Let's spice it up

According to Ayurvedic principles, spicy and warming foods help stir up the digestion and stoke our inner fires which is important at this time of year due to the cooling temperatures.
I like to eat this warming and nutritious spiced apple cereal starting at this time of year. This recipe can be found on page 133 of the Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre, MS, CN.

Cereal
1 cup brown basmati rice (soaked overnight)
1 Tblsp raw apple cider vinegar
3 to 4 cups of water
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
pinch of salt

Apple Topping
2 tsp coconut
2 to 3 apples - cored and thinly sliced
1/4 cup dries currants or raisins
2 Tblsp maple syrup
1tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
4 to 6 tblsp water 
a handful of chopped raw walnuts

Soak the rice overnight in a bowl with the vinegar. Drain and rinse the rice and place in a blender with the water spices, and sea salt. Blend on high until smooth. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook stirring occasionally, until the cereal has thickened and the rice is cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

To make the topping, heat the coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the apples, currants, maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg and saute for about 2 minutes. Add the water and simmer, uncovered for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Fill individual bowls with the hot cereal and spoon the apple mixture over each. Top with the chopped walnuts.
Enjoy!