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Matcha Chia Pudding

One of my self-care rituals is to take a Matcha Break in the afternoon—making my own hot cup of tea has become a soothing addition to my day when working from home. When I am on the go, treating myself to a Matcha Latte with a plant-based milk, hot or iced, is equally satisfying. The health benefits alone make this habit worthwhile, and when my daughters were visiting and craving something more filling and snack-like, I created this Matcha Chia Pudding.

Matcha is sweeter and creamier than green tea, with a “grassiness” to the smell and taste, arguably an acquired taste, but a flavor my family and I love. Chia seeds are nutritionally dense and will thicken any liquid you add them to, yielding a tapioca-like texture with a mildly sweet flavor. So, a sweetener is not necessary, but can certainly be added to this recipe, and the toppings are endless.   

You can use either black or white chia seeds, or a mix. The pudding will continue to thicken as it sits, and you can easily thin it out to taste with a little water or milk before serving. Store the chia pudding in a mason jar or Tupperware for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Yield: Serves 4

Apple Cider Amaro Spritz

In the summer we enjoy sharing our refreshing Amaro Spritz with friends and family. It has become the signature welcome drink at our Sunday Night Neapolitan Pizza Dinner Parties, and I must admit that I am missing it already.

Inspired once again by the incredible Amaro Nonino, I crafted a delightful fall spritz that combines the Nonino’s exquisite blend of macerated herbs, roots, and spices with our favorite locally sourced fresh-pressed apple cider from The Milk Pail in Water Mill, and slices of apple from our own fruit trees. This year, the Apple Cider Amaro Spritz will take center stage as our Thanksgiving welcome drink, gracefully replacing our beloved Cranberry Margarita.

As the trees begin to change colors, our vegetable garden is yielding the last few leeks and peppers, our landscape is transformed into a fall foliage masterpiece, and the few remaining apples and pears on our espalier are at their ripest. It is the perfect moment to toast another wonderful summer, and beautiful Autumn.

autumn landscape

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Yield: Makes 1