Homemade Non-Dairy Milks

No matter how you say it--"mylk" or milk--it's still a delicious alternative to dairy products. With so many choices out there, you will have endless options. Whether you are not incorporating dairy because of allergies, intolerances, or ethical reasons, these recipes will help you bring in some nutrition with some really yummy alternatives. Premade non-dairy options have some real nasty, sketchy things added in them, like carrageenan (linked to problems in the intestinal tract or even cancer), ingredients you can't even recognize, and added chemicals. Bottom line: if you can't pronounce it, it shouldn't be going in your mouth. Also, these are not totally in raw form. A lot are pasteurized, and that kills all of the nutrition. And that's kind of the point, right? Getting the health benefits?

Homemade just looks better and tastes amazing. Use it in your morning oatmeal, smoothies, or even mashed potatoes.

These recipes are made so that you can experiment with what you like better. If you like it nice and thick, use less water. If you like it thin, use more water. Add dates, maple syrup, or honey for sweetness. Add lemon, orange zest, or even cacao powder. The combinations are endless. Now go have fun!!

Almond Milk

Ingredients

1 cup of raw almonds
4 to 5 cups of filtered water, plus extra for soaking
2 to 4 dates optional or maple syrup (optional)
Dash or two of real vanilla extract (optional)

Method

Add your 1 cup of almonds to filtered water and soak.
Set aside to soak overnight or at least 12 hrs.
Strain your almonds, discarding the water.
Put your strained almonds with your 4 cups of water in your blender.
Strain through an organic, unbleached, chemical-free cheesecloth.
Store in glass Mason jar or glass milk jar. This will keep for about four days.

Coconut Milk

Ingredients

1 cup of dried unsweetened coconut flakes or 1 prepared fresh coconut, cut up in small pieces and shredded
2 to 3 cups of filtered water and 1 cup to heat with
Pinch of sea salt (optional)
Splash of real vanilla extract (optional)
2 to 4 dates or maple syrup (optional)

Method

In a saucepan, heat up your 1 cup of coconut with 1 cup of extra water and cook at low heat till warm.
Put warm coconut mix in with filtered water, adjusting to consistency (if you want it thicker, put less water).
Place everything in a blender.
Add optional ingredients at this point as well.
Blend till smooth.
Strain through an organic, unbleached, chemical-free cheesecloth.
Store in glass Mason jar or glass milk jar.
This will keep for about four days.

Banana Milk

Ingredients

2 frozen bananas
1 to 2 cups of filtered water
Dash or two of real vanilla extract
1 to 2 dates or maple syrup (optional)
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Method

Cut bananas in slices.
Blend all together. Serve right away and enjoy!

Hemp Milk

Ingredients

1 cup of hemp hearts
3 to 4 cups of filtered water
2 to 4 dates
Dash or two of real vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt (optional)

Method

Add your hemp to the water in the blender and any other optional sweeteners or flavors, and blend till it is creamy.
Serve and enjoy! Store in a sealed Mason jar. Will keep in fridge for about a week.

Oat Milk

Ingredients

1 cup of Irish oatmeal or gluten-free oats
3 to 4 cups of filtered water, plus some for soaking oats
Pinch of sea salt (optional)
2 dates or maple syrup (optional)
2 teaspoons of real vanilla extract

Method

Soak your oatmeal in some filtered water for a few hours or overnight until it looks creamy.
Drain water and rinse oats well.
Put your cups of water and oats in your blender.
Blend until it is nice and thick and creamy. Only blend for a few minutes in small bursts. Do not over-blend.
Strain through an organic, unbleached, chemical-free cheesecloth, taking out bits of remaining oats.
Store in glass Mason jar or milk jar.
Use cold. This milk is the one milk you do not want to heat up or it will get slimy and gooey. Keeps in fridge for about four days.