Homemade Nut Milk

Makes 1/2 gallon

Making your own nut milk is easy and healthier than buying the pre-packaged brands. These contain sugars, starches and oils; yours contain organic nuts (of your choice) that are soaked and easy to digest, optional sweetener (of your choice) and other healthy additions (like cocoa, cinnamon or other spices) to make your own favorite drink. And you don’t have to throw away the carton.

Equipment:

• Half-gallon mason jar or glass pitcher. Use this for soaking the nuts and storing your final product.
• Blender of food processor. You don’t need a high-speed blender or anything fancy to make nut milk.
• Nut milk bag, cheesecloth or fine-meshed sieve (optional). Use if you like your milk smooth instead of pulpy.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups nuts, soaked over night (8-12 hours)
1/2 gallon filtered water
pinch salt
1 tablespoon vanilla (optional)
Sweetener, to taste (optional)

Instructions:
Place the soaked nuts into a blender or food processor with the water and all remaining ingredients. If you want a thicker, richer milk, decrease the amount of water (or increase nuts) to your liking. Blend until the nuts are very fine ground and the water has turned a light milky color.

For smooth milk, strain the milk through a  nut milk bag, a cheesecloth folded in 3-4 layers, or a large fine-meshed sieve.

Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.