‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive’
I was recently invited to a cookie party. My first one. It called for all bakers to bring their signature cookie to the table and swap cookies and recipes. I consider myself a savory cook more than a baker, but I was invited by my friend Ilene, and I never turn down an invitation to spend time with her.
I was a little nervous about presenting a cookie to bakers and so I tested out a number of recipes. One with oats, one with nuts and a beautiful healthy gluten free shortbread. As lovely as these cookies are they didn’t feel like they were my ‘signature’. In the end I made my infamous cardamom cookies. They are made with almond meal/flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, cardamom and rose water. They are delicious and healthful. They absolutely represent my food philosophy, healthy, vegan, sweet but from a nutritious sugar source and lightly spiced.
The day I made the cookies, I read the above quote in my daily reading of ‘the book of awakening’ by Mark Nepo (an Ilene recommendation). It reminded me to start with ‘who am I?’ and ‘what do I have to offer’ versus what do I think other people need or want from me. A cookie may seem a small item to be relating to who you are, but I believe in the old adage ‘how you do one thing is how you do everything’. It is like holding a mirror up to yourself.
On the day of the cookie swap, I presented my cookie, and it was unique to me and provoked a lot of wonderful conversations on Ayurveda, ingredients, health, Veganism and culinary character. The cookie was a gateway to representing who I was and by being true to that I was able to connect on a deeper level to those around me.
A life of passion makes us a healthy cell in the body of the world. So, I leave you with these questions. What makes you feel alive and can you make space for it?
Recipe time…
This is a light and fragrant cookie with cooling properties, due to the rose and cardamom and vanilla. Using almonds as the base will also keep you satiated.
You can make the almond meal by finely grinding almonds yourself, or to save time you can buy it.
The recipe comes together easily and including baking time can be done in under 20 minutes. The raw dough is so tasty, that it is tempting to just stop there.
Cardamom is one of my favorite spices. It is an antioxidant, a natural tranquilizer, an antimicrobial and known to flush toxins from the system.
Rose water is a powerful antiseptic, contains antioxidants and in some studies has been found to have antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties.
Vanilla is seen as a digestive, an aphrodisiac and when added to food, reduces the amount of sugar needed for sweetening.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups almond meal (store-bought or home-made)
- ½ tsp cardamom
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp rose water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
- Pre-heat your oven to 375F and line a baking tray with parchment
- Add the first four dry ingredients together and whisk to combine
- Add in the rest of the ingredients and stir with a spoon till the mixture comes together. You should be able to pinch the mixture, and it hold together in your fingers
- Role the mixture into small balls, the size of a quarter/50pence piece
- Flatten slightly and place on baking tray
- Bake in an oven for 8-10 minutes at 375F until starting to brown and a little firm
- Let cool. As they cool, they will firm up a little more
