Vegan Almond Milk Yogurt

When I decided to adopt a whole foods plant based diet I was very excited about making all my foods from scratch. Incorporating fermented foods into my diet was no exception. Store bought yogurts usually have preservatived to keep items fresh, so when I saw a video about vegan home made yogurt I researched so many recipes and watched so many versions that I had a hard time choosing which one to try.
I knew an instant pot would be life changing after finding so many other recipes that I was dying to try, so when I saw it had a yogurt option I purchased one immediately! I look forward to posting many more recipes, yogurt being the first:)  

Inspired by Thomas
Ingredients:


Almond Milk

• 1 cup (140g) raw almonds
• 3 cups (750ml) filtered water

Yogurts

• 2 and 1/2 cup homemade almond milk
• 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
• Probiotics (60 bill)
• 2 tsp maple syrup for the probiotics to feed on 
• Optional: seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean (or 1/4 tsp vanilla extract)
• For my second batch I added a small amount of agar agar as a thickener, this is a vegan option instead of gelatin
  

---

Instructions


Almond Milk

1. Soak the almonds for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Drain and add to a blender with the 3 cups of water. Blend on high-speed for 30-40 seconds, until smooth.
2. Place a nut milk bag over a large glass bowl. Pour the almond milk into the bag and twist to close. Using your hands, squeeze to extract as much almond milk as possible. You should end up with about 2 and 1/2 cup of almond milk.

Yogurts

1. Combine the almond milk (2 and 1/2 cups), xanthan gum in a medium saucepan. If you want to make a sweetened yogurt, also add the maple syrup and vanilla seeds. Heat over medium heat until it reaches 185°F (85°C), whisking constantly to make sure all the gum is fully dissolved and don’t stay at the bottom. Remove from heat at soon as it reaches 185°F, or just before it boils. Transfer to a large glass bowl and let sit for about 20 minutes, or until the temperature reaches below 110°F (43°c). This is important, if the milk is too hot it will kill the cultures. Using a thermometer is strongly recommended.
2. Once the milk is at the right temperature, stir in the probiotics or yogurt starter. Give it a good whisk to break any “lumps”, and make it fully smooth again. Pour into glass jars and close the lid, or use plastic wrap to cover if you aren't using an instant pot that has a yogurt potion.
3. Place the jars in a baking dish filled with warm water, they should be half immersed. If you have a yogurt maker, skip this step and just put the jars into your machine.
4. Place the baking dish with the jars in a 105°F preheated oven for 6-10 hours depending on how sour you like your yogurts. Personally, if you prefer them with a milder flavor so I let them culture for only 6 hours.
5. Transfer the yogurts to the refrigerator and let cool for at least 8 hours.
6. Enjoy for breakfast or dessert, sweetened with some maple syrup and topped with granola, fresh fruits, jam or nut butter. Always give the yogurts a good stir before eating!
7. The yogurts will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    Save the almond pult to make something else with it.
   
   
   
   
    For a thicker consistancy I drained the whey at the bottom
   
   And for a less thick option I left the whey in one jar and stired it up. They were both amazing! Fresh, with the perfect amount of tang. I enjoyed them with some frozen blueberries and granola.

Potastic 6Qt 10-in-1

Potastic 6Qt 10-in-1 Programmable Electric Pressure, LCD Display,Instant Cooking with Stainless Steel Pot, Multi, Slow, Rice, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Saute, Steamer, Warmer

by Potastic

Browsing healthy plant-based meals, I kept coming across amazing instant pot recipies and new an instant pot would be life changing:) So, after hours of comparing different brands I came to find the Potasitc 6 quart that came at an incredible price! The reviews were great and it had all the features I was looking for. It arrived today and my first recipe is a vegan almond milk yogurt. I'll share the results in tomorrow's blog.

---

Price:

