pink grapefruit chia pudding

It’s so fun to see the seasonal fruits of the season hit the market and one we always look forward to this time of year is the arrival of grapefruit!

This citrus gem has always been a family favorite, like FOREVER! I grew up in Colorado where citrus trees did not grow, however my mom’s folks lived in Arizona and had all the citrus trees in their yard. Lemon, lime and the biggest…grapefruit!! So I remember having boxes arrive at our home full of all three fruits, but the bulk of the boxes were grapefruits!!! They weren’t huge, but they were so delicios, so we often had two at a sitting. When we’d visit them in Arizona, we’d always enjoy them picked each morning right off the tree…wow, so many warm memories associated with that tree in their front yard! This is where my siblings and I would grab a stool, climb right up and retreat to and ditch the “heat” that is so abundant there in Arizona! Many long afternoons were spent up in that old tree…eating lunch and sucking on popsicles!

I snapped this picture of the ol’ tree back in 2004 when I was there packing up my grandparents to move from their home of nearly 50 years to be close to my mom in St. George, Utah. The tree had no fruit at that time but the memories where as thick as the grass under my toes. It was a sad farewell to this grand ol’ tree so I just had to take the picture to retain it in my memory.

This year as the grapefruit arrived at Costco I knew that I had to come up with something special to commemorate all the memories. The grapefruit is paired with pomegranate seeds for tender memories – grapefruit reminds me of my grandparents and their home in Arizona and the pomegranate seeds remind me of my angel momma’s home in St. George, Utah where pomegranate trees grow abundantly. A pairing of memories as we head into the holidays – a time to remember family members who have gone on before us, all the family that surrounds us here and the blessings which we all have in abundance.

The chia pudding is flavored with the pink grapefruit juice and a bit of zest…so good! The beauty are those segments and pom seeds – such an eye pleaser! I added the pistachio’s for a contrast of color and texture…so as it turns out, it ended up being the perfect dish for any holiday morning! Prep everything the day ahead and you’re all set for an easy dish the next morning!

Hope you enjoy the dish and that it may create special memories for you and your family!