Bikini Baking: Berry Amazing Chia Jam

Howdy!

How is the weather in your neck of the woods? The weather here in the low country has been divine. With highs in the low 80s and lows in the high 60s it's been absolutely ideal weather for cookouts, beach and pool. I love my neighborhood pool so much. It's such a great place to go to swim, play with the kids and watch them all play together. But here in this neighborhood it's more than that. It's a place where we as neighbors all come together to catch up. We find out about local activities from each other. We meet new neighbors who have moved here from all over the country and we share good workouts and recipes. Yes, sitting around the pool and giving out recipes is so awesome!

Last weekend I met some awesome new friends/neighbors and got to see many I had already met before. I love when the topic starts slowly morphing into a discussion about dinner and favorite foods and things our kids will and won't eat. I was so excited to meet and talk to a new friend who said her 8 year old son will eat anything and loves healthy foods. I think Dean (my 8 year old) said something about wanting my Berry Amazing Chia Jam and that got us all into a jammin good chat about my family's favorite condiment (is jam a condiment? I don't even know but it's too cool to call it just plain food). Berry Amazing Chia Jam is my family's favorite way to have chia seeds and the sweetest fruit of the season, strawberries. The recipe is so easy that I call it crazy easy!

Emily at Tresses Hair salon asked if I sell it. Definitely, Emily! I'll make this just for you any time! It's fun to make but even more fun to eat! Kids love it too and they are getting a great big dose of protein and fiber and healthy carbs from the berries. My little princess adds a few tablespoons of Jam to her plain Greek yogurt. My oldest spreads it on his almond butter sandwiches and my middle dude eats it straight out of the jar like its goin out of style. Yes friends, it's THAT good! Try it! Tell me whatcha think!

Berry Amazing Chia Jam

2 bags of frozen or 2 lbs fresh strawberries (works well with cherries, raspberries and blueberries too!)

4T freshly squeezed lemon juice

6 T chai seeds

The tiniest pinch of salt

Directions:

Put fruit in large sauce pan and put over low-medium heat. Stir constantly until the fruit has made its own juice and softens dramatically. This happens sooner and easier with frozen fruit and frozen fruit can sometimes even be cheaper than fresh so I tend to go with the frozen for the jam. Once the fruit is nice and soft get out your potato masher and mash the fruit up. We like chunks of fruit in our jam so I mash well but leave lots of chunks. Add the lemon juice, chia and pinch salt. Stir constantly! It's worth it! (Work your outer thighs while you stir and slowly swing leg out to the side 20 times on each side. Repeat until this step is complete. You're welcome. Now your legs will even get some love.)

Stirring constantly, let the whole mixture come to a slow boil. Let boil and cook for 5 minutes or until it starts to firm up a bit. (Now work inner thighs while you stir during this step!)

Pour into containers or jars to share. Put in refrigerator to cool. Enjoy, smile and do your happy dance that your family is eating one big bundle of healthy love!

Mash strawberries!