Welcome to my holiday elixir series! Here you will be learning three new
recipes one at a time, that you can incorporate into your holidays in a
delicious, yet nourishing way. When the weather starts to turn from warm to
cool we are welcomed by classic seasonal flavours that we all know and
love. I’m here to honor those familiar, warm and spicy flavours but also turn
them up a notch in the favor of health and healing.
Of course these blog posts are for everyone, from the absolute new comer
to the seasoned herbalist. BUT! I am especially writing these blog posts for
people that are new to herbs, elixirs and witches brew alike. I wanted to
create recipes that were delicious, tangible, relatable and straight forward
for everyone!
There is nothing more exciting than getting festive, cozying up to loved
ones with familiar foods and warming up with hot drinks. There are so
many classic hot drinks that we all know and love to enjoy over the winter
months. A lot of these hot beverages remind us of growing up, being a kid,
being with family and just enjoying life in general. I thought to myself, what
better way to introduce something new while fusing it with something old
and familiar? This way you get the best of the both worlds.
First off, what the heck is an elixir? In more serious words you could say it is: An alchemic upgraded liquid preparation that serves the benefits of health and longevity.
OR in other simple terms you could say: A super delicious, warm, sometimes cold, sometimes sweet drink that helps to deliver medicine into the body.
Elixirs always have certain components in them like fat or sugar to drive medicine into the bodies cells. Because of the sugar and fat content of these magical drinks they can often be used as
a breakfast replacement or a hearty snack.
They leave you feeling full and nourished. There are so many different variations you can make with all sorts of herbs, plants and flavours. The possibilities are endless really!
Sometimes elixirs that have a lot of ingredients can seem a bit complicated
and overwhelming to people who may not be familiar with a lot of the
medicinal herbs being used. I am here to show how easy it can be to
incorporate these healing drinks into your holiday tradition in an easy and
fun way!
SO without further ado, let me introduce to my first holiday elixir! I call it
“The Happy Adrenal Pumpkin Spice Latte”. This creamy, inviting and
warm drink will ignite your senses with warm spices while also providing a
few herbs to help support you during the cold winter months. I am going to
list what herbs I included and exactly why they are in the drink. All of these
herbs can be found at the Light Cellar and at almost any health food store
around the city.
The Light Cellar’s Pumpkin Spice Blend:
Ah! This pumpkin spice blend is amazing! It is made using only the finest spices around. Raw and organic, leaving it full of nutrients with a huge punch of flavour and aroma. I included this blend because it is already in the perfect proportions for flavour and what would a pumpkin spice latte be without the spice?!
This blend includes cinnamon, ginger, allspice and other organic spices. Without going into great detail about each spice, all together this blend is amazing for regulating blood sugar, digestion, providing antioxidants and of course to taste AMAZING!
Ashwagandha:
When summer turns to Fall and the pace of life starts pick up, we might find ourselves busier and maybe with stress levels rising. During times of stress and exertion it is important to support the adrenal glands to make sure the body is not becoming drained or worn out.
The adrenals are little glands that provide us with adrenaline, cortisol and aldosterone. The adrenals also control other hormones within the body. They are especially active in times of stress. Ashwagandha is a prized herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
There have been studies showing ashwagandha to be effective for decreasing stress, lowering symptoms of fatigue, reducing cortisol and cholesterol levels and providing energy for some. All of this make it a perfect herb to support the adrenals during the busy holiday months.
Eleuthero:
Often referred to as Siberian Ginseng, this herb is taken to help combat stress and keep the immune system healthy. There is growing scientific evidence that this herb can be used for reducing mental and physical stress, reducing fatigue and increasing concentration. Making this beauty another perfect addition to help you get through the cold, especially you hard working students!
Mucuna:
This is where the “Happy” part comes in. This herb happens to be one of my absolute favourites and has also been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Mucuna is a vine like plant that has pods attached to it that are covered in a velvet like fuzz. Mucuna contains naturally occurring levodopa which is a precursor to dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for helping us feel motivated and is a part of the bodily systems that make us feel happy. Making this herb another great addition to support mood during the cold and wintery months.
To wrap everything up, I will provide the recipe for the delectable warm concoction and leave the rest up to you to recreate this newly upgraded old classic. Not only is this drink absolutely delicious, it will do wonders for your mind, body and soul. I don’t think this drink could get any more holiday cheery than that!
The Happy Adrenal Pumpkin Spice Latte:
Ingredients:
* 1 ½ cup hot coconut milk (I use canned coconunt milk)
* ¼ cup organic pumpkin puree
* 1 Tbsp of raw coconut oil or cacao butter
* 2 tsp of Light Cellar’s pumpkin spice blend
* 1 Tbsp of maple syrup of sweetener of choice
* 2 tsp of Ashwagandha powder
* 2 tsp of Eleuthero powder
* 2 tsp of Mucuna powder
* Optional: Coconut whip to top with
Method:
* On the stove top in a sauce pan, add the coconut milk and bring to a boil and turn off immediately
* Add coconut milk into a high speed blender
* Add the rest of the ingredients
* Blend on high speed to a velvety consistency with a bit of froth
* Pour into a large mug or jar and add coconut whip and extra pumpkin spice on top
Enjoy!
Skylar Hutchins
Skylar Hutchins is a self-taught plant-based raw pastry Chef. She is the owner of Rawmaste Food Co. where she makes a variety of artisanal plant-based desserts coloured and upgraded with herbs and superfoods. Her greatest passion in life is to work with medicinal plants, herbs and superfoods while being able to fuse them with cuisine to heal and nourish all.
