Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie

This thick & creamy Matcha Chia Pudding Green Smoothie is protein-packed and loaded with antioxidants, Vitamin A,  & Omega-3 fatty acids. The perfect pre-workout meal!

Not that this should be a shocker to anyone who has ever read a game day recipe post of mine, but I did not watch the Super Bowl on Sunday evening. Honestly, I could have cared less who won or lost. And if I had attended a party to watch the game (which I didn't), then I would have only been there for the snacks, my friends. ;)

But there is one thing about the Super Bowl that I do like hearing about and watching the next day, and that is the halftime show. The halftime show the past couple of years didn't really impress me much even though I have always been a big fan of both Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5. 

But when I heard that both Jennifer Lopez and Shakira would be performing at this year's show, I was actually kind of sad that I had cut the cord on cable last year and would have to wait to watch it until later on my laptop. 

I have been a longtime fan of both of these ladies for many years. WAY back in the day, JLo and Shakira were some of my favorites to hear played when I went out to the dance clubs with my friends. Their upbeat, high energy music pretty much made up half of the soundtrack for my early to late twenties. 

Coconut Mocha Chia Pudding

I am partnering with Hamilton Beach today to bring you all this recipe for a creamy & low fat Coconut Mocha Chia Pudding. As always, all opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

I have no shame in admitting that I am a total coffee addict... and a coffee snob. You will rarely see me sipping on fast food coffee. Believe me when I say this, you all- I have tried most of them, but they are just not my cup of java. That being said, I am also all about saving money and being frugal. And yes, I know that being a coffee snob and being frugal do not exactly mesh. I know most "coffee snobs" in the traditional sense of the term have no problem dropping $5 on a cup of coffee goodness, but that is just not something that is in my everyday budget. Nor do I feel like wrangling a toddler & hopping into the car every morning to go pick up said snob-worthy coffee. 

My solution? Making good coffee at home every morning. :)

And while the quality of the coffee you choose to brew at home has a lot to do with how good it will taste in your favorite coffee mug, owning a good coffee maker is also essential. Up until about a month ago, I had been using the same coffee maker for the past 6 years.  It wasn't anything fancy, but it did the job... or at least I thought that it had been.  That was until I was offered the opportunity to try Hamilton Beach's new FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker.  Seriously, you all. I had no idea what I had been missing! The Flex Brew gives you the option of brewing either a 12 cup pot of coffee the traditional way, or you can use the single brew side to brew one cup of coffee using either your favorite K-CUPS* or fresh grounds. And the best part? It really doesn't take up that much more space on my counter than my old coffee maker did. ;)

Being the self-proclaimed coffee addict that I am, I am always looking for ways to incorporate coffee into some of my recipes. Given my recently acquired fondness for creamy & healthy chia pudding, it only made sense that I would try and make a coffee flavored one. This delicious Coconut Mocha Chia Pudding combines fresh brewed chilled coffee with coconut milk, chia seeds, & cocoa for a delicious treat with a little bonus pick-me-up...

Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding

A simple healthy recipe gets a kick of intense vanilla flavor in this Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding...

Okay, you all- I finally jumped on the chia seed bandwagon, and now I am wondering why I ever waited so long. I may have had a little bit of a prejudice against them before because all I could think of when someone mentioned chia seeds were chia pets. Do you all know what I am talking about? (And now that jingle from the television commercial is stuck in my head- Chi, chi, chi, chiaaaa... ;) )

But nevertheless I had been kind of curious about chia seeds for the past few months, but I had no clue where I would even buy them here in small town West Virginia. Then lo and behold, one day I was shopping at my local ALDI and there they were on the shelf- a bag for less than $3! I mean, what did I have to lose really? So I grabbed a bag and started asking around to my fellow food bloggers what were their favorite ways to enjoy and prepare them. Many said that they loved sprinkling them over yogurt (which is yum, by the way) or mixed into smoothies. But again and again, they mentioned chia pudding.  

The first couple of times that I tried making chia pudding I got the ratios off, and my pudding ended up more like a slurpy mess.  But this latest attempt? I nailed it! :) I decided that I want to stick to a simple chia pudding recipe, but added a kick of intense vanilla flavor. By stirring in a simple teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, this healthy and easy to make pudding becomes almost like a creamy vanilla dessert. You could also substitute a teaspoon of vanilla extract, but trust me on this- splurging a little for some good quality vanilla bean paste is so worth it for this recipe. Enjoy this Vanilla Bean Chia Pudding simply as is or feel free to top it with your favorite fruits, berries, or nuts...