Chia Power

Jen Reviews--Backed by Science

I received email from Jess Miller at Jenreviews.com inviting me to link to their recent blog post: https://www.jenreviews.com/chia-seeds/

I read the article and found it to be extremely well-researched and easy to read. Plus there are several great recipes at the end.

Chia Growers of Uganda

Joseph Pedott (founder and owner of the Chia Pet company) recently partnered with student volunteers at Feather River College to enable subsistence farmers in the small impoverished village of Mabare, Uganda to grow chia seeds for export.

 We wish them well.

Chia Seed Salad Dressing

When you dress a salad with oil and vinegar, which do you add first?

The oil, of course! Because it clings to the leaves. Then you toss in the vinegar, salt, and seasonings, which stick to the oil, so now, every leaf of lettuce is coated with flavor...salty, sour, yummy!

Fat-free (low calorie) salad dressings have no oil, but instead contain ingredients like Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum, which increase the viscosity of the dressing. Without these thickeners, the vinegar, salt and seasonings would run right off the greens and would pool up in the bottom of the salad bowl. Oh No!

So HERE is the best use of chia seeds ever! Dress your salads with them!

Mix equal parts of chia gel and balsamic vinegar. Add salt and seasonings to taste (fresh garlic, anyone?) Let it sit about 5 minutes so the chia gel can absorb all the flavors. Then pour over your salad and toss it!

The flavored chia gel adheres to each leaf and the salad is delicious and full of omega-3-fatty acids and fiber!

Good for you!

Black Chia Seed vs. White Chia Seed

Between 2007 and 2014, a blogger who calls himself Leisure Guy hosted a discussion on the relative merits of white and black chia seed.

Is Salba (white seeded chia) trademarked and is it a different species? Is there good evidence for its nutritional superiority?  Leisure Guy's readers left 435 informative comments, including my own.

BTW, the person going to jail for harassment is one of the early pioneers of the chia seed industry (see the link in the final comment).

 

 

Chia Pet Evolution

It is a little known fact that the Chia Pet evolved from a more primitive life form,

Murro, the Wonder Pig!

Proof may be found in this 1904 ad from a German book, FLIEGENDE BLATTER, which pictures a grass-growing pig that was popular back in the day.

 

Sehr Gut!

 

Miniature Fairy Garden

I ran across this perfect chia project for children. Read instructions here.

 

 

This is how it looked 5 days after planting!!!

Chia Pet FAQs

Chia Pets are distributed by Joseph Enterprises, a California company that also sells The Clapper. 

If you have any questions about how to care for your Chia Pet, you might want to check out these FAQs.