| ¼ | cup uncooked oats (old fashioned rolled oats recommended; do not use steel cut oats) |
| 1-½ | teaspoons dried chia seeds |
| 1 | cup unsweetened almond milk* (plain or vanilla) |
| ¼ | cup orange juice |
| ¼ | cup low-fat yogurt (Greek yogurt recommended) |
| ½ | cup dried apricots (or 1 cup fresh, frozen, or canned apricots*) |
| ½ | teaspoon almond extract |
| 1-2 | teaspoons honey, optional (or substitute preferred sweetener) |
Add oats and chia seeds to blender; blend on high until texture of flour. Add almond milk & juice to blender; use spoon or spatula to stir in oats/chias from bottom. Add yogurt. Add apricots. Blend on high until desired smoothness. Taste and add sweetener, if needed. Blend again.
Transfer to pint (2 cup) jar or container; refrigerate overnight, or a minimum of 4 hours, so oats, chias, and dried fruit can soften. Will keep in refrigerator at least 2-3 days. Shake before drinking.
IF TOO THICK after the fridge soak, add more juice or milk and shake jar/container or return to blender to combine.
FOR A SMOOTHER CONSISTENCY, return to blender after the fridge soak and blend again.
TO FREEZE: May be frozen after the 4 hour soak in the fridge. To thaw, move to fridge a day ahead so it is thawed for drinking the next day. For faster thaw, place frozen jar/container in bowl of cold water on the counter for 1-2 hours. Shake before drinking.
*If using fresh, frozen, or canned apricots, reduce almond milk to ¾ cup.