quick strawberry + chia seed jam

It's a test day today! My last chemistry exam! I can't believe that this semester is already over, my first two years of university have flown by! Tom and I are now gearing up to move to the big smoke; Honolulu. I am continuing school at University of Hawaii at Manoa and I couldn't be happier! I have to get through this last week of finals first though, and this breaky is the perfect brain fuel to start the day!

I hardly ever buy jam or preserves. It's just all that added sugar, it's so unnecessary! But I have a beautiful loaf of multigrain seed bread that brought on a toast and jam craving. I have seen chia seed jam done many ways, and a lot of them involve cooking the fruit. But... if you use frozen berries that have been thawed, they are already partially broken down and no cooking is needed!

• 2 cups frozen strawberries (thawed in the fridge or at room temp)
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Blend these ingredients together in a blender. If you want a few chunks, blend only half of the berries and mash the other half with a fork.

• 3 Tbsp chia seeds

Now add the chia seeds, stirring or whisking until fully combined. Let this set in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes.

And thats it! Apply a very liberal amount to your choice of toast, because it's guilt-free; loaded with antioxidants, omega-3's, fiber, and protein!