Salads galore + chia pudding

I've been eating 2ish salads a day, and wow have they been delicious.  Lettuce is my favorite salad green in the winter- In the summer I use a lot of local kale and mixed salad greens, and in the fall I absolutely live off local spinach.

Lettuce, various veggies, sprouted chickpeas, avocado, ginger/garlic/sesame seed/nama shoyu/apple cider vinegar/salt/pepper/hemp oil dressing.

Lettuce, veggies, hemp seeds, olive oil vinaigrette. 

Lettuce, veggies, garlic sauerkraut, hemp oil vinaigrette.

SUPER delish.  Today, after yoga class and going for a run, I wanted something full of good fats and sweet without being a sugar-bomb.  So I made chia pudding!  The recipe goes (something) like this:

• 1 young coconut, meat and water
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tbs. chia seeds
• 1 tbs. vanilla extract
• 9 drops stevia
• 1/4-1/2 cup carob powder, according to taste
• 2 tbs. cacao butter, melted
• frozen pitted sweet cherries (opt)

First, open the coconut (instructions) and pour the coconut water and water into the blender:

 
Then scoop out the meat and add it to the blender:

Then blend the meat and water, and add the chia seeds.  Let sit for 5-7 minutes.  Add vanilla and stevia and blend again:

Add the carob and cacao butter and blend it until completely combined.  Pour out into a bowl and top with cherries (optional).  Enjoy BLISS OUT!

I was clearly very happy with this creation.  (Credit: Camille)

Tonight I'm getting all dressed up to go see live comedy at the Bushnell in Hartford with Claire, Grace (Claire's sister), Camille (my sister) and my mother.  It was a Christmas present from my mother to the four of us.  I'm very excited!  Life is so, so great.  Simple pleasures are all OVER the place!

In gratitude-
Mada