Let’s get right down to business today.
Why?
Because I’m slightly busy getting ready for a trip to Portland tomorrow.
For what?
To shoot Mama Pea’s second cookbook!
For how long?
A full week!
Clothing, camera equipment, and random photography props, are currently strewn about the house. Does anyone else like to make a to-do list with 584 things on it the day before they go out of town?
That would be me.
One thing I did today? Made 4 new creations to share with you lovely people.
Inspired by Tom Haverfod and his hilarious food nick names. Please tell me you watch Parks and Rec!!
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It’s been far too long since my last bowl of popped amaranth. Surprisingly filling, and a cinch to make. Well, once you figure out the proper heat setting for your stove, it’s a cinch. It varies quite a bit but if your stove is hot enough the amaranth should pop within seconds.
Fluffy, crunchy, goodness.
And quite nutrient dense.
180 cals – 3g fat – 32g carbs – 4.5g fiber – 7g of protein for 1/4c [1 1/2c popped] – 21% iron
As an alternative to adding a handful of different toppings and pouring milk overtop, I’ve come up with a few cereal sauce recipes for you to enjoy.
I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you pour this on popped amaranth, or just slurp straight from the glass.
These are really quite simple, and will take any bowl of cereal to the next level.
Pop 1/4c – 6T amaranth, which yields 1.5-2c popped amaranth. Directions here.
Blueberry Banana Protein
- 3/4c blueberries
- 1/2 banana
- 1c milk
- 3T protein powder
Chocolate Cherry Chia
- 3/4c cherries
- 1T unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1c milk
- 1T chia seeds
*If you refrigerate this for 5-10min after blending it will thicken substantially.
Cinnamon Banana Butter
- 1.5T almond butter
- 1/2T ground flax
- 1/2 banana
- 1c milk
- 1t cinnamon
Peanut Butter “Monster” [as coined by Angela]
- 2c raw spinach
- 1.5T peanut butter
- 1c milk
- 1t honey
- For each recipe, blend all ingredients until smooth.
*Use frozen fruit for a thicker consistency.
Of course, you can add a crunchy topping if you like.
See you from the West coast!
Other cereal sauce recipes.
Ashley
What would Tom Haverford call “popped amaranth?”
PDF 
how fun are those colorful cereal sauces!? #cowmilkisoverrated haha
safe travels to the pea house!
These are so inventive! I have never seen these before, can’t wait to try them, especially the peanut butter monster (theres something about getting greens in the morning that makes me feel good).
I completely agree!! Enjoy!
oh my gosh. i freaking love “parks and rec”. and tom. or should i say aziz.
those sound really great, but the pictures are even better! seriously. they’re beautiful!
Thank you Sarah!! Glad we’re on the same page with P+R!
Oh I love the simplicity of the photos; I know it wasn’t simple in effort but in styling, and in what you did to get the shot, I dig it all.
The bowls of grains, the pour shots, the colors…beautiful!
Thanks Averie!!! I totally get what you’re saying.
I’d love a bowl of this, but I tried popping amaranth once and it burned.
Enjoy Portland and the Peas! We’re supposed to be getting a ton of rain over the next few days!
That is what I hear!! I hope it’s still semi-bright outside so I can get some natural light!
Beautiful colors!
Very fun! Love this idea. Like smoothie in a bowl, I suppose!
Have a great trip, looking forward to hearing all about it.
Have fun, lady!!!
Ahh so jealous of your upcoming trip! But wishing you the best time.
What a great idea… I love this! That cherry chocolate chia is right up my ally. Anytime I can have chocolate and pass it off as healthy is a winner to me! Where did you find those spoons? I’m obsessed!
I know! I feel the same way about chocolate. Yumm! The spoons are from crate + barrel!
parks and rec is my favorite show and tomhaverfoods.com is probably my favorite website haha
Weee have so much fun in Portland and send me some cookies! (I say this because I know there will have to be cookies involved)
Hahaha, I am sure there will be cookies!
hope you girls have fun! i can’t wait to see the pictures
Ha! I love this! Have fun with the Pea family.
Love this! Have fun with the Peas! I’m sure there will be no lack of laughs, excitement, and amazing food!
You are so very right!
I am a huge fan of “cereal sauce”, I have never been a cereal and milk fan but find myself now pouring different smoothies overs my dry cereal all the time
how cool! I am loving the colours
very cool idea, cereal sauce, will have to give it a try! And have fun with your photo shoots!
hahahhaha! this is the best post EVER AShley! the colors are so fun!!!!!!
I was “haha”-ing about the cereal sauce…now that I look again, it looks like I’m just an idiot laughing at your seriously awesome post…I promise I’m only that weird in other ways…not just a rude gal
I really love the photos of the colourful ‘cereal juices’!!! So pretty!
Have a great time with the Peas!!!
I’ll be making your protein granola bars again today (I make them pretty much every week!) and I will use some popped amaranth instead of puffed rice! Should be good…
What a fabulous idea!! I need to pop a huge batch so I have it on hand as an ingredient and not just cereal!
Safe travels…sounds like so much fun!
very creative idea. I feel like young kids would LOVE something like this- colorful milk!
Oh man, how I love P&R!!
