Day 13 - Healthy Treats Without the Holi-Daze!

This Christmas morning I was bundled up in bed. I like putting the covers just slightly over my face, a little over my mouth, to keep my warm breath lingering on my skin before it evaporates into the crisp air. I could hear the shuffled movement in my daughter's room. If my keen mother-hearing was correct she was half out of the bed, peering out her window. The night before we had talked about the importance of 'sleeping in' to ensure that Santa was truly gone. She obviously took it to heart. It was past 8AM, which must be a record.

Her footsteps were deliberately avoiding the rough and creaky spots of the floor as she tip toed out of her room. She stopped. I smiled in my half sleep state, knowing that her vision was focused my way. She was no doubt wondering whether I was awake and if she should go up and take a peek at the tree. I quietly peeked over the blankets to see her walking like the pink panther with a bare bum (she had only the top of her pajamas on because she hates feeling constricted with pants at night) and let out a little giggle.

"Cammie," I whispered as my husband churned a bit next to me. "Go upstairs and see if Santa came." She nodded and rushed upstairs in a rather gentle panic. The wrapped-in-blankets-burrito-body laying next to me groaned. "Aren't you going to get up? It is Christmas!" I said sarcastically. He was raised in a Jewish/New Age household that had no concern for the dead-tree and red-cloaked-fat-man tradition. In fact soon after we found out I was pregnant we got in our first parenting argument years ago; whether to celebrate Christmas. 'LYING to our daughter about something so ridiculous! Why?' he would ask.

Cammie ran down the stairs, with a hurried and stark whisper. "Mom! Santa came!" Moments like this make the seeming fairy tale nature of the myth worth it. Watching the ones I love peel back the layers of wrapping and seeing what mysterious gifts exist is priceless. I see the relevance of this day cascading into all areas of life; if we can tear open the unknown and be delighted by what we see then we can do that with every experience in our day.

A common issue with the holiday in general is expectation (and subsequent disappointment) and obligation to consume the standard traditions in food form. If we cave in to the accepted behavior we may end up feeling depleted by the holidays rather than uplifted by it. Many do not consider that their dread for this time of year could simply be because they abuse their body every time and end up worse off. 

The key to enjoying the holidays is keeping your body healthy and your emotions stable through healthy, awake eating. To be able to absorb all the wonders that it has to offer you, your body must be receptive to good; not occupied with feeling sick, tired or stuffed. 

The chocolates, candies, cakes, pies, gravy, meats and casseroles speckle our counter tops and dining room tables. The abundant feasts of food are the centerpiece at every party. How can we enjoy sweetness and sustenance without putting ourselves into a junk-food daze? At my house nourishing treats are a prime focus. You can have your cake and eat it, too.

Last night I made two batches of treats to have this morning. My focus was making nutrient-rich, healthy, chewy, warm and delicious treats that could be eaten as a decadent breakfast with a warm cup of spicy tea. They are treats that add a deposit into the body, rather than taking anything away from it. And they truly taste like the real thing! The following recipes are 'raw' and require no cooking, although they can be warmed or dehydrated if you like. Here they are with pictures and all:

  No-Bake Gingerbread Ball Cookies   
 (Enzyme, fiber and EFA rich for beautiful skin, energy and delight)

2 cups of soaked and rinsed almonds, ground into flour in a blender
1/2 cup of ground flaxseeds
2 T molasses
2 T honey or 4 soaked dates
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2  teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1 T water

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and incorporate with spoon or hands adding water if you need it. Knead until smooth and a nice gingerbread color. Take a tablespoon and begin making gingerbread balls that you then squish down a bit to make disks. Place in a dehydrator on 105 degrees (or on a low setting in your oven with the door ajar) to make slightly warm or place in the freezer and eat raw!

When my husband saw this picture, his response: "Buns? These do not look like cinnamon buns."

  Raw Gooey Cinnamon Buns
(my favorite holiday treat!)
(Recipe courtesy Gina Renee, L.Ac.)

1-1/4 cup of soaked and rinsed almonds, ground into flour
1 cup ground flax seed
1-1/4 soft pitted dates (that have been soaked for an hour)
1/4 cup water (or more if needed)
1/4 cup softened coconut oil
1/4 cup raisins
2 T ground cinnamon
1 T additional coconut oil melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
A pinch of sea salt

Directions: Mix the almond meal, ground flaxseed, 1 T cinnamon, sea salt and a pinch of vanilla in a bowl. Process the dates, 1/2 of the raisins, water and vanilla into a paste in a food processor/blender/or with your elbow grease :). Remove half of the paste mixture and add it to the dry ingredients along with the 1/4 cup coconut oil. Mix this with your hands until it forms a dough. Spread the dough out on a piece of parchment paper and shape into a 1/4 inch thick rectangle.

Take the rest of the date paste, add the remaining raisins, 1 T cinnamon and 1 T coconut oil. Process until smooth paste. Then, spread into a thin layer onto the dough. Using the parchment paper to help hold everything together, roll the dough into a log. Chill in the freezer and then slice into 1 inch round rolls. Eat fresh and raw or put in a dehydrator overnight (what I did!) and eat them warm in the morning! Yum!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Nat