Homemade Cashew Milk

I made homemade cashew milk (or any nut milk for that matter) for the first time this past weekend! It was so much easier than I thought, and the outcome was so worth the extra effort! I buy unsweetened cashew milk for convenience, but I definitely want to make my own more often now that I know how easy it is.

There is a huge difference in store-bought nut milk VS. homemade. The store bought kind is much more watered down, and homemade is much richer and creamier. Also, homemade nut milk contains SO much more nutrition such as healthy fats, vitamins & minerals, protein & fiber. So you’re getting more nutrition and feeling more satisfied. Another benefit to making your own is that you are controlling the ingredients that go into the milk. There are no gums or thickeners needed to compensate for all the water, its creamy on its own! I used Ellie's Best (@elliesbest) nut milk bags and it made this process so simple! It’s also kinda fun, I literally felt like I was milking a cow when I was straining the cashew milk..not that i’ve don’t that before but wharves. Let's get to it!

SUPPLIES

1c raw cashews (soaked overnight)

3c filtered water* (and more for soaking)

Optional Flavorings: sea salt, vanilla bean or extract, cinnamon

One Ellie's Best nut milk bag (or cheese cloth)

Large glass jar for milk

Blender (I used my NutriBullet)

You can check out Ellie's Best or buy your own by clicking HERE!
Use my code: STEF10 at checkout to receive a discount off your bags :)

METHOD

1.  First, you must soak your cashews for at least 4 hours or overnight (I soaked them overnight) in a glass container filled with filtered water so their all covered.

2.  Once soaked, drain and rinse the cashews and place in blender with 3c of cold filtered water. *You can add more filtered water if you want more milk and this will also thin out the consistency to be more watery like store-bought. I prefer rich and creamy so I used 3c!

3.  Blend away for several minutes until smooth and theres no large chunks visible.

4.  Take your nut milk bag or cheese cloth, and put it in a large bowl or measuring cup and fold the edges over. Pour your milk into the bag/cloth and let it strain while you hold the bag and gently squeeze to encourage faster straining. Once you have squeezed it dry, put the leftover cream/pulp to the side (use this for other recipes!)

5.  At this point you can add flavor if you’d like, if not, your milk is ready to drink! I added a few pinches of Himalayan pink salt, cinnamon, and 1 fresh vanilla bean pod (Love seeing the little vanilla bean flecks!!)

6.  Then Blend it for a few seconds again to incorporate (or whisk).

7.  Store in air tight jug or container for 4-5 days! 

BONUS TIP --> Don't know what to do with the leftover pulp? There are tons of easy snacks and recipes to use it in online! For the protein bliss balls I made up above, I simply mixed all of the below ingredients together until it formed a pliable dough, rolled it into balls, and stored them in my fridge for a quick snack or dessert!

I mixed: Leftover cashew pulp ^ + Nutzo peanut butter + cinnamon + cashew milk + cacao nibs + almond flour + Vanilla Vital Proteins collagen peptides + sea salt

Healthy Fats for Healthy Hormones

Fats are no doubt my favorite macronutrient. Thankfully the fat banning phase where people thought “fat makes you fat” is long behind us (so I hope!) as we embrace healthy fats with open arms and open mouths ;)

It’s no secret healthy fats host tons of health benefits and are essential to feeling good & looking good. Our brains function off healthy fats, they provide us lasting energy & satisfaction, and they are even essential for hormone health.

Why is this important?

Hormones are everything. From your mood to your skin, hair, weight, sexual function, reproduction, and metabolism. Balanced hormones are the goal here, and sometimes they get out of wack due to a long list of reasons. When your hormones are unbalanced, it can lead to irritability, mood swings, fatigue, breakouts, weight gain, insomnia, low libido, hair loss, poor digestion, and more. That’s where the fats come in. Eating healthy fats high in short, medium & long chain fatty acids is a crucial component to healthy hormones. They are the building blocks to hormone production and also boost your metabolism & brain function.

Reference: 10 Ways To Balance Hormones Naturally - DrAxe.com. (2014, April 7).

My experience

One thing I’ve learned throughout my healthy living journey, is that my body thrives off healthy fats. Everyone is different, and you may find you thrive off a smaller or higher amount of fats, therefore trial & error is crucial. I personally cannot go a day without eating them. They keep me full, energized, alert, happy, and fit. I totally notice the difference if I skip out on them in my breakfast, and find it often leads to more cravings later in the day because I was lacking these nutrients. I also notice my hair, skin & nails seem healthier + softer & more moisturized when I am keeping my healthy fat intake high! After all, you are what you eat ;)

Sources of healthy fats:

• coconut oil

• nuts

• salmon

• chia seeds

• egg yolks

• flax seeds

• extra virgin olive oi

• avocado

• full fat organic cheese/milk/yogurt

+ more!

 In addition to my food, I take a high quality omega 3 fish oil supplement that you can see here.

I find it super easy to include healthy fats into my diet because I love the taste of them. I almost always add a scoop of nut butter or coconut oil to my oatmeal, toast, or smoothie. I always use my favorite home made extra virgin olive oil dressing on my salads, and love to add mashed avocado or sunflower seeds in there too. I always cook + sauté with coconut oil or olive oil, and I love snacking on roasted unsalted nuts.

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How about you, what are your favorite ways to enjoy healthy fats?