Fawn: Making almond milk for my son - Page 4

PMoon · 06-27-2009, 02:01 PM

I think I start on grind, then go to liquify or blend. It doesn't seem to make much difference for me, but I have a fairly basic blender. There's not a whole lot of difference between settings.

I end up with probably a quarter cup of meal from a half cup of almonds.

Kamalam · 06-27-2009, 04:01 PM

I have a vitamix, so maybe that's why I generally only need a minute to blend - it's pretty powerful. I start on a slower setting just to stir them around and get them off the bottom of the blender... then I rather quickly go to high and after a few seconds go to Super High.

LOL - reminds me of Space Balls... I take it Ludicrous Speed.

ETA: I tried blending at 2 minutes just to see if it made a difference with the almond meal... it was hard to tell, but I don't think so.

NurseMonkee · 06-28-2009, 12:30 AM

Yeah, I am ending up with a lot of meal. Like 1/2 cup for 1 cup worth of almonds. I don't know what I did the first time to end up with almost no meal? I even used more almonds the 1st time. Weird.

Anyhow, what are you all doing with the leftover meal? Mine looks like a paste. I don't want to just throw it away. I wonder if I can make a sauce with it or something.

PMoon · 06-28-2009, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NurseMonkee

Yeah, I am ending up with a lot of meal. Like 1/2 cup for 1 cup worth of almonds. I don't know what I did the first time to end up with almost no meal? I even used more almonds the 1st time. Weird.

Anyhow, what are you all doing with the leftover meal? Mine looks like a paste. I don't want to just throw it away. I wonder if I can make a sauce with it or something.

Like I said before, I feed mine to my chickens. At first I saved it until I collected a couple of cups and tried making an almond flour pound cake. It gave the cake a nasty texture and sort of bland, almost bitter taste to me. (Not so bad that we didn't eat the whole thing, though. LOL) Still, that experiment put me off of actually eating it.

I was just thinking though, I might try it in a few more things. It might still be good for bulking up things like salmon patties. I wonder if you could make a pancake with it.... Couldn't hurt to try it, right?

NurseMonkee · 06-28-2009, 09:41 AM

Pmoon - Did you take off the skins of the almonds? If you didn't, that would explain the bitter taste in your poundcake.

Pancakes sound good.
I must try it. Or maybe some type of cookie.
I am not a baker, lol, so I really wouldn't know if it'll work or not.

I was thinking of making an Horchata type of drink, but with almonds instead of rice. I had seen a recipe floating around. That would be such a treat. I'll see if I can locate the recipe again.

miboje · 06-28-2009, 10:20 AM

I agree that the leftover ground almonds do not add anything desirable to baked goods.

Mine goes into the compost bin or layer garden, and I"ll just eat it later as something else.

PMoon · 06-28-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NurseMonkee

Pmoon - Did you take off the skins of the almonds? If you didn't, that would explain the bitter taste in your poundcake.

I did leave the skins on. Peeling them sounds pretty tedious! But if I get bored some time, I might try making skinned-almond milk.

jacksmixedtape · 06-28-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMoon

I did leave the skins on. Peeling them sounds pretty tedious! But if I get bored some time, I might try making skinned-almond milk.

You could use blanched, sliced almonds. They sell 'em in the bulk bin section at Whole Foods.

BikerAng · 06-28-2009, 02:58 PM

peeling IS tedious, but I did peel the batch I made and used the left over almond meal in a batch of oopsies.

cindy_cfids · 07-03-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMoon

I have read in a few places that raw almonds can bother the thyroid. Is there any research to support that?

I've actually been roasting the almonds before I make milk, which makes it taste even better. LOL I know you lose some of the raw goodness factor, but we are using it more as a milk replacement than as a nutritional supplement. So, I am really torn about what to do! I don't want to ruin his thyroid.

I didn't know that, but it's all over the web. They say that cooking vegetables with goitrogens disable them, so I'm assuming roasting would do the same(?)

cindy_cfids · 07-03-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamalam

I found another almond supplier here in California that sells the nonpareil variety for $6.50 a pound. They use a "nearly ogranic" process and the almonds are un-pasteurized. LINK

From the website one is not better than another, but the Carmels have a bolder taste (at least from what I've read).

