Ingredients:
1 Cup raw almonds
4 Cup water, cold
3TB maple syrup or honey
Method:
1. Soak the almonds in boiling water for 15 mins. Remove the skins, allow to dry then place in blender or grind until almonds are a very fine meal.
2. Add half of the water and the honey/syrup and blend on high for 2 mins.
3. Add the remaining water and blend for another 2 mins.
4. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or filter paper to separate the liquid from the almond meal. Keep the liquid as a milk substitute and the meal for use as a facial scrub.
May be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
(from mellyette79 on http://www.joyousbirth.info)
Almond Milk (dairy free milk) December 13, 2008
Chai Recipes November 14, 2008
There are many different ways to make Chai. Chai is a spiced tea, normally very milky.
Chai Recipe #1 (Must make several cups)
1 Tbsp fennel or anise seed
6 green cardamom pods
12 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1/4″ ginger root, sliced thin
1/4 tsp black pepper corns
2 bay leaves
7 Cups water
Boil ingredients for 5 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Then add 2tb tea leaves, 6tb honey or brown sugar, and 1 cup milk.
Chai Recipe #2 (Makes 2 cups)
1 1/2 cups water
1 inch stick of cinnamon
8 cardamon pods
8 whole cloves
2/3 cup milk
6 tsp sugar (or to taste)
3 tsp black tea
In a saucepan, bring the water and spices to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 mins. Add milk and sugar, and return to simmer. Add the tea, cover the pot and turn off the heat, allowing it to sit for 2 mins. Strain into 2 cups to serve.
Chai Recipe #3 (No measurements given)
1/3 part water
2/3 part milk
1 tsp of tea leaves for each cup
freshly chopped ginger
cardamom pods
cloves
Sugar to taste
Put all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Swirl the pot around to increase the flavour. Once the desired strength has been reached, serve.
Chai Mix Recipe
4cm cinnamon stick
4 cardamon pods
2-3 black peppercorns
slice of fresh ginger/1/2 tsp powder
Grind ingredients together to make the spice mix. Use 1/4 tsp of the spice mix per cup of tea. Add to 1 cup water in a saucepan, and simmer for 1 minute. Add 1/4 cup of milk and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Strain and serve. You can change the water/milk ratio if you prefer it more milky.
Cheater’s Chai
There are prepackaged Chai teabags and tea blends around now. You can simmer these teabags in milk to make a more traditional Chai, but you can also make an instant Chai by adding 1-2 teaspoons of milk powder to the cup, add the teabag and boiling water, and either waiting for that to cool (giving more time for the favour to come out), or adding a little cold milk and drinking straight away.
Sekanjabin November 14, 2008
Sekanjabin (“Sec-an-ja-bin”)
This is a medieval cordial…. I’m not overly keen on it to be honest, but some people like it. Its served a lot at the medieval gatherings I go to.
Ingredients:
4 cups Sugar
2 1/2 c water
1 cup white wine vinegar
Flavour:
Handful of mint (fresh is best) or 2 lemons – peeled and juiced
Method:
Dissolve the sugar in the water in a saucepan, and bring to the boil. Add the vinegar, mint or lemon peel + juice and simmer for 30 mins. Remove from the heat. Allow to cool and remove peels (if using lemon). Use this syrup as a cordial – diluting it with water to taste (approx 5-10 parts water to 1 part syrup). Can be stored without refrigeration…. can also be stored in the freezer as it doesn’t freeze (or at least when I made it, it wouldn’t freeze).
Mango Mocktail November 14, 2008
(enough for 4 glasses)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups fruit punch fruit drink
1/2 cup coconut cream
1 mango
1 cup ice
Method:
Blend all ingredients together until it makes a smooth mixture. Pour into glasses.
(From Coles Xmas magazine)
Pink Ice Cocktail November 14, 2008
(makes 4 glasses)
Ingredients
2 cups chilled sparkling wine
1 cup chilled strawberry & apple juice
2 teaspoons chilled creme de cassis (a liqueur made of blackcurrants)
8 strawberries, hulled and quartered
Method
Mix the ice, juice, liqueur and wine together. Place 2 strawberries in each glass and pour the mixture over the top.
(From coles Xmas magazine)
Butterscotch shots November 14, 2008
(makes 6 shots)
Ingredients
30mls bourbon
30mls Irish cream
30mls butterscotch liqueur
1 teaspoon honey
1tb cream
Method
Mix all ingredients except the cream, and pour into shot glasses. Pour a little cream on top to serve.
(From Coles xmas magazine)
Fancy Ice Cubes for Drinks November 14, 2008
Freeze berries (like whole/halves strawberries etc.) , lemon or orange slices in ice cube trays, and use in drinks or in punch bowls for an interesting effect
Lemonaid / lemon Cordial November 12, 2008
Before the normal carbonated stuff we drink now, lemonaid used to be made from lemons.. fancy that!
Ingredients:
1/4 to 1/2c sugar (or fructose)
1c lemon juice
1c water
Method:
Put 1c water and the sugar into a saucepan and heat until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat. Combine with the lemon juice, to make the lemon cordial syrup. Use this as a cordial, pouring a small amount into a glass then topping up with water (or fizzy mineral water), or mix 6-8 cups of water with this to make it up in one batch (depending on how strong you like it)
You can add a little mint if you wish, which is nice and refreshing, or experiment with a little lime juice or other ingredients.
Berry delicious smoothie/milkshake November 12, 2008
(makes enough for 2 glasses)
Ingredients:
about 8 strawberries
a handful of blueberries
half a banana (preferably not too ripe, so it doesn’t overpower)
about 1/2 cup vanilla icecream (or more if you like)
about 3 cups milk
Method:
Mix that all together (I use a stab blender)…. yum!
