Silk® Almondmilk - It Does The Body Good!

This post brought to you by Silk. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Produce On Parade.

Today, we're here to talk about milk. Ew, not cow secretions loaded with hormones and antibiotics! I'm talking about plant milk, y'all! 

I like to make my own plant milks. I’ve made almond milk many times (delicious), white bean milk (it was so gross, I had to throw it out), oat milk (pretty icky stuff, slimy too), and cashew milk (yum!). Homemade almond milk is insanely delicious, but despite my good intentions, I never end up using the almond pulp and guilt gets the better of me. Homemade cashew milk is crazy good, but for somethings can be a bit too grainy for me.

Evenso, I do still make different plant milks. In fact, I just made sunflower seed milk for the first time (pretty tasty). But...I'm still not sure what to do with the pulp! However, when I don’t have the time to plan accordingly, as the nuts and seeds need to soak for eight hours, I buy Silk®. I really like their soy milk, but what I buy the most of is their Silk® Unsweetened Original Almondmilk. I’ve tried other brands of almond milk, but they all have a sort of displeasing taste to me, personally. Silk Almondmilk is the mildest, creamiest and it’s very tasty indeed.

It’s pretty obvious to most of us that almond milk is much better for one than cow’s milk. But just in case you don’t know, Silk® has:

• 50% more calcium than dairy milk*
• Zero cholesterol
• Less calories than dairy milk
• No gluten, soy, casein, peanuts, egg and MSG

I like to use the almond milk in any recipe that would normally call for cow’s milk. Though I do prefer to use Silk® Soymilk during baking. And, all of Silk’s products are non-GMO too!

My staple in the kitchen is the plain, Silk® Unsweetened Original Almondmilk because it’s the most versatile. The Silk® Dark Chocolate Almondmilk, I have seriously forbidden myself from buying because I chug it relentlessly...in like one day’s time. The chocolate almond milk is like Oreos (or crack), just can’t have the stuff in the house! I would survive solely on Oreos and Silk® Dark Chocolate Almondmilk if I knew it could adequately sustain human life. The Silk® Vanilla Almondmilk is really great as a splash in coffee, or used as a vegan sweetened condensed milk if you boil it down a bit.

There are so many different Silk® plant based milks to choose from! I’m sure you’ll find one that fits your needs exactly. Time to ditch the dairy and drink something that’s better for your health, and the planet too!

Check out some of my recipes including Silk® Unsweetened Original Almondmilk in the gallery below!

For more Almondmilk recipes click here. Visit Silk®.

*(Same for both Original and Unsweetened) 45% DV calcium; dairy milk 30% DV. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 26. Data consistent with typical skim dairy milk.

Strawberry Vanilla Cashew Milk + Alaskan Ski Train Photos

Okay, so I know you're all wondering how The Ski Train that Todd and I went on this weekend was. I'll give synopsis.  It’s was an all-day train party ride (like a legit, real life train) that went over 130 miles one way from Anchorage (we boarded in Wasilla), past Talkeetna to Curry where it stopped and let a bunch of cool cats like myself out to ski to our hearts content, which coincidentally was about four hours. On the way up we played Apples to Apples and ate a questionably large amount of Twizzlers and Pringles. We skied and played about, took a break to eat homemade vegan breakfast burritos, then piled back on, ate a bunch of food, drank a few adult beverages (some people more than others), and enjoyed the scenery on the way back home.

Check Produce On Parade's Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram to see some of the trip photos and a video of some Alaskan scenery. Also, there might be a video of Todd doing shotski. 

Here's a taste...

Highlights of the trip were:

• The lady in the seat across from us dislocated her shoulder and exited the train in Talkeetna to seek medical care.
• One of my coworkers was one of two people who were "confirmed missing". If you aren't on board at the appropriate time your ass gets left behind. Fo' real. A couple rescue team members stay behind with a tent and some food. Then, you pay one hefty fine for the train to come get you the next day. We were told the fee starts at $500...with an unknown limit. Yikes! 
• Someone was lifeflighted. Seriously. A helicopter came and hovered right over the train all Black Hawk Down style, then landed beside the train and someone on a stretcher was boarded. Rumor has it this person broke their femur. Strongest bone in your body. I would know. Radiology and all. Bones are kinda my thing. And breasts. I can say that because I'm a Mammographer. 
• There was a police car there too! In the middle of nowhere, because of the lifeflight thing I'm assuming. Apparently they can drive on the railroad tracks with this adjustment rail thing...omg, I had no idea. Did you know that?!

