Almond Milk and Chocolate Balls

The first time I tasted raw almond milk my taste buds did back flips! I wasn't sure what to expect but the taste far exceeded any other milks I've tried. It's simply delicious!

Fortunately, it's quite easy to make your own almond milk with all-natural ingredients, and for a fraction of the cost of store-bought varieties. Here's a simple recipe for all-natural almond milk:

Ingredients:

1 cup of raw almonds
3 cups of filtered water
2 dates (optional) or 2 tbs agave syrup

Directions:

1. Soak almonds in water for at least six hours.

2. Drain soaked almonds, and blend with 3 cups of fresh water until you get a milk-like consistency. Blend with dates or agave syrup if you like your milk with a hint of sweetness. Add a pinch of sea salt.

3. Strain once with muslin cloth or a strainer to remove almond granules.

You can purchase cheap muslin cloth from a fabric store like Spotlight.

The result is a delicious, creamy milk that's free of added oils, concentrated sugars, and synthetic nutrients. This all-natural almond milk keeps for 3-4 days in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator.

You will have almond pulp left over. This is good for making dehydrated raw breads, cakes, cookies etc. This time, I decided to use the leftover pulp to make raw chocolate balls (did I mention I'm a lover of all things chocolate?). Yum! I was inspired by a delicious raw chocolate ball I bought at Alive Organics yesterday - you know, something for the long journey home. It was so delicious I HAD to make my own.

RAW CHOCOLATE BALLS

I made three versions: Raw Chocolate Apricot, Raw Chocolate Date and Raw Chocolate Almond.

RAW CHOCOLATE APRICOT BALLS

1 cup soaked and rinsed almonds
1/2 cup cashews
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
3/4 cup dried apricots
5 medjool dates
2 tbs agave syrup
1 tbs virgin coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
pinch cinnamon
pinch sea salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor and blend thoroughly. Place mixture in the fridge for half an hour and roll into balls. Roll balls in coconut. Store in freezer.

RAW CHOCOLATE ALMOND BALLS

2 cups soaked and rinsed almonds
OR 1 cup almonds and 1 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup agave syrup
4 tbs raw cacao powder
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/4 cup currants
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch sea salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor and blend thoroughly. Place mixture in the fridge for half an hour and roll into balls. Store in freezer.

RAW CHOCOLATE DATE BALLS

1 1/2 cups almond pulp
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/4 cup currants
5 medjool dates
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tbs virgin coconut oil
pinch sea salt

Place all ingredients into a food processor and blend thoroughly. Place mixture in the fridge for half an hour and roll into balls. Roll balls in cacao powder. Store in freezer.

A Little Bit About Raw Cacao


"Raw chocolate is one of the most powerful sources of magnesium on the planet. Not only does magnesium help with alertness and activity, it also helps elevate your mood.

Magnesium is one of the most deficient minerals in the human body. Depending on where you find your studies 60-80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium. No wonder we're sluggish, agitated and stressed!

Raw chocolate is the same reason you've heard that chocolate is good for you... except that the cooked and processed form that you get in your Cadbury's bar does not have the same composition as it does when it's raw.

Raw chocolate also contains tryptophan--an essential amino acid--which helps naturally produce serotonin in your body. This is great news for those who need an emotional boost."(LiveAwesome.com)

Raw cacao comes in different forms - powder, beans, nibs, butter and paste. In Perth, you can find it at Manna Wholefoods in Fremantle or Alive Organics in Bayswater (or ask at your local health food store).