Raw 5-Minute Strawberry Chia Jam

 

One Friday morning, a dear friend and her kids invited us to go strawberry picking.

 

 

As we were picking - the royal "we" since the girls mostly frolicked through the strawberry patch - I thought of my Granny. She had passed away several years prior - old and wisened. A lot of life had passed by those wide blue eyes - that's where I get mine. But she always had a smile, the charm never deterred by life's wrinkles.

We would visit her at least once every summer. My Dad would always say "I don't think she's going to be here next year. This is her last year. We need to go visit her."

And so we would go... inevitably, she would always hold on another year. And my Dad would reiterate the previous statement. We can look at it as a cycle or life pattern but I like to think of it as a tradition. Being a non-traditional family, we were more flexible and our traditions far between.

But one summer, I remember Granny sitting in at her table - the same spot she sat in for the last 10 or 20 years. Back to the kitchen wall, facing the TV. She held her cup of coffee in her hand and she'd smile at me. I warmed to her a little more with each smile. She pushed a bowl of strawberries my way.

Of course, I ate all of them... she knew I would since she already deemed me Strawberry Mary.

 

 

And so as we picked the strawberries this last Friday and I watched my baby boy squish a strawberry all over his face and my 4 year old frolicking with her friend, holding their dolls, I wondered what "traditions" my children will remember. Will it be that we were always busy or that we took time to revel in each other's company?

Lately, we've been on the busy bus. Not something I particularly enjoy. I don't like to equate the word "busy" with my sense of self. So I'm using this as a reminder to myself to "not schedule " but to enjoy my day, particularly the time with my husband and children.

And here's something quick and easy to make and enjoy later (or now).

 

Raw 5 Minutes or Less Strawberry Chia Jam

4 cups strawberries
2 spoonfuls of honey (to taste, optional)
1/4 cup chia seeds

 

1. Blend in blender or with immersion blender.
2. Let sit to thicken.
3. Refrigerate and enjoy within one week (this does freeze well).