Homemade Cashew Milk

Did you know, humans are the only species that drink milk after infancy? The nutrients in milk are designed to promote rapid growth from birth to about 24 months. After that, humans aren't programmed to need or even tolerate milk (let alone milk from another species). Think about it... do we really want to consume a product that nature designed to turn a small calf into a full-sized cow? Probably not. The good news is, there are so many wonderful milk alternatives out there, you shouldn’t have a problem swapping out the dairy beverage for one of these other options. A few to consider are almond, soy, coconut, rice and hemp.

You can make these milk varieties at home with a good blender and it is surprisingly easy! I personally like nut milks and typically make almond milk. This time I decided to do an experiment with cashews. It was delicious!

I used the leftover “pulp” to make cookies, but you could dry it out in the oven to make cashew flour, mix with spices/quinoa/egg to create a burger, or mix into oatmeals & smoothies for a protein & fiber boost. Check out my Cashew Pulp Cookie recipe at the bottom of the post.

Homemade Cashew Milk

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews (or almonds)
• 3 cups water

Optional additions (recommended):

• 1 tsp honey
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 pinch sea salt

Preparation Instructions

1. Soak cashews in a bowl of water, just enough to cover nuts, overnight or at least 6 hours. The longer they soak, the better they will blend.
2. Rinse and drain cashews. Add to blender with 3 cups water.
3. Add honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon & sea salt if desired.
4. Pour through a cheese cloth and strainer or use a nut milk bag (you can find this at Whole Foods or other natural grocer).
5. Save the cashew “pulp” for later use and whats left is your milk!

1. Soak

2. Rinse

3. Blend

4. Strain

Enjoy!

Alternative Serving Suggestions:

• Add more cinnamon and a few drops of stevia for a sweet drink.
• Heat milk, then add unsweetened cocoa powder & stevia for a healthy hot cocoa. 

Fuel Facts

Numbers: 40 calories, 0 g protein, 3 g fat, 6 g carbs, 0 g fiber

            **Approximate amount for 1 cup

Ingredient Breakdown:

v Cashews – The tree nuts have a lower fat content than most other nuts and most of this fat is in the form of monounsaturated oleic acid, the same heart healthy fat found in olive oil. One quarter cup of cashews provides about 38 percent of your daily needs for copper, a mineral that acts as a coenzyme in many body processes. 90 percent of copper in the body is used to create the transport protein ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin aids in the oxidation of iron, allowing iron to bind to transferrin for transport to body tissues. Without adequate copper intake, iron-deficiency anemia can occur.

v Honey – Due to the combination of glucose and fructose, honey will keep you energized longer than it’s sweet counterparts. Glucose is used quickly by the body, providing an immediate energy source. Fructose takes longer to absorb, sustaining blood sugar levels. When blood sugar is kept stable, your energy will also remain constant, so say goodbye to the afternoon crash.

Honey is also a great natural healer. For starters it is packed with polyphenols, antioxidants that have immune boosting properties to keep you from becoming sick. In addition, honey contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide which is why it is believed to be antibacterial in nature. Honey can be used topically to treat burns, wounds, and even acne. Honey fights off impurity-causing bacteria while also hydrating the skin.

v Cinnamon – Many studies have shown the stabilizing effects of cinnamon on blood sugar. This is beneficial for anyone who wants to keep energy levels constant throughout the day, and especially helpful for diabetics or those who experience hypoglycemia. Cinnamon has also been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory by limiting the release of arachidonic acid from cell membranes, a fatty acid that typically causes inflammation.

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Cashew Pulp Cookies

Make note of how to make flax egg & date paste. These are good tricks to have up your sleeve, especially for healthy baking!

Ingredients

• Cashew pulp from 1 cup raw cashews
• About 1/4 cup date paste (4 pitted dates & 4 Tbsp water)
• 1/2 cup oats (use gluten free if desired)
• 1 flax egg (1 Tbsp flaxseed meal & 3 Tbsp water)

Preparation Instructions

Making Flax Egg: 

1. Whisk 3 Tbsp water with 1 Tbsp flaxseed meal.
2. Refrigerate for 15 minutes until viscosity is that of an egg white.

Making Date Paste:

1. Heat dates and water over medium heat in a sauce pan (1 to 1 ratio, you can make this in larger batches and keep it on hand).
2. As dates heat up, mash with a fork until they are thoroughly mixed with water into a jelly like paste.

Cookies: 

1. Mix cashew pulp, date paste, oats & flax egg.
2. Separate out into 10 small, formed cookies on baking tray. 
3. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Let cool to set. 

Cashew Pulp

Cookie Dough

Fuel Facts

Numbers: 108 calories, 3 g protein, 5 g fat, 14 g carbs, 2 g fiber

            **Approximate amount for 1 cookie

Ingredient Breakdown:

v Cashews – The tree nuts have a lower fat content than most other nuts and most of this fat is in the form of monounsaturated oleic acid, the same heart healthy fat found in olive oil. One quarter cup of cashews provides about 38 percent of your daily needs for copper, a mineral that acts as a coenzyme in many body processes. 90 percent of copper in the body is used to create the transport protein ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin aids in the oxidation of iron, allowing iron to bind to transferrin for transport to body tissues. Without adequate copper intake, iron-deficiency anemia can occur.

v  Dates  – One of nature's many gifts, dates are one of the best natural sweeteners. Not only are they sweet, but they contain high amounts of fiber, promoting good digestion & intestinal health.

v Oats – Many studies have shown the cardio-protective effect of oats. They contain loads of soluble fiber which helps to lower cholesterol and prevent plaque build-up in the arteries. Oats are inherently gluten free but are often contaminated during processing. Make sure to buy gluten free oats if you have a wheat or gluten allergy.

v Flax Egg – This is a great substitute for egg when baking vegan goodies. Make this first and let it set up in the refrigerator while you prep the rest of the recipe you are working on.