Recipe: Rose-Whipped Tahini Dates

This is your new favorite, quick and simple, elegantly rustic, and nutrient-dense sweet snack. Dates are considered a superfood in Ayurveda. They are loaded with fiber, cooling to the system, sattvic by nature, and nourishes the Ojas in the body.

What do you Mean by Sattva?

'Sattva' is a coined yogic term that dates back to ancient Ayurvedic principles. Sattva means harmony, intelligence, clarity, balance, health and well-being, neutrality and calmness in both mind and body. It represents the middle path between the two ossiciliating forces of extreme movement / turbulence / intensity (rajas) and ignorance / laziness / dullness (tamas).

Exploring the Energetic Qualities of Food: What are Sattvic Foods?

What we consume influences our well-being on all levels, thoughts and emotions included. Some foods have a stimulating effect on the mind-body, making us feel jittery or even a little irritable. Examples of this fall under the Rajasic food category; caffeine, hot and spicy foods, fried foods, onion and garlic, and even the act of eating too fast.

Tamasic foods on the other hand have a more dulling effect on the mind-body, leaving us feeling heavy, clouded in thought, and lethargic. Examples include canned and frozen foods, lifeless leftovers, overprocessed, overeating and distracted eating.

Sattvic foods leave us feeling light, energized, uplifted, bright, nourished both physically and emotionally. Sattvic food is fresh whole foods prepared with love, eaten slowly and with deep gratitude. Sattvic foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, organic, nuts, seeds and legumes, whole grains, quality dairy products like ghee and whole milk, raw honey, and dates.

There is no list of good and bad foods in Ayurveda, as there is no black and white approach to healthy living and internal success. Your healthy lifestyle is not defined by how much sattvic food makes up your diet. Ayurveda lays out a set of principles, not to be followed by so strictly, but as guidelines encouraging us to favor what is good for us while reducing what is less suitable. A

s we shift our focus to the present moment, we can begin to tune in to what our bodies actually need from us, versus want, inviting us to act in a way that is supportive to our intention.

ROSE-WHIPPED TAHINI DATES

8 dates Mejdool dates

1/4 cup tahini

2 tbsp raw honey

1 tsp rosewater

1/4 tsp ground cardamom

Pinch of pink Himalayan salt

Dried rose petals to garnish

METHOD

Remove the pits from the dates and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, honey, rosewater, cardamom and salt. It should turn into a thick paste. Adjust the flavor as needed. Spoon the mixture into the dates, about 1/2 - 1 tsp per date. Garnish with dried rose petals or Maldon's Sea Salt.

NOTES

• Rosewater can be strong in flavor for some people. If it's a new taste, start with 1/4 - 1/2 tsp or omit altogether.

• You can substitute another nut butter for the tahini if you don't have it on hand. A crowd favorite is using Clean Nature's Maple Nut Granola Butter.

Makes 8 dates

Takes 10 minutes

Copyright 2022, A. Chavez, Original Recipe.

Recipe: Ayurvedic Golden Milk

Golden milk is a yogi's not-so-secret healing beverage for vitality, strength, and mind-body relaxation. It can be enjoyed in the morning as a non-caffeinated tonic, or before bed in lieu of dessert for an unwinding evening.

AYURVEDIC GOLDEN MILK

1 tsp coconut oil or ghee

½ tsp turmeric powder

¼ tsp ginger powder (sub 1/2 tsp grated ginger root)

⅛ tsp cardamom powder

1 cup milk of choice (option to dilute with ½ cup water)

1-2 cracks of black peppercorns

1 tbsp raw honey

METHOD

Bring a small saucepan to low heat. Add fat and let it heat up. Add turmeric, ginger and cardamom and whisk continuously for 1-3 minutes until fragrant. Make sure spices do not clump. Add a little bit of milk if you notice spices are starting to burn. Add the milk and continue whisking. Bring milk to a gentle simmer. Add the black pepper and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and whisk in the honey. Enjoy!

NOTES

• Boiling honey denatures its inherent medicinal properties, leaving it solely as a sugar for culinary purposes. Before adding in raw honey to your golden milk, dip your pinky finger in the liquid. If it can withstand the heat for 3 seconds, the temperature is just right for the honey, and you will still get its medicinal benefits.

• I like to dilute the milk with water, about 3/4 milk to 1/4 water ratio.

• If you're palate is well-versed with spices, increase the

• Tempering the spices (tadka) in a fat is optional. Adding fat increases flavor and aroma, and also creates an environment where vitamins and minerals are bioavailable for the body to digest and properly assimilate.

Makes 1 cup

Takes 5 minutes

Copyright 2022, A. Chavez, Original Recipe.

Recipe: Fresh Almond Milk

This recipe is an all-season staple, but I especially look forward to making it in the colder months when warm beverages are a necessary indulgence. Save and refrigerate the almond pulp to make Almond Pulp Cookies. Homemade almond milk pairs well with Clean Nature's Granola.

FRESH ALMOND MILK

1/2 cup almonds, soaked, with skins peeled (optional)

2 cups water

1 date, pitted (sub 1 tbsp maple syrup or coconut sugar)

Pinch of pink Himalayan salt (optional)

METHOD

Soak almonds overnight in room temperature water. If you're pressed for time, soak almonds in hot water for 2-4 hours. Strain and discard water, then rinse the almonds. For an added bonus, remove the almond skins by hand. The skins are known to have phytates which are nutrient blockers. This is an opportunity to practice a moving meditation and patience. From a culinary perspective, removing the almond skins yields a creamier texture with snow white color.

Blend almonds, water and date for 1-2 minutes. Add pinch of pink Himalayan salt.

Strain liquid through a cheesecloth, chinois or strainer. Save the pulp to make Almond Pulp Bliss Balls (see recipe here). Remaining liquid is your almond milk. Refrigerate for 1-3 days.

NOTES

• For a creamier texture, change the almond to liquid ratio to 2:1 (2 cups water to 1/2 cup almonds).

• Substitute almonds for cashews, pistachios, or nut of choice for other alternative milk.

Makes 2 cups

Takes 5 minutes + soaking time

Copyright 2022, A. Chavez, Original Recipe.