$69.99 Free Shipping for Prime Members

• [10-1 multi function and easy to read LCD display] Potastic replaces 10 common kitchen Appliances including pressure cooker, slow cooker, saute, rice cooker, Steamer, yogurt maker, food Warmer, cake maker, sterilizer and egg cooker in one electric device, All comes with instant cooking features, that cooks meals in less than half the time.
• [16 smart cooking programs with dual pressure setting] poultry, meat/stew, Bean/Chili, Soup/broth, rice, multi-grain, porridge, slow cook, sauté/simmer, steam, egg, keep Warm, cake, yogurt and sterilize, pressure cook (manual cooking). cook your favorite dishes just the touch of one button.
• [Every thing you need in one box] A recipe book, Extra silicon sealing ring(you actually got two total), stainless steel steam rack, stainless steel inner cooking pot measuring cup, rice paddle, Soup Ladle and oven mitts are included in the box. The included stainless-steel Steamer basket enables you to make two dishes at once!
• [Comes with recipes and instructions] Comes with a recipe book, cooking time tables and cheat sheets! In addition, Potastic appliances website and mobile app for iOS and Android has new pressure cooker recipes & Content uploaded every week as well! Our product is also designed to use with most pressure cooker recipes in the market.
• [Etl certified for safety] ETL certified with 10 proven safety mechanisms gives you peace of mind. Highly energy efficient, This kitchen cooker Emits no steam when cooking. Comes with a 1-year manufacturer's - register your appliance on the Potastic website.

Multi Level Safety and Protection System:

Anti-Block Shield
Safety Indicator & Lid Lock
Pressure Regulator Protection
Automatic Pressure Control
Excess Pressure Protection
Steam Release Vent
Lid Close Detection
Automatic Temperature Control
Extreme Temperature & Power Protection

Dandy Blend

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I do enjoy a tasty hot drink now and then, and this product has become a recent favorite. A nice alernative to a cup of hot Teechino, which is another favorite. 

I enjoy it with hot unsweetened Vanilla almond milk with a dash of cinnamon.

Dandy blend has an impressive list of benefits and some unique qualities. Here are some of those perks listed by bloomandclementine:

1. It is easy and fast to make! It dissolves into water and requires no grinding or special preparation. This makes it especially easy in an office setting or for busy mama’s where all you have to do is boil water and pour!
2. Tip: I add a teaspoon of Cacao (full of it’s own list of incredible health benefits) and a bit of almond milk. This sweetens and adds more flavour if you need it. Although, I find Dandy blend to have a slight natural sweetness to it and I’m even able to drink it black.
3. Caffeine free! It’s an herbal drink and similarly to herbal teas does not contain caffeine which means you can drink at anytime of the day or night without stimulation or those pesky coffee crashes in the middle of the day.
4. Gluten free! The roasting and grinding process extracts the gluten proteins from this product and is safe to drink for anyone who struggles with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
5. Over 50 trace minerals in every cup! Your body will use these minerals to help boost metabolism.
6. No headaches or withdrawal symptoms occur when switching from coffee to dandy blend. Dandy Blend reports that many of those who switch over report that they feel they are simply drinking a different brand of coffee!
7. Dandy blend costs as little at 7 cents per cup! That’s MUCH cheaper than a cup of coffee these days.
8. Last but not least, I personally think it’s delicious! I am also a happy camper when I can find something so nutrient dense to put in my body!

What got me really excited about this drink is the quality and quantity of dandelion root. This is the main ingredient of the drink as it’s name clearly shows and it comes with many health benefits. Here are 9 different health benefits found from ingestion of dandelion root:

1. Digestion: Dandelion root is a mild laxative and also balances the good bacteria found in your intestines. It also helps your stomach and liver release stomach acid and bile which keeps your digestion moving properly.
2. Kidney support: Dandelion is a diuretic which assists the kidneys in flushing out waste, salt and excess water. This can be especially helpful for women who have trouble with bloating during PMS. Instead of leaving you dehydrated from water loss, dandelion will replenish your potassium stores which is an important electrolyte.
3. Liver support: As mentioned above, Dandelion root helps the liver release bile which is an important function of this organ. This promotes removal of toxins and replenishment of electrolytes.
4. Antioxidants: It is known that coffee can help remove free radicals but it is also known that dandelion root does this better! Dandelion root is packed full of antioxidants which slows the aging process (while coffee actually accelerates aging).
5. Cancer fighting: Dandelion has been shown to fight cancer cells and this claim has been backed up with A LOT of research. Every part of this plant is packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that have been proven to slow the growth and even prevent formation of cancer cells.
6. Diabetes: This is another benefit of coffee which is listed above, so why not switch over to Dandy blend to have the same benefits PLUS many more! Dandelion helps regulate blood sugar and insulin which is something that coffee actually destroys.
7. Blood pressure: Dandelion’s diuretic effects leads to more frequent urination which in turn will lower blood pressure. Fiber and Potassium found in Dandelion will also regulate blood pressure.
8. Inflammation: While most people are aware of the inflammation they can experience in physical injuries, more education is starting to reach people about the issues that internal inflammation can cause. Inflammation is the culprit in many diseases and illnesses today. Dandelion will reduce inflammation through it’s essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. This reduction of inflammation helps internally as well as externally from sport injuries.
9. Immune System: If what I mentioned above wasn’t enough, dandelion boosts immune function! It destroys any bugs entering your system so can be especially helpful during the winter months.

