Make your own Almond Milk

It is super easy to make your own almond milk with a little forward planning.  Loaded with minerals, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and potassium - this dairy free milk also tastes delicious.

To make you will need 1.5 cups of raw almonds and a straining bag. (Most people used blanched almonds but I don't worry as you strain it all at the end anyway).

Soak the almonds in water to soften - overnight is best but at least 4 hours.

Strain the water from the almonds and place in blender with 1 cup of water. 

Blend until they become a smooth paste (this doesn't take long at all). Don't worry too much about the appearance at this stage. This is particularly unattractive as the almonds weren't blanched.

Add another 3 cups of water and blend again until smooth and frothy.

Now you can, if you wish, add something to sweeten the milk and give another blitz (i.e a couple of dates, cinnamon, honey, syrup or vanilla). I personally sweeten mine when I wish to drink but leave unsweetened in the fridge so I can cook savoury sauces with it. 

Strain (I use a jam straining bag).  You can (just) see the skins are retained in the bag.

Bottle and enjoy. 

Store the milk in the fridge until you want to use. I freeze some too (remember not to overfill containers as will explained a little when frozen).

Homemade chocolate recipe

There has been much controversy the last few years regarding chocolate. First you should eat it, then you shouldn't and then you should only eat it whilst standing on your head whistling the MASH theme tune (ok I made the last one up).

I always have a tub of homemade chocolates in the fridge to dip into and love experimenting with different flavours. This is one sweet snack that's full of an incredible amount of antioxidants and serotonin (the happy hormone) you can enjoy guilt free.  To make: -

Gently melt 1/2 cup cacao butter in a glass bowl over a pan of hot water. Do this slowly and your patience will be rewarded with a batch of super smooth chocolate. If you try to rush this step the butter is likely to separate and then cannot be salvaged.  Once melted add 4 tablespoons of agave or maple syrup and  3 tablespoons of cacao powder. Mix together and then taste. If you want it sweeter or more chocolately then add more powder or sweetener. The consistency will be quite thick now. Pour into silicon moulds and freeze or place in fridge until set (approx 30 mins in freezer). Store in the fridge.

Play around with different flavours once you have perfected the basic recipe. Vanilla bean paste, grated orange rind, toasted almond and raisin and peppermint are all favourites of mine (not all together)!

Cashew nut cheese with fresh salsa

My husband and I love to sit down with a snack once the kids are in bed and this is one of our favourites. Packed full of vitamins, minerals and protein, the tangy salsa accompanies the creamy cheese perfectly. 

For the cashew cheese blend the ingredients for about 5 minutes until smooth and creamy (yes it's that simple). (Store any leftovers in the fridge).

                                                  6 oz cashew nuts

                                                   75 ml olive oil

75 ml water

1 tablespoon tahini

1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Juice of 1 lime

For the salsa place one, deseeded red pepper in blender and lightly pulse (or finely chop). Pour into a bowl. Lightly blend a handful of cherry tomatoes. Add to peppers and add 2 tablespoons of corn, a sprinkle of chilli flakes and 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. Season to taste and give a good mix.

Raw vegan brownies (only 4 ingredients)

These brownies are my go-to snack when I have my sweet tooth head on. With only 4 ingredients they are super quick to make and ready to eat in only 60 minutes. Oh and did I mention they are crazy good too?

I use medjool dates as they are extra sweet with a yummy caramel like taste.  A fantastic source of fibre they also contain potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese. Packed full of nutrients a regular addition of pecan nuts in the diet help decrease LDL "bad cholesterol" and increase HDL "good cholesterol" levels in the blood. The raw cacao powder is rich in antioxidants, EFAs along with other essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B and E, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium and manganese.

The liquid sweetener can be of your choosing. I did use Agave for this batch (I don't always) but you need to weigh up the high fructose content against the fact it is low glycemic sweetener; it's personal choice and I tend to regularly vary my ingredients. Maple syrup or honey would work just as well.

To make a big batch (you can half if you wish) take: 

8 oz pecans

10 oz medjool dates

3 tablespoons of cacao powder

2 tablespoons liquid sweetener 

Place nuts in a food processor and blend until they become crumbly. throw in the other ingredients and blend until it is well mixed and sticky. Place on a baking tray or silicon loaf tin and freeze until set (usually around 60 minutes). Store in the fridge.