Almond Milk

With the weather acting "drunk" all winter and with me still thinking I can eat whatever I'd like because I'm  breastfeeding and I need to store up "layers" for the cold winter months (that apparently I think I can burn off later), my clothes are telling me otherwise!  So, it's time to be creative and find new ways to cut out refined sugar from my diet!  Almond milk to the rescue!  And no I don't mean store bought!  I'm talking about using ingredients you can actually pronounce! Don't worry, it's easy!

Simply soak one cup of raw almonds for 8-12 hours in the refrigerator.  I usually just soak mine overnight.    

soaking almonds

After 8-12 hours of soaking, prepare your sweetening ingredient...DATES : )  Place 4 dates (or more or less depending on how sweet you like your almond milk) in 1 cup of hot water for a couple minutes.  This step just helps the dates loosen up and become more blendable.  Make sure you pit your dates (if they aren't already pitted)...if you forget this step, you will never forget again...trust me : )

pitted dates soaking

While dates are soaking, remove soaked raw almonds from frig and give them a good rinse.

rinse those nuts

Place rinsed almonds and date mixture into blender (I use my nutribullet, but a blender works just as well), along with 3 more cups of water.  I like a 4:1 water to almond ratio - not too thin, not too thick milk in my opinion.  If you like a "non-fat" milk consistency, I'd add another cup of water, making it 5 cups of water total.  I like my almond milk to be more like a "whole-fat" milk consistency.  

add dates and soaking water to your almonds into a blender

Blend!  I find using the nutribullet it is easier to blend in 2 batches, but if you are using a blender or vitamix just pour the whole shebang into the container.  

blend

Prepare your nut bag.  Now, if you don't have one of these I would HIGHLY recommend you purchasing one!  I've tried straining almond milk through cheese cloth and it just isn't fine enough to remove all the chucks.  I've also tried using tea towels, but that took FOREVER and is virtually impossible to squeeze the liquid out.  They are cheep on amazon!  Buy your nut bag today!

prepare your nut bag

Strain - AKA - squeeze your milk out of the nut bag.  This process is a little tedious, but well worth the result! 

strain

After the milk has been squeezed out, you are left with this wonderful almond milk pulp. Don't throw it out or compost it!  Nut pulp can be added to smoothies, quick breads, cookies, steel cut oats, granola, and the list goes on!  I've read you can spread it out onto a cookie sheet and bake in the oven, on a low and slow setting until pulp is dry, and now you have homemade almond flour.  I have not tried this yet, but will let you know how it turns out when I do : )

almond nut pulp

What you are left with after straining.

milk and pulp

Add 1 tablespoon vanilla

add vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh nutmeg.  This is my favorite ingredient in the almond milk.  I've used pre-ground nutmeg, but it just doesn't taste the same.  I highly recommend using fresh!

fresh nutmeg

Store almond milk in a lidded container that you can easily shake before enjoying.  Almond milk stores well in the frig for 5-7 days - though in my house it is usually gone in 2-3 days :)  I love to have mine in my morning coffee and homemade granola.  If you are looking for a way to sweeten up your steel cut oats or oatmeal, simply exchange your water for almond milk and cook.  The almond milk turns your hot cereal into a rich and decadent breakfast treat with no added refined sugar!  

store and chill

Ingredients: 

1 cup raw almonds

4 cups water (plus more for soaking)

4 pitted dates

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fresh nutmeg

Directions:

Place almonds in a container, cover with water, place in refrigerator, and soak 8-12 hours (overnight).  

Strain and rinse almonds.  Place almonds in a blender (I use my nutribullet).

Place dates in 1 cup hot water and let soak for a couple minutes.  After dates have soaked, add mixture to the almond in the blender.  Add an additional 3 cups of water to the blender (making 4 cups water).

Blend until all almonds have been macerated.

Strain through a nut bag.

Add vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg to almond milk.  Pour milk into a lidded container and chill in the frig.  Give the milk a good shake before enjoying : )