What minerals are in Dandy Blend?

According to tests done by Chemical Solutions Ltd., Dandy Blend contains the following minerals on a single serving basis (1 Teaspoon):

Major Minerals:
Potassium 22.2 mg
Sodium 3.2 mg
Phosphorus 2.8 mg
Magnesium 2.0 mg
Calcium 2.1 mg
Iron 0.9 mg
Aluminum 0.05mg
Manganese 0.03

Trace Minerals:
Rubidium 12.0 mcg
Zinc 8.6 mcg
Barium 6.0 mcg
Boron 4.0 mcg
Copper 1.6 mcg
Strontium 2.0 mcg
Chromium 2.0 mcg
Titanium 2.0 mcg

How is Dandy Blend Made?

Dandy Blend is made of only 5 ingredients — extracts of barley, rye, dandelion, chicory and beet roots.
a. the ingredients are dried and roasted separately, each for their own prescribed time. Dandelion roots are roasted at around 230 degrees fahrenheit until they smell like a sweet coffee-hot chocolate mix. b. all five are combined in the proper proportions, and placed in a hot water-filled vat. c. they are allowed to steep for the prescribed period of time. d. the water, with the soluble portions of all the ingredients, is drained from the grounds e. The water portion is spray dried. The grounds, with all the water-insoluble substances, are discarded. f. the powder that remains after the water is driven off is Dandy Blend.

Tropical Fruit slushie bowl

My most farvorite recent dessert is this smooth, sweet, healthy slushie!

Ingredients:
1 cup Frozen Tropcal fruit Blend (Mango, Pineapple and Strawberry)
1/2 cup frozen Strawberries
1 frozen banana
1-2 cups unstweetened Vanilla almond milk
Granola (your favorite granola...like Nature Valley Oats 'n Honey crunch) 
Monk fruit sweetener (5-10 drops, to your sweetness preference)
2 cups of ice

*Makes at least three decent sized servings, but only 410 caleried for the whole amount!

Directions:
Blend all ingredients except the banana and granola.  Blend until fine and soft.  Chop up frozen banana and sprinkle granola ontop. And you have a cool, sweet, refreshing treat with a crunch.

Waste-less

Like Kate, I'm also in the transitional phase of trying to create as little waste as possible. It's devastating to realize how much waste we collectively produce every single day.  I constantly encourage everyone to do the best they can to produce as little waste as possible. We can all do much, much better than we currently are!  We don't need to all do it perfectly, ie. Zero waste, but like Kate says, we need millions to do it imperfectly to make a significant impact. 
Some of the changes I have made are stocking up on reusable grocery bags, and produce bags, silicone food saver bags, sustainable items (not made from plastic), glass and metal straws,bars of soap...and many little changes that add up as time goes by!

These have been a life saver, so durable and perfect for freezing and storing fruit and veggies...unlike ziplock bags, they even have measurements on them! 

Oh, how many small plastic bags I've saved since I bought these! Every single produce item seems to need a bag, especially with the amount of fresh produce I buy, and now I can stop the instance collection!

I love these straws and use them daily! So far I've broken two :( but I just need to be more careful!

Another option for a durable straw:) I like the glass ones better because I can see through it to make sure it's always clean, but these are great for travel! 

Grocery Bag...I like shopping for products on this website because I adore dogs, and each purchase goes toward feeding sheltered animals:)

By making my own almond milk I save a lot of plastic bottle because I drink it pretty much daily in my smoothies, and it's a healthier option without any preservatives to make it at home:)

I also grow my own sprouts to not only save money, but to to get fresher sprouts without having to toss out a little plastic container every two days! I love being able to grow 4 different kinds of sprouts. It takes only 5 days to grow, and it takes me about 5 days to eat them all, so I alway have a fresh supply on hand!

 

This is an amazing kit for travel or go anywhere where they offer plastic utencils. Tiny Panda Pink Bamboo, Travel, Portable, Reusable Cutlery Set | Reusable Utensils With Case 

Another very important item to have is a reusable water botther. I got his one on iheartdog as well. It's a great portable size, and stainless steel.