CARDAMOM + PEAR SMOOTHIE with vanilla, nutmeg, maca and ashwagandha root

So. This recipe. It comes directly from my own need for an easy breakfast that would carry me through the morning as well as combat my vata-crazy in this seasonal shift. Something light but substantial. Easy to digest but filling. Something that wouldn't leave me feeling chilled inside and out. And something with cardamom. Because, well, I straight up love the stuff.

It's good friends. Really, really good.

Allow me a few notes about some of the lesser-known ingredients:

Ashwagandha root is a revered herb in Ayurveda medicine [ancient sister science to yoga] known as a tonic for longevity and vitality. Tonics are substances that stimulate energy [chi] in a beautifully balanced, sustainable way. It's specifically used where an imbalance of vata is found in the body [for example, feelings of cold or dryness, nervousness or anxiety]. I've found it to be helpful in deepening my sleep, allowing for more rest.

Maca is similar to ashwagandha and prized for its adaptogenic and nutritive [nourishing] properties. An adaptogen improves resistence to stress and supports an overall balance within the body.

Lucuma, made from the fruit of the lucuma tree, is known for both it's caramel-like taste as well as it's anti-inflammatory affect in wound healing. It provides 14 essential trace minerals.


[THE RECIPE]

2 cups milk of choice [Tigernut milk is delicious! Scroll to bottom of link to find instructions for making your own.]
1/2 cup stewed pears*
4 dates, pitted and soaked**
1 teaspoon ashwagandha root powder
1 teaspoon maca powder
1 teaspoon lucuma powder
1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder
1/2 vanilla bean [use both seeds and peel]

*To make stewed pears: peel and cut two medium to large pears into small chunks. Place in a small saucepan, add 1/3 cup of water, pinch of sea salt and a drizzle of maple syrup [optional]. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and then reduce heat to medium-low or a soft simmer. Cook down to about one cup of mixture or until it reduces by half. Set aside to cool. 

**To soak dates: place dates in medium glass jar or bowl and cover with boiling water. Let soak for 10 - 15 minutes. Either drink water or strain and save for other recipes.

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until very smooth. Smoothie with be more liquid than thick. If a thicker mixture is desired, add fresh or frozen chunks of bananas [note: this will cool the over all affect of the smoothie and is not advisable during winter months or when vata dosha is prominent] or half an avocado. 

[BONUS RECIPE! CARDAMOM + PEAR SMOOTHIE CHIA PUDDING]

Mix 2 cups of smoothie mixture with 4 tablespoons of chia seeds. Stir well, let stand for 10 minutes, and then stir again. Refrigerate for an hour or until mixture reaches pudding-like consistency. 

TUMERIC + GINGER LATTE with cardamom, vanilla, and reishi

This is a variation of the cardamom latte I've been really loving these days, this time using fresh ginger and turmeric as the base.

A little time-saving tip: 

Purchase a good amount of ginger and turmeric. If you buy organic you can simply rinse without removing peels. Cut into 1-inch pieces and mince, either by hand or using a food processor or Vitamix, according to manufacturer's instructions. Place a heaping tablespoon of either the minced turmeric and ginger combined or separate, into an ice cube tray or silicone mold and freeze until solid. Remove from mold and store in a glass Ball jar or other storage item of choice. I use these cubes for stir-fry, dahl, soups, tea, etc. It's really convenient to have at the ready!

[THE RECIPE]
Serves 3

1 T. ginger, minced
1 T. turmeric, minced
OR 2 cubes worth of ginger + turmeric combined and prepared as recommened above as "tip"
1 heaping tablespoon whole cardamom pods
1 piece of sliced, dried reishi mushroom
1 whole vanilla bean, cut in half
3 cups milk of choice [I love homemade tigernut milk, scroll down after clicking link for recipe]
1 - 3 T. honey, to taste

Combine ginger, turmeric, cardamom, reishi, and half of a vanilla bean in medium size saucepan. Add 6 cups of water. Bring water to boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer.

Simmer for 45 minutes or until liquid is reduced to half of its original quantity leaving approximately three cups.

Strain liquid, reserving pulp for another batch. Pour tea back into pot. Add milk and honey and slowly warm over low heat to just hot but not boiling. Serve immediately.

CARDAMOM LATTE with ginger, vanilla bean, and reishi

There are times when I'm called to the kitchen less for the creativity of it but more out of a primal desire for something my body desperately needs in that moment. Not in a surface "I'm craving sugar but that's probably covering up a deeper need" sort of way.

This desire is deep and earthy - flowing from a bodily wisdom I have yet to fully understand.

Over time I've learned to pay close attention to this call and surrender to the part of me governed by ancient wisdom. It's been interesting within the context of recipe creation. There's an undeniable inner intuition that drives what I take from the cupboard and add to the pot. In these moments, brain follows visceral.

I call it meditation.

It's less about the recipe and more about the sacred within the daily. It's not unlike waking on a cool summer morning to the sparkle of sunrise wrapped in a dance with mist on the calm of the water outside my window. The world is alive with enchantment and possibility within the dew and earth and air.

It's tangible, physical, earthy magic.

Sometimes I have the wherewithal to write down what my hands are doing. This is one such time and I'm so excited to share it with you. Move slow, feel what your body is doing while you create. Lean over the pot and take in the changing aroma. Feel the steam on your face. Notice what this does in your body. If you have the sudden urge to add something, do it! Follow this beautiful intelligence we each have within the muscle and bone and blood and organs of our body.

Sip mindfully, with loving intention, and smile. Invite a little magic.

