Raw Almond Milk (plain, sweetened vanilla, and chocolate)!

This is long overdue.  I love almond milk.  It is by far my favorite milk.  It has that nut flavor to it, and when unsweetened, it is amazing in savory recipes.  Making it ahead of time and storing it in a Mason jar saves so much time and money.  You will need either a cheese cloth or nut bag for this process.  I would suggest investing in a nut bag. They are washable, reusable, and pretty darn cheap.  I got mine from Amazon for around 6 bucks.  Thinking of all the cash and trees I'm saving makes me happy.

This can replace milk in almost any recipe.  I also made a chocolate version, which I forgot to take a picture of before putting it in with some chia seeds to make chocolate chia pudding.  You can also make sweetened vanilla almond milk for cereal or for dessert recipes. 

This almond milk is headed for an awesome smoothie and possibly some fettucine alfredo.  Some people may think I miss out on food, but I totally eat more diverse foods now than ever before.

Plain Almond Milk

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. almonds
4 c. water

Directions:

1. Add water and almonds in a large bowl.  Let soak overnight.
2. When done soaking, add both water and almonds to a blender.  Blend together for at least 10 minutes.
3. Take a nut bag or cheese cloth and place over a bowl.  Pour almond mixture into the cloth or bag.
4. Squeeze until all the moisture is out of the almond pulp.
5. Yields around 3 1/2 c. almond milk.

Sweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. almonds
4 c. water
2 medjool dates
1 vanilla bean

Directions:

1. Add water and almonds in a large bowl.  Let soak overnight.
2. When done soaking, add both water and almonds to a blender.  Add in the dates (make sure they are pitted).
3. Before blending, split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the blender.
4. Blend all ingredients together for 10-12 minutes.
5. Take a nut bag or cheese cloth and place over a bowl.  Pour almond mixture into the cheese cloth or bag.
4. Squeeze until all moisture is out of the almond pulp.
5. Yields around 4 c. sweetened vanilla almond milk.

Chocolate Almond Milk

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. almonds
4 c. water
4 medjool dates
1 vanilla bean
4 Tbsp. dark cocoa powder (100% is best for this)

Directions:

1. Add water and almonds in a large bowl. Let soak overnight.
2. When done soaking, add both water and almonds to a blender. Add in the dates (make sure they are pitted).
3. Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the blender.
4. Add in the dark cocoa powder.
4. Blend all ingredients together for 12-15 minutes.
5. Take a nut bag or cheese cloth and place over a bowl. Pour almond mixture into the cheese cloth or bag.
4. Squeeze until all moisture is out of the almond pulp.
5. Yields around 4 c. chocolate almond milk.

You want to use the milk within a week of making it.  This is when it is freshest and at its best.  Also, keep in mind that this has NO PRESERVATIVES.  It is so much healthier for you.