I had banana pineapple green monster “sauce” with kamut puffs this morning…so very delicious! I can’t wait to try you creations! They look like a great way to getdiegard cereal eaters (ska, my family) to eat a more nutritious breakfast. Who says no to purple milk?
Jealous of your time in Oregon!! Kiss Lulu and Gigi for me!!
Have fun shooting! That’s great!
Hahahaha – Tom is the BEST character on that show. I love him.
I wish I were as witty as he were…I don’t think any of my suggestions would hold up to his standards.
What a great way to mix up the cereal routine! Heathly AND colorful
*healthy
I hope you enjoy Portland! I just got back here from a midwest trip and have a renewed sense of appreciation for all the green!
Also, Tom is my favorite character on Parks and Rec too!
I’m already enjoying the green!
Those “cereal sauces” are so pretty! I’ll admit I’ve never had cereal without a normal looking milk of some kind but this looks like way more fun (and healthy!)
I’m new to it myself, and may never go back!
I don’t watch Parks and Rec, but had to tune in last week when Paul Rudd was on (I LOVE HIM.)!
I love Tom Haverfod though- I rented 30 Minutes or Less from Redbox a few weeks ago, and the movie is funny… but he is HILARIOUS. I just love his voice! I should start watching P&R just because of that.
And how timely of you to post about Amaranth! I found a bag of it while I was cleaning out my pantry the other day. I am not so good at popping it properly, but LOVE it when I have… I just usually end up burning it though. I’ll have to read up on your last post about it.
I saw that movie too! He definitely was hilarious.
The key is making sure the pan is hot enough before putting it in. It should start popping within 1-3 seconds. Also, only popping 1-2T at a time. 
It definitely took me a handful of tries to figure out the right heat, etc.
Love the colors of the cereal sauce (and reference to Parks and Rec!).
Thanks Becky!
TOM HAVERFORD! I am obsessed with Parks and Rec. Jean Ralphio and Tom Haverford together are the best TV duo everrrr.
Also, your cereal sauce looks perfect.
Yes!!! They are pretty fantastic! And thanks
Your photography in this post is beautiful–I love the colors of the different milks.
I have tried making popped amaranth a couple times but I always burn most of it and still have a lot of it end up unpopped. Do you have any tips? I have an electric range, maybe that makes a difference?
Aw, thanks so much Audrey! I have a big list of tips somewhere…not sure if it’s in that tutorial post or not. Basically, making sure the pan/pot is hot enough is key. It needs to be fully preheated when you put the amaranth in it. It should popping within 1-3 seconds. If it doesn’t, the pan isn’t hot enough. I had an electric range and while it was harder, I still got it to work. I haven’t ever used non-stick pans though…not sure what you’re using.
I heard that you can pop amaranth in a hot air popcorn popper – ever tried?
I’ve heard it pops, but that it also makes a gigantic mess and sprays the amaranth everywhere!
Just started watching parks and rec, that guy is funny!
And these look amazing! Takes a reg bowl of puffed amaranth to a whole new level!
And have a safe trip! It’s raining here today
. And I’m just across the bridge from PDX so it’s probably raining there too 
It’s okay…my skin needs the hydration!
I am a cereal monster, so I typically eat cereal using protein shakes as the “milk” so I can eat it more often. Although, when you do it, it’s much prettier
Have fun at Sarah’s! Totally jealous.
Popped amaranth is one of my favorite breakfasts! I can’t wait to try all four of these recipes – especially the chocolate cherry chia version – chocolate for breakfast is always a good thing! I love all of your other “cereal sauces,” so I know these will be amazing too!
I just made some popped amaranth with the blueberry banana protein cereal sauce, and it was delicious! With all these fun options, I may never go back to plain milk on my cereal again! Thanks for the wonderful recipes!
Yummm, wish that was my breakfast! Although I did have a delicious buckwheat bake!
So, I received an email from my sister saying…have you ever tried amaranth? I wonder where she got that from! Lol. I just turned her on to your site when I made her your maple cinnamon almond butter (to die for!). She also just made your apple sage chickpea burgers which were great in a wrap I had with spinach and hummus!
Have fun with the Peas!
That’s too funny!! Thanks for passing my site along to your sister!
I need to make that AB soon!! The burgers sound awesome with spinach and hummus!
Okay,you’ve finally done it! I’m convinced to try popped amaranth. Your cereal sauce looks scrumptious too, haha! Hope you’re having a blast with Mama Pea!!
Those colors are gorgeous! When I move and have a bigger, better kitchen I will have to add this to my list of things to try!
This is a totally awesome idea! Great job, and beautiful photos.
I’ve tried popping amaranth but burn it every time and give up. . is there any other way I could make it?
That’s the only way I know how! Do you think you have your heat high enough and your pan pre-heated for long enough? Those are my two best tips!
It should start popping within 1-3 seconds if the pan is hot enough.
I love this idea…so clever!!
I am a cerealaholic and usually just stick to milk or almond milk. This is a stroke of pure genius. I add fruit all the time to my cereal bowl but this is ever so much more fun!
I’m so glad you like the “sauce” idea!
[...] the idea of cereal sauce, how did I miss the pumpkin cream [...]
These look AH-MAY-ZING!!!!!!! I am in love with your website and LOVE that you live in COLORADO!! (me too
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i rather drink a smoothie than mix with cereal ..