitchen right now and make myself some for bkfst!!!

  • Justeen @ Blissful Baking February 1, 2011, 10:28 pm

    Ohh I’ve never tried chia seeds before, but everyone’s been raving about them, so I need to buy some asap! Plus, I LOVEEE overnight oats, and can’t wait to try this vegan version!

Healthy Tipping Point