The beauty of now is that we are astir with creative and social activities. The challenge is that we may feel scattered, ungrounded, a whirlwind of go-go-go. Managing this buzzy energy which Ayurveda calls “Vata” is essential now, especially when all the world’s a stage, a party, a whir and even a blur.
But nature is here to support you. Specifically, Ayurveda sees this as Vata season, when the energies of air and space are dominant. We need grounding, strengthening, lubricating foods with the fire, water and earth elements to balance.
These holiday “snowball truffles” are a play on a classic Ayurvedic recipe – perfect for this season as they are full of rejuvenative, Ojas-building, Vata-pacifying, and Agni-stimulating ingredients that, like any Ayurvedic formula, is more than the sum of its parts. As well as amping up your health, this recipe will score at parties, because they are so darling, so creamy, and so much earthy love melting in your mouth.
You can try these with other favorite add-ins. I tried raw cacao powder, and it does help the consistency, but I am not sure about the taste. Some said they liked it. I thought it was sort of the taste-equivalent of a dominant personality pushing in on a sweet conversation between two close friends. Madame Ginger and Sweet Miss Cherry interrupted by scene-stealing M. Cacao.
You could also add a scant teaspoon of an Ayurvedic herb ~ Slightly tasting of clove and a known anti-stress agent, Tulsi is a great choice for the holidays. Brain enhancing Brahmi pairs well with chocolate if you go that way, and Ashwagandha is the great rejuvenative, which would help with holiday excess.
If you don’t have raw cacao, melt a dark chocolate bar, but then skip the coconut oil in the batter. If you say ciao to M. Cacao, then add the almond milk slowly, adding only enough so that the ingredients mix, but careful not to make it too gooey.
The options are plenty, but at their base, these are so easy!
Snowball Truffles
Makes about 10-12 truffles
Ingredients
2 handfuls dried cherries
2 handful raisins
1 small handful crystallized ginger
1/4 cup almond butter
1 tablespoon almond milk
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 teaspoon ground flax seed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon all-spice, or cinnamon, clove, nutmeg combined
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1 pinch pink or sea salt
1/2 cup sesame seeds
Optional: 1/2 cup raw cacao
brahmi, ashwagandha or tulsi powder
Instructions
Put everything except the sesame seeds in an electric blender and mix until it becomes a smooth batter.
* If you add an ayurvedic herb powder, add small pinches at a time and taste as you go. Some herbs add a nice earthiness or peppery distinction, but others can overwhelm. Go slow, taste and adjust – a good holiday motto!
Refrigerate the batter for 20 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
Shake your sesame seeds onto a small plate. Roll the snowballs in the sesame seeds to cover completely. Lay out on a serving platter with fresh cranberry and sprigs of rosemary for color, or pop in a truffle box for gifts.
If you are not serving immediately, keep refrigerated until half an hour before serving. Serve at room temperature.
Vata: Perfect!
Pitta: Use maple syrup in place of honey.
Kapha: Double the amount of cinnamon and enjoy with a mug of ginger tea.
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More ways to stay grounded this holiday season
I wrote this article for Spirituality & Health to give you three recipes to keep your digestive fires burning bright this holiday season.
Suzanne Clarke has a great series running now called Happy Hearts for Mums. She interviewed me for the series, although I don’t know what I said as I was so sick that day 
Fortunately she also interviewed the brilliant Amanda Collins and many other wise women to create a lovely, engaging series. I truly believe every Mum everywhere should stand up and take a bow, for you are the ones that give, support, heal and uphold life. It takes enormous strength and is hands-down the greatest act of heroism this world knows. So lift yourself up, give yourself a pat on the back (and a long epsom salt bath), and remember: you are the miracle that acted like god and created another miracle. Thank you to all mothers everywhere!
My friend Gia Biscontini, a fun, hip, inspiring genius, has created a 21 day course to build a daily mindfulness practice. It’s only $29 but you get another 15% off if you use the code plumb15.
To celebrate the holidays, the real meaning of the holidays when we celebrate the light of the world, the heart of life, the beauty of you, I want to give away my favorite skin care product, this Beauty Balm from Banyan Botanicals. I use it on face, hands, elbows, heels, feet at night to enhance sleep, actually all over, all the time. It is rich but absorbent, and deeply nourishing. I am an “Ambassador” for Banyan, which is fortunate because I buy a lot of their products and the discount helps. But they didn’t ask me to do this, and I will be buying the Beauty Balm from their online store and sending to one of the commenters below as my gift.
So leave a comment if you like this recipe, or if you want your name in the hat for a free Beauty Balm.
Next week, I’ll be giving away a copy of my book, Ayurvedic Cooking for Beginners, which will be released February 6, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, please keep your ojas up as you enjoy the holiday cheer.
I wish you joy, peace, love always. xo
