Homemade Almond Milk

We all have bittersweet memories of junior high, high school, or both (at least I hope I'm not alone, feel free to share). I started out seventh grade with a problem with school lunch. Not by choice, I couldn't keep it down. Any of it. You can imagine how awesome junior high was when every 5th or 6th period I would sprint to the bathroom. My doctor gave me Lactaid pills and I stopped vomiting and started on nausea! Good-bye Dairy.

As a boring side note... did you know that 80% of America Is Lactose Intolerant  Stunning!

Anyway, I'm a huge fan of Almond Milk and after I couldn't find a single brand that didn't include 'Careegan' (a carcinogen (something that causes cancer)), I decided to make my own.

Homemade Almond Milk

1 cup almonds (soaked overnight and rinsed)
4 cups of filtered water

Place the almonds and water in a good quality blender and blend till smooth. If you have a Blendtec simply hit the 'Whole Juice' button. Strain the 'milk' through cheese cloth or a fine mesh strainer. The mixture will be foamy and you may have to help push it through or leave it to strain for an hour. Place back in your blender and pulse to combine. The almond milk will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator.

Optional: add stevia or vanilla to get the same effect of a 'Blue Diamond Vanilla' etc. I love a shake of almond milk, vanilla, coconut flakes, and stevia. xox

Carrot Cake Smoothie

The top two questions I'm asked in regards to growing up in Utah are, 'Are you mormon?' or 'How many siblings do you have?'. (No, and three.) Despite not having 10 brothers and sisters and not being mormon we fit in quite well. My mother was quite the business woman/homemaker. Every year, she would make these beautiful birthday cakes for us. We had barbies, barney's, dinosaurs  and spice girls. My mother's above and beyond attitude to our birthdays paid off and everyone on the block knew not to miss a 'Fraser Birthday'.  My birthday usually consisted of Cooking Light's Apple Cake or Carrot Cake.

When she'd make Carrot Cake I would sit at the countertop and wait for her to walk away before sticking my finger in the batter... multiple times. I'd usually get caught and she'd ask me, 'did you use the same finger?!' I'd say, 'We are all related anyway!'. I was hooked. 

Sadly, My double dipping-finger licking days are over. Not because I wouldn't like to do it but because it's heavily frowned upon as an adult. Further, the calories in carrot cake aren't exactly waist friendly. Which is why I was delighted to discover that this recipe for a "Carrot Cake Smoothie" tastes just like the batter I remember! I drink this before or after a workout or anytime i feel like Carrot Cake! 

Photo and Recipe is from "Oh She Glows". 

Carrot Cake Smoothie

1 cup of almond milk

1/2 frozen banana (full if you want)

2 ice cubes

1 full carrot or 7 baby carrots

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

top with coconut or cinnamon

(optional) 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder. 

Place ingredients in a blender and blend till combined. If you let the smoothie sit for too long the smoothie will become VERY thick and you will have to use a spoon. I drink mine 5 minutes after if not immediately after. 

I don't like protein powders so I skip that but if you love it... go for it. I can't comment on how it tastes because i've never tried it!

Bikini Bod Asian Quinoa Salad

Hello friends...

I'm terrible at something called consistency. I'd like to say i'm too busy planning a wedding but really, i'm not. Truthfully, the 'big' things were ironed out months ago and the rest will be taken care of with the help of our amazing wedding planners. On the topic of weddings, I just read this article about being a bridesmaid. I feel like every girl should read this whether or not they are a bridesmaid right now. http://voices.yahoo.com/five-things-bridesmaid-bride-500805.html?cat=41

Anyway, in effort to get my desired wedding/bikini bod I am downing this salad. It is gluten free, dairy free, and vegan! Serve it after or alongside a green salad. Enjoy!

Asian Avocado and Corn Quinoa Salad

Dressing
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Tamari
1.5 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil

Salad
5 spears asparagus, chopped into small-bite-size pieces
10 grape tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 avocado, chopped
2 cups cooked quinoa (soaked overnight prior to cooking if you have time)
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup (or more) of sprouts
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

salt and pepper, to taste

Place the first ingredients in a bowl and whisk till combined. place the remaining ingredients in your bowl and fold into the dressing. Make sure you stir once everything is in the bowl so that the quinoa doesn't soak up the dressing before everything else is coated. The sprouts make this dish!

P.s. thanks to my lovely sisters and friends that are my bridesmaids right now. You're the sweetest. 

Raw Rolled Oat Cereal

I'm not sure when I started putting down Harry Potter and picking up self-help or nutrition books for recreational reading but I'm thankful I enjoy these things. I recently read, 'The Beauty Detox Solution' by Kimberly Snyder. One of the things I took away from the book, besides the 'Cheat Sheet' I posted earlier, was that though cooked oatmeal is great for you, they are even BETTER raw. Now, i'm not crazy about the taste yet. But I like to do things just because they are good for me, why else would anyone drink 'Wheat Grass Shots' and I know you're out there. If you're interested, here's the recipe. Its definitely filling. 

Note: I used steel cut oats because I hadn't made it to the store to buy the 'Groats'.

Raw Rolled Oat Cereal

Ingredients

• ½ cup raw organic oat groats soaked overnight and rinsed well (if you can't find oat groats, use steel cut oats instead)
• ½ avocado
• ½ tsp Stevia
• 1 to 2 Tbsp cold filtered water, as needed
• Pinch of high quality sea salt (optional)

Directions

Place the soaked oats and avocado in a food processor and blend. Add the sea salt and Stevia and mix well. If you prefer your oats thick and chunky, you can nix the water altogether. Otherwise, add one tablespoon of water to thin the mixture, and a second tablespoon as needed.

Let me know what you think. I used honey... I wouldn't recommend that combo with the avocado... maple syrup may work better if you don't have the Stevia. 

I miss you 'blogging world'

I am soooo behind. So much has happened! I finished cooking school! Hip Hip! My mother can finally say, 'I finished school.' My nutrition degree is still in the making... it'll happen... slowly but surely. Anyway, I figured I would start back with some photos that I hadn't already posted on my twitter. Here we go...

 went to see SI in NY. So eventually... one day.. there will be a lovely blog post about me going there (on their part) and that will be the highlight of my afternoon. 

 I still go nuts over these quinoa salads. I've discovered my signature dressing, girls love it. I will post it. 

 I found myself a ring barer! He's adorable. 

friends at the WBC!

 Home. 

 Homemade pizza-pre my gluten free diet. 

and this is me for the rest of my life... read this, memorize it. 

stay tuned for a raw oatmeal recipe! oh, sounds delicious doesn't it!