WHAT IS CACAO FRUIT?
We make our bean to bar chocolate straight from the cacao bean. This means before
CHERRY VANILLA ALMOND MILK
Every year when January comes around I make the resolution to go to sleep earlier.
I am convinced that after working in the film industry for so long, that my brain no longer has the mechanism to tell me to go to sleep. Years ago, I would fall asleep anywhere else in my apartment (couch, dining room table – you name it- anywhere but the bed!)
This year I did make that same resolution and also discovered Cherry Vanilla Almond Milk!
As I write this blog post, it is currently 10:35pm…..
…………
I was prepping and planning my first juice cleanse (more on that in a later blog post) and while I was making my almond milk I discovered we had run out of dates at home. I was trying to think of what I could use to sweeten my nut milk and all I had was dried cherries. I had bought pounds and pounds of organic cherries this past summer and dehydrated them knowing that I would need them when they were out of season.
Why was I hoarding cherries? They are the highest melatonin containing foods.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. The pineal gland is activated to produce this hormone once darkness occurs. As melatonin levels rise, you feel less alert leading you to your precious beauty sleep.
Yes foods contain hormones.
Melatonin will help you reach your deep delta-phase sleep. This higher quality of sleep has many benefits such as less recovery time after exercise, more productivity, better mood, more clarity, and no brain fog upon waking.
Win!
Here is my recipe for this miracle sleeping potion.
Drink this 20 minutes before going to bed.
CHERRY VANILLA ALMOND MILK
Ingredients:
1.5 C Almonds (soaked) 4 C Water 1/3 C Dried cherries (soaked)* 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder
Method:
Rinse out your almonds until the water is clear. You want to get rid of all the enzyme inhibitors!
Blend the almonds and water for 60 seconds or until you don’t see anymore almond granules.
Pour the contents of your blender into your nut milk bag over a bowl and squeeze, squeeze squeeze.
Rinse out your blender and lid.
Return your almond milk to the blender, add cherries & vanilla, blend until smooth.
Pour, drink & sleep!
Time saving tip: Soak a greater amount of nuts then needed and rinse them off. Portion them in 1.5C and freeze them. Next time you need almonds for almond milk, pop that out of the freezer and add water to help thaw.
* Fresh or frozen cherries will work also.
Comment below if you have any questions, I’d love to see your creations.
Audrey is the founder of Living Lotus Food & Nutrition Inc. a plant-based dessert and food education company in Vancouver, BC. Trained as a certified Whole Food Educator and Raw Food Chef, she is passionate about Making Health Sweet and empowering people to make better food choices. She enjoys playing in the kitchen, yoga, sewing & riding her bike in the sun.
