Support your menstrual cycle with Ginger, Saffron & Vanilla Cookies by @hale_pule

 

Our dear friend Myra Lewin shares a soothing and supportive Ayurvedic recipe particularly for the luteal and menstrual phase of womens cycles, alongside some beautiful feminine wisdom.  

 

 

"A woman’s period is her natural ability to cleanse on a monthly basis. 

Clients often ask us what to eat and drink while they are having their period and for remedies to relieve PMS symptoms." 

The diet, lifestyle, herbs and practices observed during the approximate 28 day cycle determines how a woman experiences her period. If there is excess or disregard for balanced living anywhere in the cycle, imbalance will manifest and surface during the period when the body is flushing out impurities.  

 

 

This is why the wisest thing we can do is take a consistent and moderate approach with our meals and routine throughout the entire cycle. 

We often crave something sweet and comforting as our period is approaching. Especially chocolate.

"Consider that you may be looking for a boost of energy from sugar or caffeine because you're uncomfortable with your body slowing down."

Embrace your body as it slows down and satisfy the sweet cravings with these sweet grounding cookies with medicinal spices.

 

 

This recipe calls for saffron, vanilla and ginger. In Ayurveda our kitchen cabinet is also a medicine cabinet where the properties of spices are harnessed medicinally.

Saffron is known to reduce PMS, improve mood and improve depressive symptoms. Vanilla is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and brings a natural and  earthy sweetness. Ginger supports digestion and Agni, the digestive fire that lives inside all of us and in optimal amounts is the key to good health from Ayurveda.

Just as spices can heal and uplift, when used excessively, for the wrong person or at the wrong time they will have unfavourable results. Respect this delicate plant medicine and be moderate. 

 

 

Chanting or saying a prayer of gratitude before consuming food or drink opens the cells of your body, preparing you to receive its life force and healing intelligence of the spices. 

The spelt offers grounding. The ghee lubricates the body internally and brings deep nourishment from the inside out. If you want to learn to make ghee you can watch Hale Pule’s free instructional cooking tutorial here.

 

 

SWEET GROUNDING COOKIES WITH MEDICINAL SPICES

INGREDIENTS: 

1. 1 cup spelt and ½ cup brown rice or barley flour
2. ⅓-½ tsp. mineral salt
3. 1 tsp. finely chopped fresh ginger 
4. 1 finger tip length of vanilla bean or ½ tsp. natural vanilla extract (optional)
5. 4-6 threads saffron (grind in a small amount of hot water before adding)
6. 4 whole walnuts or nut of your choice 
7. 1-2 Tbsp. ghee
8. 4 chopped fresh dates (soak dried dates in a little hot water for 1-2 hours)
9. ~⅓ cup water 
    

 

METHOD:

1. Melt 1 tsp ghee  in a small pan, and gently simmer the salt, ginger, vanilla, saffron and dates. 
2. Mix in a bowl with the flour and stir in the rest of the ghee. Add the water to create a slightly sticky dough. 
3. Shape into balls, pressing gently with your palm to flatten into the desired size and shape cookie, putting your love into them with the palm of your hand. 
4. Add the nut to the centre and simmer in a pan with a little ghee coating the pan on medium heat until firm. 
5. The length of cooking depends on the thickness of the cookies. Somewhere between 3 and 10 minutes in a pan. 
6. Or bake at 350F or 180C for 15-20 minutes or until golden and still soft. 
7. Enjoy with a meal. Great for travel too. 

 

 

When it comes to recommending recipes for women's cycles, Hale Pule has been sharing their balance bowl formula with thousands of clients for decades. This simple and profound approach to meals and eating can be applied to any cuisine and even used as a touchstone when eating out. 

"After ovulating, it’s natural to take things a little easier. Embrace your cycle and natural flow of energy rather than combat it with stimulants like sugar and caffeine. Whatever rest you give your body now, will reward you later."

 

 

Open your mind up to receiving sweetness through the other four sense organs, beyond food and taste. Comforting touch, diffusing essential oils, taking an afternoon of silence, space and reflection are supportive to process any feelings that are ready to be released. 

Consider the act of preparing food as sacred. Put loving intention into your cooking, into your home, into your life and everything becomes a beautiful ritual.

 

Take care of yourself sweet sister xx