Are you looking forward to holiday gatherings with your pandemic pod and family? Maybe you are a little hesitant to gather after such a long period of social distancing and health anxiety. No matter which camp you are in, there are some tips that may help you get through the holiday season. Since what we eat plays such an enormous role in how we feel, physically and emotionally, let’s incorporate some healthy food habits into this year’s holiday feasts.

As a lifelong chef and herbalist, I have a deep appreciation for the flavorful impact of herbs and spices and the healthy benefits they offer. You probably already use herbs in your holiday cooking so why not try them in some new ways this winter? From the first sips of hibiscus ginger apple cider to the last bites of pear pink pepper pie, you’ll get digestive support, immune boosting, and calming for your nerves.

Before we get into the recipes, let’s cover a few basic healthy digestion tips from Ayurveda, India’s traditional medical system.

• Get some exercise every day. Something you enjoy and just enough, not to exhaustion. This boosts your metabolism, helps to boost circulation and immunity, and has enormous mental health benefits. Extra points if you get outside in nature.
• Sip hot water with lemon or hot herbal tea throughout the day. This aids digestion of fats, helps you stay hydrated, and helps to calm the nervous system.
• Try to only eat when you are hungry and pay attention to your food, eating until you are content but not “full.” Leave room for digestion. When the stomach is overfilled, digestion is more sluggish and needs more of our energy, hence the food coma.
• Lastly, try taking a short walk after eating your meal, or laying down on your left side for five to ten minutes. Both of these habits improve digestion and assimilation.

Try these delicious, herb-infused recipes for your next holiday gathering. They are simple, packed with nutrients, and help to keep your immune and digestive systems functioning well through the winter.

Pear Pink Peppercorn Pie

A fall and early winter favorite that’s delicious and high in both potassium and vitamin C are pears. For this recipe Bosc, Anjou, and Bartlett’s are optimal, although I often use Asian pears because those are the ones that are grown locally. Choose pears that are just ripe, not overly ripe, and peel the skins off for a more consistently textured pie. The addition of ginger and ground pink peppercorns adds a nice spice and warmth that, according to Ayurvedic principles, helps to improve digestion and reduce mucus production. If you can’t find pink peppercorns at your market, substitute with black pepper. Serves 8.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½  cup cane sugar
• ¼  teaspoon Kosher or sea salt
• ½  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of ground pink peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 5 cups peeled and sliced (1/4″-1/2″ thick) ripe pears*
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cold butter, cut into 6 small pieces
• 1 box refrigerated double pie crust, or make dough from scratch
• egg wash for the top of crust: 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk or water coarse sugar for sprinkling on crust (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450ºF and grease a deep pie dish with butter; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, lemon juice, and zest. Add pear slices and coat thoroughly.
3. Line the prepared pie dish with a single uncooked pie crust. Fill with the pear and spice mixture evenly.
4.  Place butter pats around evenly.
5. Lay remaining pie crust dough over the top. Tuck any dough that overlaps under the bottom crust and pinch to make a seam. Cut 4 slits in the top crust to allow venting.
6. Lightly brush the top of the pie crust with the egg wash mixture and sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired.
7. Bake pie at 450ºF for 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350ºF and bake for an additional 35-40 minutes or until top looks golden brown. Let the pie cool for 3 full hours before slicing, otherwise it will be runny. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.