Chocolate-Almond-Coconut Milk

Coconut water is HUGE right now, and rightfully so.  It's extremely healthy, and has a lot of good nutrients, but I'm sorry, it's disgusting.  I needed something with a lot of potassium and electrolytes, and I came across this beautiful product...Sambazon Protein Chocolate-Almond-Coconut Milk.  It's nutritious AND Delicious!  My only problem was shelling out $3 a day for it when I'm drinking 2 of them a day.  

As I was walking down the aisle in Whole Foods to go pick some up, I walked passed CANNED coconut milk.  Well this got me thinking (which is something I really try not to do) and I figured, why not make my own?  I mean I have an amazing blender that will blend anything, and this canned coconut milk is only $1 a can, so I'm going to do it. 

I went and bought one of the bottles so I could see the ingredients on the back.  I figured that the only important things to have to make this was dutch process cocoa, powdered sugar, almonds, vanilla soymilk, vanilla extract, and coconut milk.  Turns out I was right.  So instead of spending a ton of money stocking up on these delicious bottles for the week, I stocked up on the ingredients to make it. 

As I checked out with my ingredients I realized that I had spent about $20 on everything, and I bought 6 cans of coconut milk so I would have it on hand.  I knew I better make this work or I just wasted money on what could have gone to the real deal.

I got home, pulled down the Blendtec to see if my Chocolate-Almond-Coconut Milk really would blend.  (I know, my sarcasm is hysterical.)  After I experimented a bit and tasted the final product I was VERY happy.  It literally tasted the exact same, and I only used 1 1/2 cans of coconut milk for 2 quarts of the finished product.  So my friends, I am here to share the wealth with all of you!  Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 14.5 oz can Coconut Milk
1/2 of another 14.5oz can of Coconut Milk (I put the remainder in ice cube trays, froze them and saved them for next time)
1 1/2 Tbs. Dutch Process Cocoa
1/2-2/3 C. Powdered Sugar
1-1 1/2 C. Vanilla Silk Soymilk
1/2 C. Raw Almonds
2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
6 ice cubes (just to make it cold. this is optional)

Directions
In your Blender, blend up the coconut milk, almonds, and soymilk. Blend until the almonds have broken down. Then add remaining ingredients and blend until it's the consistency you want. 

If you want it runnier add more soymilk. If you want it thicker add more almonds.  If you want it sweeter more powdered sugar. Creamier? more coconut Milk....you get the idea.

Then I just pulled out some hand dandy mason jars, spaghetti jars, any jars, filled them up, and put them in the fridge to drink.  This recipe made 2 Quarts.

The best part is the little almond bits you get in every sip.  Put it on ice and drink it straight out of the jar. I hope you like it!!

Midnight Smoothie

 So I woke up up this morning in the middle of the night craving a smoothie, and I must say that the outcome was delicious!  

I was going for strawberry, but my husband had conveniently eaten the strawberries earlier in the day so I used what I had on hand and this is what I came out with....

Ingredients

2 Bananas

3/4 cups Blueberries

1 Blueberry Yogurt

5 Ice Cubes

1/2 cup Vanilla Soy Milk

4 Fuji Apple Slices

Directions

Blend together in your blender until smooth, and enjoy!

Brazilian Lemonade

This is a good twist on regular Lemonade.  I love limes, and this is such a yummy, creamy, limey drink.  :) 

Ingredients

1 C. Sugar

6 C. Cold Water

4 Juicy Limes (roll between your hands before using)

6 Tbs. Sweetened Condensed Milk

Directions

Mix cold water and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved.  

Wash limes througholy with hand washing soap and water.  Cut the ends off of each of the limes.  Place half of the limes in your blender and half of the sugar water.  Pulse for 5 times.

Place a fine mesh strainer over your pitcher that you are going to serve the lemonade in, and pour the blended mixture through the strainer into the pitcher.  Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid out of the contents that are caught by the mesh strainer.

Whisk in sweetened condensed milk.  Serve over lots of ice and a lime wedge in a fun beautiful glass!  You can also dip the top of your glass in water and then dip in sea salt.  It's a fun little extra.