1 banana, peeled and very ripe, cut into chunks
1 cup fresh berries; strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or your favorite
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chia seeds

Place banana, berry blend and frozen blueberries, maple syrup and vanilla in a high-powered blender.
Blend on high until smooth; approximately 45 seconds.
Transfer mixture to a wide-mouth Mason jar and stir in chia seeds, making sure seeds are mixed throughly into the mixture.
Cover jar and refrigerate for 1 -2 hours, or overnight, until mixture has solidified into a pudding-like consistency.
Serve chilled.

Serves 2

Inspired by a recipe found in the Costco Connection

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/2 cup almond milk, or more
4 ounces non-dairy yogurt
1 tablespoon almond butter
1/4 cup fresh strawberries
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 ripe avocado, sliced
1 brownie (your favorite), divided

Place all the ingredients in a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Add more milk, if too thick.
Garnish with other brownie half.

Serves 1

Note: Make your own Chocolate Brownies

 

16 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled
1 1/2 cups (or one 13 1/2-ounce can) coconut milk or almond milk
1/4 cup honey, or to taste
1 vanilla bean, scraped, or 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1/2 cup chia seeds

Place the strawberries, coconut milk, honey, vanilla, and lime zest in a blender and blend until smooth.
Taste and add more honey if desired.
Place the chia seeds in a large bowl, pour the strawberry mixture on top, and whisk thoroughly. Let stand for 10 minutes and whisk again.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.
Stir the pudding before serving.
The longer it sits, the thicker the pudding will become; if it is too thick, whisk in a little water (or coconut water).

Spoon into individual cups or bowls and garnish.

Serves 4-6

Note:
Sweeteners: Honey may be substituted with other sweeteners like maple syrup, agave nectar, etc.
Garnish ideas: strawberries, coconut flakes, lime zest, chopped or slivered nuts, fresh mint.

2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) frozen strawberries
2 frozen sliced bananas
4 tablespoons acai powder
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, or any other non-dairy milk
2 tablespoons nut or seed butter
1/2 to 1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
Honey or agave nectar, to taste

Toppings
Fresh fruit, sliced
Granola, optional
Unsweetened coconut flakes, optional
Dried goji berries, dried cranberries, dried cherries, optional
Chia or hemp seeds, optional

Using a high-powered blender, blend the frozen fruits, acai powder, almond milk, nut or seed butter and honey or agave nectar.
Blend until creamy and smooth, adding more almond milk as needed to keep blender running.
Consistency should be thicker than a smoothie.
Spoon acai mixture into bowls.
Top with sliced fruit and optional toppings, if using.

Serves 2

 

2 ripe medium bananas
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup toasted wheat or oat cereal
3 cups chopped fresh fruit, or fresh berries

Place bananas in a medium bowl.
Add lemon juice.
Mash and stir bananas and lemon juice until the mixture is the texture desired.
Assemble parfaits in short, wide glasses in alternating layers of mashed banana, cereal, and fruit until all is used up.
Serve immediately.

Serves 4

Note: For added protein, substitute one cup of silken tofu for one of the bananas.