Spiced Holiday Nog Recipe

The holidays are here! This is one of my favorite times of the year, and although it's SO great to be with family and indulge, it can definitely be a little hard on our bodies. In addition to the sheer amounts of food available, the food combinations can challenge even those of us with the hardiest digestion.

The best way to approach holiday feasting is by finding balance. Who says you can't indulge with the rest of your family and friends? There are definitely delicious and healthy ways to do this.

This nog recipe is a great example; though it may not be as thick and eggy as the traditional version, it definitely packs all the yummy flavor punch of the traditional eggnog. And it has the added benefit of using spices that are great for balancing kapha during the winter season!

Ingredients:

• 5 cups whole milk*
• ½ cup cream
• 5 cinnamon sticks (plus a few more for garnish)
• 2 whole cloves
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
• ¼ cup ground chia seeds (you can make this by grinding whole chia seeds in a blender or coffee grinder)
• Sweetener of your choice to taste (the best options would include organic date or raw turbinado sugar)
• Nutmeg powder for garnish
• Star anise for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Pour the milk and cream into a large pot and begin to warm the milk over medium heat. Add in the cinnamon sticks, cloves, turmeric, and ginger powder, and let the spices begin to steep.

Cook the milk mixture at a low temperature, making sure not to scald it, until it reduces to about 3 ¾–4 cups.

Once the mixture has cooked down, remove from the heat and let it sit until it cools down. Once cool, strain out the cinnamon sticks and clove.

Pour the cooled milk into a blender, add the ground chia seeds, and blend thoroughly. The chia will help thicken the nog.

Place in the fridge for 3–4 hours to allow the chia seeds to fully thicken the mixture.

Before serving, return the mixture to a pan and slightly warm it on the stove.

Pour into a mug, top it off with a dusting of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick or star anise for garnish.

Enjoy this tasty treat curled up by a fire!

Notes:

*If you can find non-homogenized milk and cream, opt for that. Not only is it better Ayurvedically, but it will also help enhance the flavor of your nog.

If you prefer a dairy free nog, use your favorite nut milk instead. You may have to increase the quantity of chia seeds to make up for the natural creaminess of dairy.