tab˙ol˙o˙gy: April 2013

Friday, April 26, 2013

Creamy Almond Milk

Wow!!! Now I feel like I'm getting there! I'm not afraid of my

Vitamix anymore and I whip things up like nothing these days!

My friend JM warned me: "Once you make your first batch of fresh almond milk,

you'll never go back to store bought"....

Almond Milk

1 cup Raw Almonds

3 cups Filtered Water

Nut Milk Bag

(you can also use a fine mesh sieve or cheese cloth)

First you will need to soak the Almonds in water for a minimum of 8 hours or overnight

Once hydrated they look nice and plump!

Add youringredients to your blender and blend on high speed for 2 minutes

Once it is blended to the desired consistancy, pass through a fine mesh sieve (or in my case I only had cheese cloth on hand)

And that's IT!! At this point you can add any other ingredients you like. Consider Pure Vanilla Extract (1/2 tsp), Honey (1 tbsp), Dates (2-3), Raw Cacao powder (1 tbsp) the options are endless!

Well, I am a BELIEVER!!! This is the creamiest, freshest, most flavorful milk I have ever tasted!! I'm not just tootig my own horn people, this is good stuff!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Creamy Almond Butter

One of the AMAZING things about this machine, is that you can make virtually anything that supports a Clean, healthy, plant based life-style. This is how we roll (or blend)

Ingredients: ALMONDS

Ready???

This is how it looks about half way through....

Almost there!!!

Aaaahhhhhhhh!!

Seriously people, you should be making this!! For those of us that are a little challenged, here's the recipe:

Almond Butter

3 cups Almonds (Raw or Roasted)

Place the almonds in your food processor. Blend on Medium speed for 1 minute, then on high for 6-7 minutes until desired consistency is reached.

In my Vitamix, it was warm and oh so creamy and good when it came out!!

Let me know if you try it!

Has it been that long???

Yes!!! It has been like 6 months since I last posted!! With the latest invent (and my newest obsession) Instagram, I've been a little side-tracked!!

That being said, Sea & I have been SUPER busy with our new LOVE..... Our Vitamix. I'll start here. We've decided to institute in our hoe: 365 of VITAMIX! Doesn't really matter what it is, but at least once daily we will be utilizing this wonderful machine! Here's our beauty looks like:

I decided on the "Reconditioned" model that Vitamix offers on their website. I know that Costco has them for sale around the country right now, but I wanted to get the "New Generation" series.

It touts a new quieter, more powerful motor, a shorter wider 64-oz container (that is BPA-free)! Because it's "reconditioned" it's not considered Refurbished, no broken parts or anything, it just means that 1. someone returned it within the 30-day period of use or 2. It was used as a "model/demo"

Although the base/motor is "reconditioned" the container, tamper and cookbook are all BRAND NEW. That was a plus for me too! When I opened it, I fully inspected every inch of this thing and it doesn't have a scratch, a smudge or any indication it was EVER used!!.

We are in LOVE!!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Raw VEGAN Energy Bars

Who couldn't use a mid-afternoon pick-me-up? I know I could!! These bars are amazing! Good to keep on hand when you get the munchies or in the mood for something a little sweet or pre-workout like me on most days! Easy ingredients, even easier to make! Thanks for the inspiration Felicia!!

Energy Bars

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup Almonds

1/2 cup cashews or walnuts

1/2 cup pistachios or pepitas

2 cups pitted dates

1/4 cup dried cherries (chopped)

1/4 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup dried coconut

3 tablespoons chia seeds or flaxseeds

Place the nuts in the food processor and pulse a few times until nuts are coarsely chopped, set aside. Blend the dates in the food processor. It will be very, very sticky. Transfer it into a bowl and then mix in all the other ingredients.

Wet your hands slightly and knead and fold the ingredients together by hand. It will be tough but if you knead and fold it will eventually all be mixed togeher.

Press the ball of ingredients into a wax paper lined 9" x 13" baking pan. Chill for 1 hour in the freezer and then cut into bars.

I like to wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator, it keeps them at a nice firm consistency.

Hope you love them as much as we do!

Friday, April 19, 2013

Sprinting through Cadman park

Some may not realize that Crossfitters can do other things bedsides lift weights!!

The girls and I have been trying to incorporate more running (and cardio in general) into our WODs and well, today's did not disappoint! And we got to do it outside!!