Celebrate Love with Ojas Truffles

"Ojas" is the “sap or life” that supports and stabilizes the body and gives the mind a sense of calm. In Ayurveda, the ancient holistic medicine from India, Ojas is the vital essence that promotes health and immunity. Certain foods and spices help build ojas. These truffles are excellent in providing nourishment and build our resilience during the cooler winter months.

Dates, Almonds and Honey build Ojas – energy, vitality, strength, stamina, virility and resilience. The spices –cardamom and ginger balance the heaviness of the nuts. These truffles are sugar free, dairy free and gluten free and excellent to make as holiday treats to share with family and friends.

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO MAKE THESE DECADENT OJAS TRUFFLES

RECIPE FOR OJAS TRUFFLES

Makes about 30 truffles - teaspoon size

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup dates – chopped and pitted

• ½ cup almonds

• ½ cup walnuts or pecans

• ½ cup pistachios

• ¼ cup unsweetened desiccated coconut

• ¼ cup raw cacao nibs (optional)

• ¼ cup hemp hearts

• ¼ cup raw and unfiltered honey

Spices

• ¼ teaspoon dry ginger powder

• ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder

OR

• ½ teaspoon beSPICED's Chai Masala

DIRECTIONS

• Add all the ingredients in a food processor and coarse grind the mixture to keep it a little chunky.

• If the mixture is too dry, add a little more honey to bind all the ingredients together.

• Roll into small teaspoon size balls and chill in the refrigerator for 30 mins.

Options!!

• Roll the truffles with shredded coconut or crushed pistachios.

• To make it completely vegan, add almond butter in place of honey to bind all the ingredients.

• Instead of truffles, make cylindrical logs. Roll the logs with desiccated coconut and slice in ¼ inch thickness.

• Dip the truffles or sliced bars in dark chocolate to make chocolate covered delights!!

Soaked Almonds - Morning Ritual for Fall and Winter Months

Almonds are energizing and one of the healthiest nuts provided to us by Mother Nature. One of my morning rituals during fall and winter months is peeling almonds that were soaked the previous night so we can enjoy them first thing in the morning before breakfast. Placing about 10 almonds for each of us in pretty cups makes it appealing and also makes perfect portion size.

Ancient Wisdom of Ayurveda:

• Soaking almonds are a great way to reduce pitta aggravation

• Makes them easy to digest.

• Eating a few soaked and peeled almonds (about 12-15) every morning is also helpful to increase Ojas or our vital essence.

• Provides adequate unctuous and warm quality in the cold and dry month of fall and winter

Modern Evidence Based Science:

• Almonds and other nuts contain phytic acid, a substance that inhibits our body’s ability to fully absorb and assimilate all the nutrients. By soaking them over night or for several hours, the phytic acid is broken down and the nutrients can be absorbed easily.

• One serving of almonds (one ounce or about 23 nuts) provides just 129 calories, and has 6 grams of plant protein and 4 grams of filling dietary fiber, 13 grams of good quality monounsaturated fat and tons of vitamins and minerals.

Have you had your almonds today? If not, start this practice and soak some almonds before your go to bed tonight so you can begin a new morning ritual like me.

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