3-Step Chia Jam

A lot of great things… start with three steps.

You’ve got your rock classic “Gimme Three Steps” by Lynyrd Skynyrd , the ever-catchy “Three Special Steps,” song from the Special Agent Oso show (if you have preschoolers, you know this jam well), and now I give you a “three step” chia seed dish, that will have you singing your own special tune! (Or, at the very least, it’ll have you in and out of the kitchen in 5 minutes.)

3 Step Chia Jam ingredients:
1 c. organic strawberries
1 to 2 dates
1 Tbs. chia seeds
~makes 3/4’s of a cup

1.Take your berries and dates and pulse them in a food processor or blender. (I specifically bought this Ninja blender for small jobs like this and I absolutely love it.) Once blended, stir in your chia seeds by hand.

2.Transfer the mixture into an air tight container and store it in the fridge. And… that’s it!

**A couple things to note: you can use fresh or frozen berries. If you’re using frozen berries, make sure to thaw them first. You can also use blueberries or blackberries, just keep the measurements the same.

I usually make this with just one date because medjool dates are larger and sweet. If you like things a little sweeter, or if you’re using smaller dates, blend in two dates.

The chia seeds serve as a thickener in this jam, so you really need them for this dish. Not to mention, chia seeds are a great source of calcium, protein and fiber. They’re also a great energy source and will help you feel fuller longer. It’s the perfect fuel for your kids to get loaded up on in the morning.

This jam is perfect on toast for breakfast, or for making PB&J sandwiches for lunch. I’ll spread it on rice cakes as a snack for the kids, and even use a dollop to garnish their oatmeal. Lots of things to do with fresh jam.

If you store it in the fridge in an air-tight container, it should last you a few weeks. This formula makes 3/4’s of a cup. I find this amount will last us a good week, but you can easily double the recipe if you want more.