Spices are packed with medicinal benefits and taste great. Use them abundantly over the holidays – it’s starting to smell a lot like Christmas!

Christmas Pudding Raw Bliss Balls (yields 14 balls)

Ingredients:

1½ cup pecans or almonds

1/4 cup raw cacao powder

½ cup dried cranberries

3 dried figs, roughly chopped

3 medjool or 6 normal dates, chopped and pitted

Zest of 1 orange

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground ginger, or freshly grated

Icing

1/4 cup cashews, soaked in water for 2 hours

½ cup canned coconut cream (only the thick part)

3 tbsp maple syrup

Dash of vanilla bean powder

Decorations

Goji berries, marzipan holly leaves, fresh mint

Method:

Add the almonds or pecans to a food processor and process until medium crumbs

Add the rest of the bliss ball ingredients and process until combined, add a dash of water or orange juice, then process again until your mixture comes together, roll into balls then set aside

For the icing, drain the cashews and add to a blender with the rest of the ingredients. Blend until combined. It need to be the consistency of thin yogurt – if too runny set aside in the freezer for 30 minutes, or until slightly thickened. When it is the texture of thin yogurt, use a spoon to drizzle onto the balls and decorate.  I recommend flattening their bottoms so they don’t roll over and spoil!

Store in an airtight container in fridge for up to 5 days or freezer up to a month

 

Chai Spice Mix

Make your own chai spice to spice up your tea, porridge or a warm chia porridge.

Add turmeric to the mix, steep in your warm nut milk, sweeten to taste and you have golden milk – so versatile

Ingredients:

3 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground cardamom

1/4- 1/2 tsp black pepper

Method:

Combine, and use ½-1 teaspoon per serving

 

Nourishing tips

Ginger: Acts as a carminative (it prevents flatulence) and an intestinal spasmolytic (it soothes the intestinal tract). It’s a remedy for travel sickness, and for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Ginger also seems to have an analgesic effect on the joints. Gingerols, the potent anti-inflammatory compounds found in ginger, reducesthe pain and improves the mobility of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

Cinnamon: Rich in antioxidants, inhibiting cancer growth, helps balance blood sugar, supporting diabetes and obesity. Immune booster and relieves bad breath, anti-fungal used for candida, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory the bark and oil.

Nutmeg: Rich in minerals manganese, (regulating blood sugar, metabolizing carbohydrates, and absorbing calcium), potassium and magnesium.

 

Written by Suzanne Garaty

About the author Suzanne is a Nutritional Therapist trained in London at College of Naturopathic medicine. She has 25 years experience as a chef and recently trained in raw foods, at a gourmet level with Matthew Kenney. Suzanne’s business is Vital Nutrition which she founded in 2008. She offers private consultancies focusing on diet and lifestyle improvements supporting patients on their journey to optimum health. Her regular cookery workshops are delicious, fun and educational and her cooking skills are available to private clients, on retreats and for chef training.