Almonds in your tea?

If you are trying to cut down on dairy and have been buying substitute milks from the supermarket such as soya, rice, oat or almond milks then I thought you might like to try making your own almond milk as it is a great health treat. Almonds are a good source of calcium, protein, vitamins D and E, and is cholesterol-free and packed with omega-3 fatty acids.You can buy the milk ready-made, but it often contains a lot of sugar, so this way you can make it to your own taste. It is very simple to do and it can be used in place of milk in hot drinks as well as in desserts.

Almond milk is not new, it has been in use since medieval times as it is simple to make and keeps without the need for any refrigeration. It is still a popular drink on its own, and in Spain is widely available in cafes, just ask for horchata.

It could not be simpler, you just need 4 cups of filtered or bottled water, 1 cup of almonds (raw, not blanched) and any sweetener of your choice such as vanilla, honey or nutmeg.

Method:

1. Soak almonds 4 hours, strain off water and discard.

2. Place filtered water and soaked almonds in a blender.

3. Blend on high speed for 1 minute.

4. Pour contents from blender through a fine mesh stainless steel strainer or cheesecloth or similar straining bag.

5. Use a wooden spoon to mash the contents in the sieve to get more liquid out, or if using a bag close it and strain almond milk by squeezing milk through it.

6. Add any sweetener you might want to use to taste.

Although it keeps a couple of days without refrigeration, it is more refreshing to drink cold.