The rainy weather has settled into Seattle and with it comes a strong desire for warm drinks, yummy soups and fuzzy blankets. According to Ayurveda, during the Fall and early part of Winter Vata dosha is dominate. Vata is the energy of movement and defined by the elements Air and Space. The increased Vata energy can leave us feeling cold, ungrounded and fatigued and our desire to balance Vata can cause us to crave sweet warm grounding foods. I’ll admit that for me every once in a while this time of year to tame Vata I crave coffee and a doughnut. Last week I was meeting a friend at Top Pot Doughnuts in Seattle and they served up the best pumpkin spice latte made with real pumpkin and none of that artificial stuff! I tried to recreate and it turned out pretty good. If you don’t have a Top Pot near you try these great recipes next time you get a craving for coffee and a doughnut.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 1 shot of espresso or 4 oz. of very strong coffee – I used strong french roast even though I have an espresso maker =)
- 1 cup of milk of choice – I used almond milk
- 3 TB organic pumpkin puree
- 1 TB of grade B maple syrup
- 1 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Directions
- Make coffee or espresso
- In a small pan heat milk over medium heat.
- In a small bowl mix pumpkin, spices, vanilla and syrup
- Add mixture to milk and heat through, stirring frequently
- Add 1/2 cup of mixture to your coffee or espresso and enjoy
- Note you may have to stir it a few times as the real pumpkin settles a little.
Apple Fritter Cups
adapted Everyday Happy Herbivore
Apple Fritter
Ingredients
- 2 small apples, chopped, divided
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1c almond milk or similar
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- pinch of nutmeg
- cardamon to taste
- 2 tsp vanilla glaze
Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Fill muffin tins with liners. Toss half of the apples with cinnamon and coconut palm sugar (this is the topping). In a small bowl whisk milk and vinegar. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients, then add milk mixture, vanilla and the other half of that apples. Mix well. Add to muffin tins, top with apple cinnamon sugar mixture and bake for 15 – 20 mins. Let cool and drizzle with glaze.
Glaze
- 1cup powdered sugar
- 5 tsp non dairy milk
- mix together
Wishing You Vibrant Living
Kate