Ani's Raw Food Essentials - Ani Phyo [18]
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
Use your favorite nuts to make a basic mylk. If you’re concerned about calories or sugar, sweeten with a pinch of stevia instead of the dates or agave syrup.
½ cup almonds, cashews, pecans, or your favorite nut
½ cup pitted dates, or ¼ cup agave syrup
A pinch of sea salt
5 cups water
Place all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
Will keep for at least 4 days in the fridge.
VANILLA ALMOND MYLK
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
If you can treat yourself to whole vanilla bean, your taste buds will thank you for it. Plus the little black seeds will be visible in your mylk, and look pretty.
1 recipe Basic Nut Mylk (page 41)
1 vanilla bean, or 1 tablespoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
Follow the directions for Basic Nut Mylk, adding the vanilla.
Will keep for at least 4 days in the fridge.
CHOCOLATE MYLK
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
Cacao powder has less fat than the whole cacao nib and tastes more like traditional cooked cocoa powder. You can use the same amount of nibs instead of powder for a stronger dark chocolate flavor that’s more bitter, or even carob powder for a caffeine-free version.
1 recipe Basic Nut Mylk (page 41)
3 tablespoons cacao powder
Follow the directions for Basic Nut Mylk, adding the cacao powder.
Will keep for at least 4 days in the fridge.
CHOCOLATE FLURRY SHAKE
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
1 recipe Basic Nut Mylk (page 41) made with almonds
2 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons cacao nibs
2 cups ice
Follow the directions for Basic Nut Mylk, adding the cacao powder and nibs. Add the ice last, and blend to mix. Serve immediately.
STRAWBERRY MYLK
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
Fresh fruit is always my preference, but you can also use frozen strawberries to make this deliciously sweet pink mylk.
1 recipe Basic Nut Mylk (page 41)
2 cups strawberries
½ vanilla bean pod, whole, or ½ tablespoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
Follow the directions for Basic Nut Mylk, adding the strawberries and vanilla.
Will keep for at least 4 days in the fridge.
MINERAL GREEN MYLK
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
Algae, such as spirulina, are considered a superfood because they are superrich in nutrients. Packed with more chlorophyll than is found in any other food source, they contain amino acids, vitamins, and trace minerals that tone and strengthen our immune system, and increase energy levels. Chlorophyll, gram for gram, contains more protein than any animal product, so it’s great for building muscle. You can substitute the same amount of wheat grass powder, if you prefer.
1 recipe Basic Nut Mylk (page 41)
3 tablespoons spirulina powder
½ vanilla bean pod, whole, or ½ tablespoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
Follow the directions for Basic Nut Mylk, adding the spirulina and vanilla.
Will keep for at least 4 days in the fridge.
MATCHA SHAKE
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
Matcha is a powdered Japanese green tea. The tea leaves are picked and dried, the stems and veins are removed, and only the leaf is stone-ground. Traditionally, sweets are eaten before drinking matcha to complement its delicious flavor. Green tea does contain caffeine, so you may want to add a touch of maca powder to this smoothie to help rebuild your adrenals. Matcha teas can usually be found at local teahouses or coffee shops, in natural food stores, and, of course, online.
¾ cup almonds
¾ cup pitted dates
1 tablespoon matcha
3 cups filtered water
½ teaspoon maca powder (optional)
1 cup ice
Combine the almonds, dates, matcha, water, maca (if using), and ice in your high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add the ice and blend until mixed well.
Best served immediately, but will keep for several days in the fridge.
VARIATION: If you’re avoiding caffeine, replace the matcha with the same amount of spirulina blue-green algae. Spirulina is a tiny aquatic plant with more protein than soy, more vitamin A than carrots, and more iron than beef. It’s also a great source of phytochemicals that protect us from illness and aging.
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