Milk & Cookies

It's a real winter here now! Has been snowing for days and almost storming now. So all I feel like doing is just reading by the fireplace and having some delicious milk and cookies :)

This milk is perfect for all sorts of drinks, from fruity to chocolaty to even alcohol drinks. Also good in baking and cooking and with breakfast cereals/muesli. You can make different kinds of milks with the same recipe just by changing the almonds to what ever nuts or seeds. My favourite is hazelnut milk. What's yours? :)

Almond milk

• 3 dl raw almonds
• 10 dried dates (or less if you don't like too sweet)
• 1 l water
• (cinnamon, vanilla etc. for flavouring)

Soak the almonds for 8-12 hours and rinse well. Soak the dates for 8-12 hours in water that just covers them.
Put the soaked and rinsed almonds to a blender. Add the dates and the soaking water and start mixing. Add water little by little so you get really fine texture. Filter the milk to a pot through a very fine strainer or cheesecloth. Squeeze the remaining pulp to get all of the liquid. Add flavouring if you desire so and bottle. Store in fridge and shake well before using. I recommend to use within 2-4 days.

Raspberry milk for two:

• 4 dl almond milk
• 2 dl raspberries
• 0.5 tsp vanilla powder

Mix in a blender and enjoy. Test also other berries or fruits!

Cacao-coffee for two:

• 5 dl almond milk
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar (or other desired sweetener)
• 1 tbsp cacao powder
• 1 tbsp instant coffee powder

Put all ingredients to a pot, mix well and slowly heat up on the stove. Don't boil!

Raw & spicy almond cookies

• pulp from the almond milk
• 1 dl flax seeds + 2 dl water
• 1 dl raisins + water to cover
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp orange peel powder

Put the flax seeds and raisins to separate dishes, add water and let soak at least for 2 hours. Puree the raisins with their soaking water in a blender. Mix all the ingredients into smooth dough (I used hands) and let it stand in fridge for about an hour. Roll the dough between two baking sheets and cut into desired shapes. Dry the cookies in a dehydrator or in 40'C degree oven until they are totally dry. This takes 12-24 hours, depending on the thickness of the cookies and the dryer. Will stay good for months in a cool and dry place.

Marmalade

• 10 dried apricots
• 20 dried plums

Soak the apricots and plums in water at least for 4 hours. Put to a blender and mix till smooth puree. Use as much water as needed. Store in fridge and use within a week.

~ Ilta