Almond Milk
2 cups almonds, soaked in water for at least 1 hour (the longer the better)
8 cups water
pinch salt
5 dates, optional
2 teaspoons vanilla, optional
1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend together well. The consistency will be chunky and thick.
2. To give the milk a smooth texture it needs to be strained. Use either a large container and a cheesecloth/nut milk bag or a fine kitchen strainer. Now the milk is ready to drink!
Here are some other tasty varieties:
Chocolate nut milk: add 2 tablespoons raw cacao nibs or unsweetened cocoa powder
Cinnamon milk: add 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a dash nutmeg
Chai milk: add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Sugar-free vanilla milk: In place of the dates, add stevia, to taste
Source of recipe: This recipe was modified from this one: http://www.choosingraw.com/raw-101-homemade-almond-milk/
SO HOW'D IT GO?
Could I not use my soymilk maker?
That seems 'iffy'. In my stainless basket, I'm supposed to put a small ammount, about 1/3 c. of soybeans, and this recipe calls for 2 cups of nuts. Also, I don't think the standard 'soytoys' accept 8 c. water.
But it's an interesting idea. If you get the equivalents figured out, and try it and like it, would you let us know?
Could I not use my soymilk maker?
One reason for soaking would be to dislodge any nasty stuff from the skin of the almonds; which is why the soaking water after a good soak is usually brown. I wouldn't drink that, probably bitter
If you want the water can be from the soaking almonds, but i recommend draining the almonds and adding "new" water.
do we ...
a) soak the almonds in the listed 8 cups of water and then put the whole schebang in the blender?
or
b) soak the almonds in some water, drain, and then blenderize the soaked almonds, the 'new' 8 cups of water and whatever else?