With it being the dead of winter and all, I’ve been doing my best to stay warm during the cloudy rainy days.  This can be especially difficult if your diet consists of mostly raw foods, so its good to supplement with foods and spices that having a warming tendency for the body.  The three C’s of warming spices are cinnamon (dalchini), cardamom (elichee), and clove (laung).  In my opinion, the best way to combine these heat makers is to make a nice cup of warm chai.  The smells and tastes of these aromatic spices are just the thing for that cold day gloom, and are also great for your health.  To go along with the chai, I’ve included a recipe for a delicious snack to enjoy, which I’m going to call chai cookie cakes.  Enjoy it!

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Chai

Ingredients
* 5 whole green cardamom pods
* 3/4 tsp fennel seeds
* 3/4 tsp whole cloves
* 1/4 tsp cinammon
* 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
* 3 almonds
* 1 tbsp honey or agave nectar

Directions
With a spice mill or mortar and pestle, slightly grind down cardamom, fennel, and cloves.  Add mixture to a pot of water on high heat.  While the water heats, grind the almonds down to a nice powder.  Once the water is boiling, turn down to low heat, and allow the chai to brew for just a minute or two longer.  Pour the chai into a cup, and allow it to cool for just a minute.  Next, mix in the ground almonds, honey, and vanilla extract.  Then go find a cozy place on the couch, wrap yourself in a blanket, and sip your tea until you feel all warm and tingly inside.

Chai Cookie Cakes

Ingredients
* seeds of 6 whole green cardamom pods
* 2 tsp fennel seeds
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon
* 1 pinch salt
* 1/2 cup almond pulp, leftover from almond milk making
* 1 1/2 cup cashews
* 2 tbsp coconut oil
* 1 1/2 tsp rose water
* 4-5 dates
* (optional) agave nectar

Directions
In a food processor, combine cardamom, fennel seeds, cinnamon, and salt.  Allow food processor to run until entire mixture is powder like.  Next, add cashews, and run until cashews are in small granules.  Put the mixture into a mixing bowl, and add the dates, coconut oil, rose water, and almond pulp.  Mix and mash everything together by hand.  If you’d like more sweetness, add the optional agave nectar.  Place mixture in small cookie like shapes onto a plate covered with wax paper, and put it into the freezer for at least 4 hrs, then transfer to coldest part of fridge.