Almond and Cashew Milk

I can't even count how many times I have seen someone taking a sip of a healthy smoothie and make a face, a "disgusted" face!  Smoothies like any other food should be enjoyable and delicious.  I love experimenting with different mixtures and I am here to make sure you not only get some delicious recipes but also have a great variety.  When it comes to picking out your ingredients, the very first important step is your SMOOTHIE BASE! I love using nut milks for the creaminess, flavor, and health benefits.  Be careful for the ones you buy at the market.  If it sits on a shelf, you have to think how a milk is able to survive there, and some ingredients just do not need to be there.  Making your own is your best bet.  It is simple to make.  My favorites are almond and cashew milk.  Macadamia milk is yummy too.  Here are the steps to make it:

1.  1 cup raw (not roasted or salted) organic almonds or cashews in a bowl, add just enough water to cover the nuts.

2.  Soak for 24 hours in the fridge.

3.  Add the 1 cup of nuts with 3 cups of water in a blender, and blend well until you see it like the picture above, white like milk.

4.  Pour the milk in a strainer to get any nut particles out and it's done! 

5.  It is good for about 5 days in the fridge.  

6.  The nut particles you see in the strainer above are from almonds, I use as a face scrub and works great.  You put it on your face and leave for 15 minutes or more, it should feel tight like a mask, then rub it lightly in circular motion with a bit of warm water, then rinse off.

Some people like the milk sweetened so I tell them to soak some dates overnight to soften and blend in with the nuts.

Besides nut milks, we use some juices I buy organic with no added sugars or unnecessary ingredients, just pure juice!  My local health food store makes their own fresh squeezed orange, mango, papaya, grapefruit and other juices but of course you can make your own!

*Cashew milk is rich in Vitamin K which helps build strong bones. You will also get your iron and magnesium from it.

*Almond milk is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, rich in Vitamin A which helps eyesight, and also rich in Vitamin E which improves skin health.