Some of these things are not Food like the others . . . (sing along with me, now) . . .
Don't cry, Darling, it's only an onion . . .
I think in food.
The synesthesiac is infinitely more poetic,
dreaming every waking thought into links
of lovely chain bridging the senses
in one graceful catenary arch of a deep synaptic sigh:
lemons taste triangular; music glows first purple,
then exquisite blue: radiant, gradient skies of blue.
I could change it all to solid gold, yet I? I Sigh.
Yes, I too, am given to magical flights, and yet
they all lead, every thought, each sense,
each memory and every moment of experience
is all, forever,
food.
Today’s episode of Foodie Tuesday is brought to you by my new chia pet:
Mocha Chia “Tapioca“
And yes, the quotes are intentional and not Air Quotes, because there’s no actual tapioca involved but this dish tastes remarkably like it, which in my book is an excellent thing, despite having more nutrients and fiber than its textural cousin. I started my recipe, of course, by stealing from a number of similar magazine and online recipes and monkeying around with it to the degree that I think I can safely say it’s all mine by now.
All I did was mix 2-1/2 cups of almond milk (store-bought), 1/2 cup of chia seeds, a pinch of salt and a couple of tablespoons of Splenda sweetened (“sugar-free”) vanilla syrup of the kind sold for coffee and soda sweeteners. I stirred it all together and put it in the refrigerator to soak overnight, stirring a couple of times to break up the clumping and keep the chia seeds suspended in the liquid so they could all get their nice little fattening-up chances. Before the final stirring, I heated up another 2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup in the microwave until good and hot and then melted about a tablespoon of instant coffee crystals (decaf–what I have on hand just for flavoring baking, really), plus four sections of a Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate bar (about two big chomps’ worth, if you’re like me!) into it, stirring until it was smooth. Lastly, that mocha soup got stirred into the Tapi-Chia, if I may coin a word, and dished up for serving. As you can see, it got a bit of candied orange peel and a sprinkling of freshly zipped orange zest to finish, and I must say those went down a treat with the mocha-licious chia pudding. Will I do this one again, you ask? Oh, yes I will. Too easy to both prepare and eat not to consider it a keeper.
Art-Colored Glasses 
and only 24 hours notice required….hmmmmmmmmmm
Well, 24 hours plus a grocery store run if, like me, you don’t happen to keep chia seeds and almond milk just lying around the pantry . . . 🙂
FUN! I have to get some chia seeds, I’m intrigued by them and have yet to taste–I need to taste! Chia cheers!
I’d read about them for some time and seen them mentioned as a sort of Superfood, but when I came across the idea of making them into dessert, that was pretty much irresistible! 🙂
Ohmigod. My sweet tooth is burning for some of that tapioca. Wonderful post, Kathryn.
Needless to say, one of the simpler ‘fixes’ for my own sweet tooth that I’ve come across yet. And I suspect it’s very versatile and could be flavored in any number of different ways. No doubt I’ll have to explore that aspect too eventually! 🙂
Now that is definitely your very own and a keeper! I’ve not seen anything even remotely like this. My brother loves chia due to its healthy properties! Btw, I loved your poem and musical visions of color!! xo smidge
Couldn’t help but think of our synesthesiac Celi when I wrote it. I can only imagine how *she* would describe these things!
xoxo
Good golly miss molly! That’s an improvisational pudding’ if ever i did see one! Creative, inventive, jazzy, cool! And I love loved the shot of the onion and the colorful free verse rocked. Just wow!
Hmmm, did I post this one before or after the choral concert with the vocal jazz ensembles this week? 😉
The onion is yet another example of why I *loooove* digital photographs and Photoshop: a too-dark, too-blurry shot that I could mess around with in PS until it became a usable illustration. One man’s trash, as they say . . . 🙂 .
xo!
The pictures are beautiful. Good appetite!
Well, as you know, I *am* practically always hungry . . . 🙂
Beautiful and brilliant!
🙂 Mandy
That should be your signature line, my dear:
Beautiful and Brilliant Mandy! 🙂
Your title, “I Think In Food”, made this thought pop into my mind: a good sign for a kitchen or restaurant might be “Food Spoken Here”.
Well, good! Let me know when it’s open and I’ll *eat* there too!!!
Really liked this ode. Great photos too.
Thank you kindly!
Are you tryin’ to get us fat, Foodie Tuesday Girl?
Nah, just think: the chia pudding is so full of nutrients and fiber it’s got to be GOOD for you, right? But if I’m going to get better and better rounded, I may as well take you all with me. 🙂
Loved the pic of the onion and found myself trying to figure out what was on those shelves (I zoom therefore I am!) Edible chia??????
That store shot is from an old neighborhood deli that still thrives in the neighborhood where my dad grew up. They make *yummy* ice cream, as well as supplying all of the nice deli condiments and meats and cheeses and serving sandwiches . . . a true NW classic.
Yep, *edible* chia. And pretty tasty, too, when you tart it up as a dessert at least!
Sounds delicious and the pictures are fabulous.
Thank you, m’dear–and for all of *your* delicious writings of every kind, this is my small reciprocation. 🙂
I HAVE to know what the photograph on the top right is! I can see conte’ crayon and pastels in the photo next to it, but for the life of me, I am stumped on the other! Please tell me before I stare it to death!
It’s the stem-end of a big ol’ wonderfully warty and coarse-textured squash, my darling. 🙂