My sister Jill came for a visit and around 8pm she was like…”I want something hot, rich and creamy, frothy and yum like sweet steamed milk but vegan”…in about 30 seconds flat, we had this major revelation in a mug….SO DELICIOUS….SO GOOD. I make this in my Vitamix and blend it for at least a couple of minutes giving it a nice heady froth. I haven’t missed coffee since! I actually woke up this morning and CHOSE this over my brew. SO spicy and warming- I love it. Turmeric is an amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial super root so ya, this is for your health. 😉
1/4c cashews
1″piece of ginger
1 1/4c boiling water
1/4t turmeric powder
Pinch vanilla powder or 1/2t vanilla
1/2t cinnamon
Pinch chai spice *opt
Pinch pink salt
Pinch nutmeg
2t agave or maple syrup
Combine all ingredients into a blender and process until well combined and frothy- about 2 minutes. Top with more cinnamon and nutmeg.
*Caution: blending hot liquids can be extremely dangerous.
Almonds have an amazing nutritional profile, filled with protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. This is an easy, digestible way to get them into your diet and benefit your gut health as well. Because it is cultured, it is filled with probiotics, amazing to fortify your digestive tract when taken daily. Start off with small doses in smoothies, about 1/4c to start. It is sour in nature and adds this amazing yogurt sort of lassi flavor that pairs incredibly well with fruits such as strawberries, pineapples, and mangoes. For a creamier milk, you can remove the skins…I am too busy to add the step, I do not mind the skins!
I keep mine in 2 cup ball jars for easy to measure to make 2 smoothies at one time. It is also easier to make different flavors with smaller portions!
1c raw almonds, sprouted (soaked overnight, drained)
8c water
4 capsules vegan probiotic, opened into the milk and stirred
In a blender, combine the nuts with the 1/3 of the water and blend until completely smooth. Add the remaining water and blend again until completely blended. Pour the cream though a nutmilk bag or through a fine mesh strainer into a glass pitcher or wide mout ball jar- discard the pulp or make use of it in smoothies, crackers etc.
Add in the probiotic and gently stir with a wood spoon. Cover with a cloth and place in a warm spot overnight to let the culture do its thing. When ready, the “kefir” will be under a layer of fatty almond cream- at this point you can separate the clearest liquid from the solids (Kefir) or you can combine it and use this for your smoothies (fermented almond milk). You can reserve about 1/4c of the kefir to use as a starter for your next batch, and you can continue to do so for 3-4 more batches.
The kefir can be flavored further. One of my favorites is to add orange slices and a little bit of sweetener and let that sit once again overnight- then refrigerated. This recipe can also be blended altogether and enjoyed as a orange creamsicle style smoothie.
With its tapioca-like consistency, this recipe makes for a great tasting and deliciously filling raw food dessert or healthy breakfast. It is an amazing source of omega-3’s and beneficial energy nutrients. Feel free to add more or less sweetener, vanilla, or other ingredients like hemp seeds, walnuts, fruit etc.
Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding
2 cups sweetened cashew nut milk:
1/2c raw cashews
2c water
2T coconut sugar or raw agave
1t vanilla
1T coconut oil
Pinch pink salt
—
1/3c chia seeds
Pinch cinnamon *opt
DIRECTIONS
Make the sweet nut milk. In a medium sized bowl, add the seeds and pour the milk in, stirring every 30 seconds or so for about 5-6 minutes; the chia will begin to plump and swell. When all is well combined, let stand for 20-30 minutes stirring the mixture every 5 minutes or so until it thickens into a nice tapioca pudding consistency. I prefer eating this after at least an hour or even over night but is delicious and a bit crunchy earlier on. Serve on its own or with fresh fruit.
An amazing way to start your day energized and ready to go! Unlike coffee which is actually creating an energy deficit, this smoothie offers sustained energy backed with crazy antioxidants, beneficial omega 3’s, and hormone balancing deliciousness.
Cacao Super Smoothie
1c almond or cashew nut milk
1T hemp seed
2t raw agave, palm sugar or raw local honey
1T Maca powder
1t lucuma powder
1T chia seeds
2T cacao powder
1T goji berries
1T golden flax seeds
1t vanilla
1c scoop protein powder
Pinch salt
Pinch cinnamon
—
1c ice
Blend all ingredients together except the ice and process until smooth- taste and adjust if needed
The Vegan Love Project 