I got hungry last night and took the leftover banana ice cream from the freezer to see how it faired. If last week’s was soft serve, this week’s was sorbet! It definitely crystallized, but it was still very delicious – just different. Perfect for a night when you don’t want to clean the food processor! I have a few more bananas already in the freezer for the next batch 
This stuff is just amazing!
I was excited to try out my new chia seeds for breakfast!! I decided to put them into overnight oats.
Last night I combined 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup vanilla soy milk, 1/3 cup water and 1 tbsp chia seeds in a bowl. This AM they were nice and gelled! I ate a few hand-to-mouth last night and they are good that way too. You can feel the gel almost instantly. The only drawback: not to be gross, but these guys get stuck in very crevice of your mouth!
Chias are apparently the new flax seed. They also have omega-3s (even more than flax!), calcium and iron, they don’t need to be ground and don’t go rancid as quickly, they are FULL of protein and fiber (I can imagine what all that gel is doing in my stomach right now 
) And the Aztecs used to eat them, so they must be cool! (We love all things Aztec in this house thanks to Matt’s anthropology major, summer in the Yucatan and my almost-minor in anthro.)
More info on chia:
They look like little stones!
I finished off the overnight oats with 1/2 a almost rotting peach, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup Oikos, a few tbsp Mix My Granola and a few cranberry pecans.
I liked the chia gelled mush a lot, esp knowing all the nutritional benefits.
With Bigelow Vanilla Chai tea (I had to pair chai and chia today!)
Golden Tickets
You may have heard the breaking news that there are a few golden tickets surfacing around the globe. Caitlin is auctioning one off on Healthy Tipping Point tomorrow, and Veruca Salt herself generously traded her ticket to me for a golden goose the love ducks flew in!
Today at NOON you’ll have the opportunity to bid on a Summit Ticket on Ebay!! Search for “2009 Healthy Living Summit Ticket” at noon to start the bids, and I’ll post a link when it goes live. The auction will go on for 3 days, so there’s time to evaluate travel and debate before bidding. It will conclude on Friday at NOON. The auction is just for a free registration to the Summit, Friday night cocktail party and Saturday conference, and does not include hotel or travel expenses.
The cost of the ticket will be donated to my favorite non-profit, Heifer International, which works to build sustainable communities for those in need in the U.S.A. and around the world.
Let the bidding begin!
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I am off to work all day!
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
YAY! Welcome to the world of CHIA! We just bought these and have been sprinkling them on our food for the past few weeks. I love them!
You should definitely read the book “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall – that’s how I first discovered them plus it’s a crazy inspiring read!
LOVE heifer international – they are such an awesome organization. props to you ladies!
also, i need to find me some chia seeds. i was wary at first, but i think i am ready to take the plunge. yeah for a yummo combo this AM – have a good one!
I may have to check these chia seeds out for myself. Do you know if they can be found at Whole Foods?
I’m definitely gonna try this banana ice cream! Do yout think I would have the same end prduct if I blend the bananas first ad then freeze them? I always thought freezing something and then thawing it (in this case by pureing the bananas) and then refreezing it agin was really not a good idea because of bacterias?
chia seeds sound like something to be tried! i’ll be looking for them.
Chia seeds sound very intriguing! I’ll keep my eye out for them
chia seeds sound so interesting I’ve seen them at the health food store but have never tried any!
Heifer International is a great organization! That’s wonderful that you’re supporting them.
Have a good day at work!
have a great day at work! i love that the chia seeds don’t have to be ground to get the benefits and they don’t go rancid!
“chias are the new flax” – that is the best food blog-y statement i may have ever heard. i can’t find chia seeds anywhere and am dying to try them!
I love adding cacao powder or fresh blueberries to the banana ice cream…soo yummy!
Banana sorbet – still sounds great to me!
Interesting tidbit on chia seeds!
Good luck at work!
What a neat breakfast. I’ve been looking for Chia Seeds to try out myself, but I haven’t been able to find them yet. Thanks for all of the info! They sure sound like a healthy addition!
Chia seeds sound great! I’ve been trying to find them here, but no luck. Do they have much of a flavour?
That breakfast looks good! Chia is the new black
Where did you get Chia seeds and what’s the price point on those bad boys? I am interested in those little suckers!
I love this banana ice cream idea! I usually will slice up a banana and toss it in the freezer so then you can snack on frozen pieces of banana that melt in your mouth. But, blending it up is a whole new concept! Sounds delicious.
Hi Kath,
Speaking of flax, I just got some seeds myself. Was wondering if grinding them in a coffee grinder really works? I tried in a pepper grinder- didn’t work. I tried in a food processor- didn’t work. I went to buy a coffee grinder but the blades don’t look much smaller than my food processor’s, so I’m wondering if it’s worth it buy one. Thanks for letting me know how you do it!
The banana “ice cream” recipe is great made with mangos or mango/banana combo too!
Yum! Overnight oats are one of my favorite ways to use chia seeds!
Oh shooo, adding chia seeds to list of things I need to try! I’ll take those health benefits, please! Have fun at work today!
I really want to try Chia seeds. I’ve talked with Heather about them. They sound wonderful. Your breakfast looks amazing, as always.