Anyways, it was a lot of fun and my first proper train ride. There were a few party cars (think passed out people in spandex), some quiet cars (I kind of wish we were on one of those) and a few middle-of-the-road cars, which we were in. If you really like being around people and that whole vibe, then I think the ski train would be outta this world amazing. I like most people in this world pretty much out of sight, hence, the blogging (it's kinda how I socialize, cue laughter). So, it was a little overwhelming for an anti-social, awkward, hermit grouch such as myself. I wish I wasn't that way, but I am. I just function better solo, or near solo.  

Honestly, I'd rather bring a picnic and ski out in the woods with just my pups, Todd and a few friends. However, I'm totally glad I did the ski train because it was a pretty incredible experience. See some trip photos at the end of the post! 

On Sunday after Todd and I recouped from our trip, I made him some delicious strawberry vanilla cashew milk. 

Creamy and delicious with absolutely no processed ingredients, you'll only find whole foods in this milk. No added sugar either! This beverage is sweetened only with dates and strawberries. What I really like about cashews is that you can just throw 'em in the blender and since they're so creamy, there's no need to strain them as you would with almonds or shredded coconut. I do this a lot for smoothies. I think it's better than using a storebought dairy-free milk and it's so quick and easy!

Strawberry Vanilla Cashew Milk

Serves 1 

Note: If you don't have a high speed blender like a Vitamix, I would suggest soaking the cashews for a few hours. 

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup frozen strawberries (about 6 large), halved
• 1/4 cup cashews
• 2 medjool dates, pitted
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

In a blender combine all ingredients and blend on high until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Serve cold.

Listening to Evan McHugh – What Would You Do

"Oh and I'm takin' my time, I'm getting it right oh I try, but I'm into you still summer is over and winter is here I'm movin' so slow day's getting longer and on as we go I'm taking my time, I'm getting it right Lord knows, Lord knows I try"

German Word of The Day: Strawberry --> Erdbeere (pronounced: aired-beareh) I love this word, Erdbeere. 

Good Deed of The Day: Sign this petition to help stop fracking on national forests and wildlife refuges. Petition author is the National Resources Defense Council. 

And now, Ski Train photos! 

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Sweet & Creamy Strawberry Basil Milk

Basil and strawberries go so well together. Did you know?

The other night I was craving some sweet, strawberry milk. Alright, the brass tacks of it was that I just flat-out wanted something sweet. I also had some strawberries in the fridge that I needed to use up...and that's the damn truth. Being the fancy grown up that I am, I needed a sophisticated strawberry beverage. I didn't want a little children's milkshake and I definitely didn't want a hardcore smoothie, and that is when creamy strawberry milk came to mind. I had to find a way to make it a little snooty though, and what better way than by adding some luscious basil!

Okay, full disclosure, I totally made this with boxed soy milk! I know, AND it was sweetened...I was not aware of that fact, however, when I purchased it. My grocery store had some of those soy milk cartons that don't need to be refrigerated on clearance and so I bought a few for emergencies or when I ran out of my homemade nut milk. Whew, and let me tell you an emergency happened that night. I was craving some sweet, strawberry milk! Alas, I was out of my homemade coconut milk, and so the boxed soy milk came to my rescue.

Sweet & Creamy Strawberry Basil Milk

Inspired by...me!

Serves 2

• 1 1/2 cups soy milk (or nondairy milk of choice) 
• 7 fresh medium-sized strawberries
• 1/2 cup frozen sliced strawberries
• 1 medium basil leaf
• 1 tsp. erythritol (or other sweetener)
• small squirt of honey
• 1/4 tsp. xanthan gum (optional, but it will give the milk a lovely, creamy texture)

Place all the ingredients in the blender, starting with milk first and then blend baby blend! Make sure to give it a good whirl for a least a minute or two, letting the xanthan gum work it's creaminess goodness all about.

This was a sweet and rich (without being heavy) creamy nighttime snack. It lulled me to sleep and soon I was dreaming of dancing strawberry angels...okay that last part isn't true, but it was super duper delicious.

It's a super simple little recipe and if there's some lost and forsaken strawberries stashed somewhere in the depths of the fridge, don't give up on them. Make this milk and give them the honour the deserve.