almond milk Archives - Experimental Epicurean

I know, I know, chia seed pudding is an “in” thing right now, but have you tried it? It is definitely worth the hype, since it has the trifecta of great taste, easy prep, and good-for-you benefits.

Chia seeds are a power house of nutrition, with a high fiber content, protein, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. One of the other amazing attributes of chia seeds is their hydrophilic tendency – they can hold on the order of 10 times their weight in fluid! This fact means I can turn a few simple ingredients, such as almond milk, cappuccino powder, and chia seeds into a pudding once the chia seeds expand and form a gel.

I added a bit of extra flavor with some caramel sauce and raspberries. Eating this for breakfast makes me feel like I am cheating and eating dessert, but I can’t think of any better way to get the nutrient boost mentioned above.

OK, I agree, having the raspberries sit in a pool of caramel probably doesn’t count as a “healthy” breakfast, but it sure is tasty!

Cappuccino Chia Seed Pudding

6 tablespoons powdered French vanilla cappuccino mix
2 cups original flavor almond milk
1/2 cup chia seeds
caramel topping

Stir the French vanilla cappuccino mix into the almond milk until smooth. Stir in the chia seeds and refrigerate for at least one hour. When ready to serve, evenly divide between four small bowls and top with caramel sauce. If desired, serve with fresh berries.

(1539)

One of the latest trends in employee perks in New York businesses is an office delivery of kegs . . . kegs of iced coffee.

I have to admit that I think this a brilliant service – and I give kudos to Joyride Coffee for creating a niche market.

Since their service doesn’t extend to Denver (yet), I decided to brew up my own batch. There is quite a bit of debate regarding the merits of cold brew (which Joyride Coffee uses, but takes a bit of time) versus hot brew (which can result in watered down coffee), though to be honest, I haven’t experimented enough with iced coffee to pick a side.

I tend to start my day with a cup or two of piping hot coffee, so I decided to create my version using a variant of the hot brew method. To avoid watering down the coffee I made an ice bath, which means my coffee was poured into a glass surrounded by ice water. I let it cool for about 20 minutes before mixing in my sweetener.

I stirred a bit of Chinese five spice and powdered sugar (which dissolves faster) into some almond milk, and then added it to my coffee.

To create a truly decadent morning treat, I even added a bit of whipping cream.

My only remaining question is: what is the proper etiquette when drinking coffee from a keg at work? Stein or coffee mug?

Spiced Iced Coffee

1 cup brewed black coffee
½ cup original flavor almond milk
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
¾ teaspoon Chinese 5 spice
Whipping cream (optional)

Cool the coffee using an ice bath, making sure that the coffee is completely submerged. While the coffee cools, stir the almond milk, powdered sugar, and Chinese five spice together until well mixed. Once the coffee is cool, add the flavored milk to the coffee. Garnish as desired and drink immediately.

(3764)