I’ve never tried chia, but it’s a huge plus that they don’t have to be ground like flax.
Thanks for the review of the Chia seeds. Very interesting. They look great in your breakfast.
Yummy breakfast! I may have to give chia seeds a try.
I’m dying to try the banana ice cream.
As for the chia seeds- the whole “gel” thing kind of freaks me out… but it seems like everyone that tries them becomes a huge fan.
Are the overnight oats eaten cold or warmed? The only recipe I have for them has you cooking them in the morning, but I like my oats cold, too.
and LOVE LOVE LOVE Heifer International
What a nice idea to auction a few tickets off for charity!! It will be interesting to see how much it goes for, given all the enthusiasm for the summit!
I didn’t know they looked like stones!
Chia kind of freaks me out…not gonna lie. Maybe because I still think of chia pets whenever I hear it. I’m also wondering like others about the price compared to my beloved flax…although if I really cared I could Google it, haha (I’ve gotten my guy to add flax to his smoothies…I think if I brought chia home, I’d get the death-stare for sure!)
I’ve been wondering about those chia seeds! Will have to get myself a batch…
Hi Kath! I think it’s incredible that you spent a summer in the Yucatan. My husband and I are planning a trip there next fall to see Mayan ruins – flying into Cancun then driving roughly 4 hours south to Mahahual. We’re planning for the fall because I was worried about the summer heat and humidity. May I ask, what was the weather like during the summer? Was it bearable? Sorry for the super-long question! I just adore your blog.
I just bought my first Chia seeds at the health food store on Monday. I was so excited to try them. Heather gave me a recipe for raw pudding that I can’t wait to try. The gel idea kind of freaks me out but everyone says they are great.
And I do know that most Whole Foods have them because I checked to see if they would be cheaper there than the local store.
OK first
KATH I am first time poster but read almost daily.
I AM IN LOVE WITH BANANNA ICE CREAM
i use pb2 for topping sometimes, i have done vanilla extract in mine…today i did coconut extract !!!
I AM IN LOVE
if you saw my freezer and how many smooshed up frozen banannas i had in there you would laugh!!!!
chia seeds, i can get them cheap here at an amish market but havent bought them yet…will have to look into that.
THANKS for your BLOG
Shari
I didn’t realize you spent a summer in the Yucatan! That’s AWESOME! Did you blog about that b/c I’d love to read your posts! Whenever I traveled to Mexico I missed my big spinach salad… how did you deal???
Cha, cha, cha chia! Thanks for sharing. I’m going to have to go get some.
I absolutely LOVE Chia seeds in oats. They’re so filling!
And don’t worry I haven’t started sprouting any green hair, YET!!!
Heiffer International is a great group. That’s who we donated all of our wedding favor $$ to when we got married.
Chia sounds so interesting and I didn’t know they had that much in them! Plus it’s fun just saying the word “chia”
I’m going to have to try that banana soft-serve from Gena’s blog.
I’m dying for ice cream and I actually have bananas in the freezer…I cut up and freeze my overripe bananas for my oats in the morning, but I’ll have cereal instead…this looks too good to pass up!
Heifer is a fantastic cause we’ve supported for years… a great choice for your donation! They really make a long lasting, sustainable difference.
Oooh those chia seeds sound very interesting. I’m definitely going to have to give them a try!!
I love your little mosaic table. So pretty!
Thank you for the great resources re: chia seeds!
Oh wow! I have two bananas at home just waiting for me to make this!
I was just wondering….how do you pronounce the word chia? does it sound like kia?
Emily ,
I wouldn’t know
Sarah ,
No, I think freezing them second would yield a sorbet type product like the one above. But if that’s what you’re after, definitely. But it won’t be soft serve.
Deva ,
I eat them cold. Sometimes people do heat them and it makes cooking time much quicker.
Tracey + Jenny,
I didn’t go to the Yucatan – Matt did. I was in England that summer!
Kathryn ,
Yep! At least that’s how I say it
Kath
Ok Kath, I have another “ice cream” suggestion: Cantaloupe/banana with chia! Turned out GREAT!
Kath- Thanks for the chia seed info….I’ve heard a little about them, but haven’t tried them yet- I think I’ll have to!
Thanks for the info! I’ll have to try this one out – I LOVE cold oats!
I ordered chia seeds in my me & goji granola and am loving their gelly texture!
I love that you are donating the proceeeds to Heifer! At my old company we used to always get holiday gifts of arcs and other animals. It was soo cool!
That bowl is so pretty!
Heifer is one of my favorite charities too!
(I bought my mom a llama for mother’s day last year!)
Heifer International is one of my favorite organizations. Such a worthy cause!
Thanks for the info on Chia seeds, I’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about
hey kath– i meant to ask, where did you get your chia seeds from??
That’s so funny that you mentioned Veruca Salt in your post because I JUST posted about all the things I want to buy right now and used Veruca as an example!
Love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, brings back great childhood memories. I mean, who wouldn’t love a river of chocolate?
I am so excited to see the money is going to Heifer International! It’s one of my favorite charities because I feel like it doesn’t just give a handout, it gives and teaches and involves a community.
Yay for chia seeds…and raw banana soft serve.