Chocolate Chia Pudding (My Latest Obsession)

This has become my go-to when I want something sweet, comforting, and satisfying—but still nourishing. It feels like a rich dessert, yet it’s made with simple, wholesome ingredients. I love that it takes just minutes to prepare, and by the time I’m ready for something indulgent, it’s already waiting in the fridge.

It is sweet and tastes like the best cheat and yet it is healthy and high protein!

Ingredients

• 1 cup liquid (milk, water, coconut beverage, almond milk — or my favorite: coffee)
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder or 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
• Stevia, optional
• Flavoring, optional (vanilla, maple, almond, etc.)
• Flaxseed, optional

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Instructions

1. Add everything to a mason jar (or any jar with a lid) and shake well.
2. Scrape down any seeds stuck to the sides and shake again.
3. After 1 hour, stir again — this step is crucial to prevent clumping.
4. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
5. For a smoother texture, blend before chilling (optional - I personally like the crunch).

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Flavor Ideas (Using the Base Recipe)

Add extras to the jar, shake, then chill as directed.

Black Forest

• 1/4 cup chopped cherries
• Optional: a drop of almond extract

Berry Chocolate

• 1/4 cup frozen berries (raspberries are especially good)

Spiced Chocolate

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ginger
• 1/8 tsp cardamom
• 1/8 tsp cloves

Peanut Butter Chocolate

• 3 Tbsp peanut butter

Breakfast Oat Version

• 1/4 cup oats
• Maple extract + cinnamon

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Extra Add-Ins

• Jam
• Coconut
• Nuts
• Honey or maple syrup

Fresh Chicken Sausage Balls

I recently got a Ninja Food Processor and decided to make fresh ground chicken sausage balls. I may love these even more than my sausage balls...and that is saying a LOT! I’ve found that the order matters - start with dry ingredients and save the wet for last - and cleanup is so much easier. When I’m done, I just add hot water and a little soap, let it run, and it basically cleans itself. So easy!

First, I shred the cheese and put it aside in a bowl. Then I pulse the onion until finely chopped and add that to the cheese in the bowl.

Finally, I add chunks of fresh boneless chicken breasts to the food processor and pulse until it’s nicely ground. Then everything gets put back into the food processor bowl and mixed together and I make my chicken balls. I do mine about the size of a small golf ball and sometimes press them down to make them more of a 'patty'.

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✨ Why I’ll Never Go Back to Store-Bought

I am honestly amazed at how fresh these chicken balls taste—and how little grease they have.

Once you realize how many additives are in store-bought chicken sausage, and then taste how good homemade can be, it’s hard to go back.

The sky is the limit with the flavor combinations but, for me, just chicken, cheese and onions was AMAZING! 🤍

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🌿 Mix (Per 1 lb of Chicken)

• 
  1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• ½ tsp garlic powder

Cheese - asiago, swiss, cheddar or even feta

Onion - red or white

Seasonings - S&P are a must but then you can experiment: thyme, rosemary, garlic or whatever you
have in your spice cabinet

Vegetables - you could add in apple, spinach or experiment with whatever else you have in your veggie drawer

Egg - optional. Personally, I like it better without the egg as you get more of the chicken flavor

I make these into "egg sized" balls and flatten them out in the airfryer. Cook for 10 minutes at 400F

Easy Fancy Cheese Ball

I love using my food processor for this recipe—it makes everything so quick and easy. The key is doing things in the right order so you don’t have to keep stopping to clean it out. I’ve written the steps exactly how I do them.

If you prefer to chop everything by hand, you can absolutely do that… but you’ll be missing out on the joy of using a food processor 😊

Easy Fancy Cheese Ball

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups pecans
• Fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 package ranch dressing mix
• 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese

Instructions

1. Add pecans to the food processor and chop. Transfer to a small bowl.
2. Add parsley to the food processor and chop. Add to the same bowl as the pecans.
3. Insert the shredding disc and shred the cheese.
4. Switch to the dough blade. Add cream cheese, ranch mix, and shredded cheese. Mix until well combined.
5. Transfer mixture onto plastic wrap and form into a ball.
6. Wrap and freeze for about 10 minutes to make it easier to handle.
7. Place about ¼ of the pecan/parsley mixture onto wax paper.
8. Unwrap the cheese ball placing it on top the mixture above and then press/roll the rest of the mixture to the remaining ball, pressing gently to coat completely.
9. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Below is how I store it in the fridge - wrapped until ready to transfer it to a plate to serve

Sunday Chat: Easter - He Is Risen!

 

Mary was outside Jesus tomb crying 

when he appeared to her John 20:11-18

“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, 

“Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending 

to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, 

“I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

Matthew 28:910

The women ran quickly from the tomb. 

They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, 

and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 

And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. 

And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him

Luke 24:34 

“The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter

John 20:19-20

Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” 

he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds 

in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when

they saw the Lord! 

Acts 1:3

During the forty days after he suffered and died, 

he appeared to the apostles from time to time, 

and he proved to them in many ways that he was 

actually alive. And he talked to them about 

the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:6

After that, he was seen by more than 500 

of his followers at one time

HOW 10 DISCIPLES DIED

 Peter 

Crucified upside down in Rome 

(requested it because he didn’t feel worthy to die like Jesus) 

 Andrew 

Crucified on an X-shaped cross 

(often called St. Andrew’s cross) 

 James the Greater 

Killed by the sword (beheaded) under King Herod  Acts 12:2 

 Philip 

Traditionally crucified or possibly stoned in Asia Minor 

 Bartholomew 

Believed to have been flayed alive and then beheaded 

 Matthew 

Traditions vary: stabbed, burned, or beheaded in Ethiopia or Persia 

 Thomas 

Speared to death in India 

 James the Less 

Thrown from the temple, then beaten to death 

 Thaddeus 

Killed with arrows or a club (traditions vary) 

 Simon the Zealot 

Possibly sawed in half or killed in Persia