Golden Milk

Hello Healthy Ones!

This is a blast from the past! In March of 2013 I posted this recipe for Morning Comfort Drink - aka GOLDEN MILK! Well, imagine my surprise when all of my friends started talking about this new amazing concoction featuring the shining star of anti-inflammatory - super spice, TURMERIC, as though it was unheard of ever before! 

Turmeric looks similar to Ginger.

Since turmeric is currently soaring in popularity right now, making its way into everything from lattes to ice cream, I thought it was about time to repost this recipe and rebrand it as not only a comforting alternative to coffee in the AM, but a relaxing drink with which to end your day. Turmeric is a spice made from the powdered rhizome of an Indian plant. It has long been a popular spice found in curries, but it is beginning to branch out. Be sure to use a bit of black pepper along with turmeric for boosted efficacy and absorption. 

GOLDEN MILK

for a

Morning or Evening Comfort Drink

2 serves

Ingredients:

2 c. water

2 T. unsalted (organic) Raw Almond Butter or 1/2 c. almonds soaked overnight

1-2 t. turmeric (depending on tastes)

½ t. cinnamon

¼ t. ground pepper or 2-3 peppercorns

½ t. vanilla extract or ¼ stick vanilla pod

½ t. grated ginger or ginger juice or 1 knob of fresh ginger

1 -2 pitted Medjool dates

optional: ½ banana, 1 brazil nut, 1 T. Flax meal, chia or hemp seeds keep in mind the more you add, the more “meal-like” this beverage becomes.

Method:

If you are using a high-speed blender, blend all ingredients until warm.

You might want to avoid using whole nuts, seeds and peppercorns if your blender is not capable of a fine puree.  If using a traditional blender, blend altogether until well mixed and then transfer to a saucepan and heat through.

In India and other parts of the East, spices have been used to flavor foods since antiquity. Did these early cooks realize many of the spices they used each day where also protective from many chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension? Common herbs and spices, as well as fruits and vegetables, contain powerful antioxidants such as polyphenols which helps squelch the fire of inflammation, so be sure to use them liberally. Beware the salt, instead use flavorful citrus zest and juice for extra zip without the extra sodium, fat or calories.

Slàinte! 

ENJOY!