Zingiber officinale. This lowly root that creeps beneath the soil under gorgeous foliage is a power house of beneficial nutrients that aid in fighting anything from nausea to cancer. We know it as ginger, the name as it came to us from the French word gingembre. It belongs to the same family as turmeric and cardamom – a good family to be in, I would say.
My uncle is fighting the last stages of colon cancer. This weekend I handed him one of my favorite beverages – Ginger Kombucha. I wonder how much ginger it would take to make a difference on this ravaging disease. I know it won’t help a lot now, but we can be hopeful. At least it’s something refreshing to drink that it good for him too.
Photo from Kiota Jungle
I thought about my uncle as I created these desserts tonight on a whim. The ginger, the chia seeds, coconut, the omega 3s in the walnuts – it would all be so good for him. I wish I could ship him a package filled with good, cancer fighting, nutrient dense foods that would miraculously make him well.
But the miracles are for Someone else to make. We watch and wonder. We pray and wait, doing what we can, which always seems like nothing, just standing by. Sometimes it feels as if we’re looking through a glass window at the world going by, helpless.
It’s always easier to do something while we wait to know the outcome. The kitchen is the outlet of this feeling for me. I make things. Maybe it gives me a sense of control. That perhaps I can touch something and make it better than it was before.
So I take these ingredients off the shelf – some of them bland and flavorless on their own – but with a little stir here and a dash of this there, they turn into a dance of flavors in your mouth. Something to savor.
Perhaps God lets us cook to get a miniscule taste of what fun He had creating the Garden of Eden.
These treats aren’t the prettiest desserts in the world, but they are raw, gluten and grain free, vegan, dairy free and egg-less. You’re probably wondering what’s left to put in them, but check it out. In 10 minutes you can have a treat you feel good about eating.
Ginger Confections
1 c. walnuts
1/2 c. coconut, unsweetened, shredded
1/4 c. chia seeds
1 c. pitted dates
2 t. grated orange peel
1 t. ground ginger
dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
2 t. grated fresh ginger
dash of salt
Blend everything in a food processor until well combined. Scoop out with a teaspoon and press into disks or balls. Chill and enjoy. Or enjoy and chill, that works just as well.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
