Health. It’s been on my mind lately. I can see how trying to recuperate from my nasty cold would make me more likely to be thinking about getting healthy–but somehow these thoughts are bigger than that. Whenever I get sick, it tends to be from stress–especially stress I put on myself. My body is a great meter for me to know how the scales are tipping too much in one direction and it is time to balance them out again. That is, when I listen to it. Sometimes I’ve found that even though my body is telling me things are a little out of whack I simply don’t know what to do, so I get sick. But getting sick isn’t all that bad because it forces me to sit quietly so I can look at all the symptoms and learn from my mistakes.
Does this ever happen to you?
Maybe it is just me, but getting sick is a time for contemplation and quiet rest. It feels yucky, therefore you treat yourself better, nicer even. These past weeks I’ve let my mind run wild with crazy stress inducing thoughts that made me sad, angry, and even resentful. Now that I have been forced to face these thoughts during my quiet time, I’ve realized that I could have nipped them in the bud–as they were just tiny specks of thought. Learning is key though, and I am pretty sure I’ve learned this lesson!
Something someone said to me years ago that has always stuck with me is: “You wouldn’t treat your best friend that way or say those nasty things to them, why would you say them to yourself?” Good point!
So in the spirit of health, I made these cookies which Kiija brought with her on her and Brent’s recent journey to Portland. There is no white sugar in them but they are sweetened with maple syrup and molasses. They are spicy (I LOVE spicy gingery molasses things…) which I love and have some strange ingredients in them–but man are they good! I’ve been nibbling on these the past few days as I nurse myself back to health. Nothing like some healthy sweetness in the forms cookies and nice thoughts to get a girl moving again!
Molasses Ginger Spice Cookies
via Kiija via Clean Food
2 cups brown teff flour (I used regular white flour, or you can use whole wheat white flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard (um, awesome)
1/2 cup almond butter (you can substitute this with sunflower seed butter–both are delish!)
1/2 cup molasses
2 teaspoons tamari
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup maple syrup
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl and all wet ingredients in another. Pour wet ingredients over dry and blend until just combined—do not overmix.
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Drop batter by heaping teaspoons onto cookie sheet. There is no need to roll, flatten or shape mounds. Simply place in oven and bake 12 minutes. Remove from oven and place directly on wire rack to cool.
Cheers!
