Better for Me by Joyce

My Berry Special Chia Pudding What’s inside this cute cup? A splash of coconut milk, chewy organic chia seeds, sweet and tart berries, with a squeeze of lime juice, is all you need to whip up this refreshingly light pudding.

Here’s how you make this tasty treat: Ingredients: • 1 ½ cups coconut milk • ½ cup fresh/frozen berries • 1 freshly squeezed lime • 1 scoop of  berry hibiscus • ½ cup of Hunter's Gourmet Organic Chia Seeds Preparation: 1. Chuck all the ingredients (except chia seeds) into a blender. 2. Blend at high speed for 20-30 secs till the mixture turns smooth and creamy. 3. Add the chia seeds. Pulse a few times. 4. Let the mixture set. (5 mins) 5. Pulse once or twice before shifting it into a container. 6. Refrigerate for 3 hrs (or overnight) 7. Stir once, before scooping it out. Lastly, garnish it with fresh mint, berries, and any other fruity topping you desire. Then voila your healthy snackis ready to go. This chia pudding is a perfect way to steer clear of calorie-laden food. It also satisfies your sweet tooth without any artificial additives.

Hi there, I’m Joyce! The buzz around my Instagram food feed is that I have a natural talent for cooking up scrumptious snacks and healthy meals. You’d agree if you ever scrolled down @joyfulhomecooking. However, those pretty pictures will never tell you what’s happening behind the scene. So I decided to come clean and share the origins of my cooking journey with you. Believe it or not, I was your average college student that survived on pre-made mixes and food deliveries as I caught up with my favorite shows. The only fancy food I ate was when I coaxed my brother to treat us to Michelin star restaurants. Not to forget the extravagant Lebanese feasts I shared with my family whenever I was home for the holidays. Unwittingly, these happy memories became the blueprint for my cooking ventures. I guess all the eating out, travel plans, and copious amount of cooking shows I watched did come to good use in the end.

So, what made a foodie like me step into the kitchen? One fine day I met the man of my dreams―Ronnie. We walked down the aisle promising to keep each other happy as we explore the world and all its cuisines. His only request was that I made sure he didn’t skip his diet plan when we’re at home. If you’ve ever read the back of a store-bought mix, then you know that this is next to impossible. So I pulled up my sleeves, picked up my phone, and called my mom to help. Being a Lebanese mother, she suggested the inevitable thing... I had to start stirring the pot. This was a daunting task for an inexperienced cook like me. It took a lot of failed attempts to finally come up with something edible. Yet, despite all his jibes, Ronnie willingly ate whatever I served (even when it was overcooked!).