Medicinal Note: If you're familiar with Ayurvedic medicine, this tea is excellent for balancing vata and kapha dosha types. It's grounding and gently warming; acts on the spleen, lung, stomach, and large intestine; improves the circulation of chi [life force]; and works to dispel mucus, cold, dampness, and phelgm. The recipe came to me on a very windy, cool spring [vata aggravating] day. Cardamom is such a wonderful whole-body tonic. In addition, reishi mushroom is fantastic for boosting the immune system.


[THE RECIPE]
Serves 3

Note: all herbs dried and cut or whole.

6 c. water
4 T. whole cardamom pods
2 T. fennel seed [optional]
2 tsp. cut ginger
1 whole vanilla bean, cut in half [reserve other half for use at another time]
1 slice reishi mushroom
3 c. tigernut milk or milk of choice
2 - 3 T. pure, raw honey [to taste, orange blossom honey is wonderful]

In a medium size saucepan combine water, cardamom, fennel, ginger, half the vanilla bean, and reishi mushroom. Bring to boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to to simmer and cook for 30 minutes or until liquid is reduced to half [approximately 3 cups].

Meanwhile, place milk and honey in a small saucepan. Heat on low until milk is very warm but not boiling, stirring occasionally.

Pour reduced tea through fine mesh strainer into three large mugs [approximately 1 cup of tea in each mug]. Divide the warmed milk between the mugs [approximately 1 cup of milk in each mug].

Serve immediately or store in refrigerator for 24 - 48 hours to serve at a later time.

These herbs aren't necessarily inexpensive so you can reserve the cooked herbs to use a second time. Tea will be less intense so either reduce water or add a few more herbs.

SPICED PEAR CHUTNEY with ginger, cardamom, and ghee

This is one of my favorite, really basic recipes for the late autumn and winter season. It's sweet, warm, and filled with aromatic spices that heat the body from the inside out.

[THE RECIPE]

8 ripe or very ripe pears, peeled and cut into small cubes
1/4 c. ghee
1 - 3 T. coconut sugar or maple syrup, depending on sweetness desired
1/4 - 1/2 c. water
1 heaping tablespoon minced fresh ginger or 1 tsp. dried ginger
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom seed
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
large pinch or two of Ceylon cinnamon

pinch of freshly ground black pepper

pinch of freshly ground nutmeg

pinch of freshly ground cloves

8 whole medjool dates, pitted and thinly sliced

Peel pears with knife or vegetable peeler. Cut into small, 1-inch chunks and set aside.

In a medium-large pot* over low heat, combine ghee and coconut sugar or syrup. Once the ghee has melted and sugar has been mixed in, add cubed pears, water, ginger, cardamom, and sea salt. Stir to combine. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pears have become very soft but still hold their shape [approximately 30 minutes]. Check for flavor at about the 15 minute mark and adjust as needed [more spices, more water, more sweetener]. Add dates when there is 10 minutes left of cooking time remaining.

Remove from heat and let cool about 10 minutes or until chutney is warm but not hot. Serve warm. Top with additional dates slices and fresh, minced or very thinly sliced ginger.

*You could also make this in a Crock-pot. Mix together all ingredients in Crock-pot, cover and cook for 2 - 3 hours on high or until pears are very soft but hold their shape.

SPICED APPLE PORRIDGE

As the cooler weather sets in, I naturally tend to gravitate towards the warmer blessings of life - a fire in the fireplace, endless mugs of hot tea [ginger is a favorite right now], heavy blankets, hooded sweatshirts, soups and stews and warm applesauce.

For me, this dish is nourishing with a hint of sweet, rich with flavor and depth, and helps keep me snug through these windy, cold days. The added spices are perfect for warming the body from the inside out.

Apples are in full swing if you choose to make your applesauce homemade. I prefer a mixed apple sauce and, here's a little secret, good farmers know their apples well. Generally they've been making applesauce from their own apples for years and can give you advice on which apples to choose. I've found asking my farmer to put together a basket of blended sauce apples is key to a successful end result. You can find an apple farmer at your local farmer's market or check out Local Harvest and search an organic farmer who grows apples [there are many out there who are uncertified but have amazing practices].

[THE RECIPE]
Single Serving

1 c. applesauce [unsweetened]
1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
pinch of freshly ground black pepper
pinch of ginger powder
1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 tsp. Ceylon cinnamon powder [optional]
1/2 c. seed or nut milk of choice [walnut and hemp milk are lovely]

In a small saucepan warm applesauce and spices over low heat. Once the spiced sauce is very warm [but not quite hot], remove from heat and pour into a single serving bowl. Pour milk over sauce, serve immediately, and enjoy!

Additional Add-In Options: toasted walnuts or almonds, ground flax or chia seed, raw stevia / honey / maple syrup if added sweetness is desired, pinch of ground cloves or cardamom, toasted coconut flakes, soaked raisins or currants, dried fruit of choice

GHEE (CLARIFIED BUTTER)

[THE RECIPE]

4 sticks of unsalted, organic butter

medium size sauce pan

cheesecloth and rubber band

medium size glass jar with lid

Prepare jar by securing cheesecloth over mouth of jar with rubber band, allowing for a little dip in cloth.

Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat. Butter will start to boil rapidly, loudly, and create a foamy top. Allow to boil at medium heat until the foam diminishes and the boiling slows down

This is the point when you need to watch it carefully. Tip the pot slightly so you can see the bottom of the inside of the pan. If the remnants that have sunk to the bottom have turned golden

brown, remove pan from heat immediately. If not, cook until golden brown on bottom, checking every 10 - 20 seconds. Remnants will go from white to brown very quickly.

Pour into jar through cheesecloth. Let sit until cool and firm. Ghee does not need to be refrigerated.

The cooking process should take 20 minutes and making your own ghee will save you a lot of money!