I think your ebay almonds still have the best price going - less than $3 a pound? Hope you let us know how the almond milk turns out!

There are other almond growers that sell direct to the public on ebay the nonpareil variety for $4# with free shipping (but in 10# bulk lots) or less that $3# for the Carmels. I don't notice much of a difference, especially in this years crop. Last year's seemed smaller than usual.

Sorry I missed the whole organic label, before responding - certified organic, even on ebay is $13.40# for 5#

I usually buy 20# a year & I don't freeze or even refrigerate and they are fine til next year at least, they are all gone by then.

Kamalam · 07-03-2009, 07:44 PM

Cindy, great to hear you don't refrigerate or freeze... I don't have an extra freezer or fridge to accomodate 20#, but have been wanting to place my order anyway. Now I won't worry about that part of it! Just been waiting til the budget allowed...

On a different front - can I ask whether there's been any kombucha news lately on the KT thread? I've received a couple of "new posting" messages, but every time I click over... I don't see the new posts! I'm stuck on pg. 28 (sorry this is off topic for the almond milk!).

I miss hearing me some kombucha news!

cindy_cfids · 07-03-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kamalam

can I ask whether there's been any kombucha news lately on the KT thread? I've received a couple of "new posting" messages, but every time I click over... I don't see the new posts! I'm stuck on pg. 28 (sorry this is off topic for the almond milk!).

I miss hearing me some kombucha news!

you gotta give a lil to get a lil lol

Kamalam · 07-04-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cindy_cfids

you gotta give a lil to get a lil lol

I'm having problems just accessing the thread... and was wondering if others had the same experience... Like I said, I keep getting stuck on pg. 28 (post #813).

Faia · 07-08-2009, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMoon

I did leave the skins on. Peeling them sounds pretty tedious! But if I get bored some time, I might try making skinned-almond milk.

After blanching, pinch almonds between two fingers (perhaps with a slight twist motion) and the nut will pop right out of the skin.

06-27-2009, 04:01 PM	#92
Kamalam Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Central Coast, California Posts: 244 Blog Entries: 8 Gallery: Kamalam WOE: Moving toward a plant based diet Start Date: February 2007	I have a vitamix, so maybe that's why I generally only need a minute to blend - it's pretty powerful. I start on a slower setting just to stir them around and get them off the bottom of the blender... then I rather quickly go to high and after a few seconds go to Super High. LOL - reminds me of Space Balls... I take it Ludicrous Speed. ETA: I tried blending at 2 minutes just to see if it made a difference with the almond meal... it was hard to tell, but I don't think so. Last edited by Kamalam; 06-27-2009 at 04:04 PM..

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06-27-2009, 02:01 PM	#91
PMoon Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 404 Gallery: PMoon	I think I start on grind, then go to liquify or blend. It doesn't seem to make much difference for me, but I have a fairly basic blender. There's not a whole lot of difference between settings. I end up with probably a quarter cup of meal from a half cup of almonds.

06-28-2009, 12:30 AM	#93
NurseMonkee MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,434 Gallery: NurseMonkee WOE: Low-Carb Start Date: Summer 08	Yeah, I am ending up with a lot of meal. Like 1/2 cup for 1 cup worth of almonds. I don't know what I did the first time to end up with almost no meal? I even used more almonds the 1st time. Weird. Anyhow, what are you all doing with the leftover meal? Mine looks like a paste. I don't want to just throw it away. I wonder if I can make a sauce with it or something.

06-28-2009, 09:41 AM	#95
NurseMonkee MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,434 Gallery: NurseMonkee WOE: Low-Carb Start Date: Summer 08	Pmoon - Did you take off the skins of the almonds? If you didn't, that would explain the bitter taste in your poundcake. Pancakes sound good. I must try it. Or maybe some type of cookie. I am not a baker, lol, so I really wouldn't know if it'll work or not. I was thinking of making an Horchata type of drink, but with almonds instead of rice. I had seen a recipe floating around. That would be such a treat. I'll see if I can locate the recipe again.

06-28-2009, 10:20 AM	#96
miboje Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central PA Posts: 160 Gallery: miboje Stats: 147/134.1/133 WOE: Stella Style Start Date: Feb. 2009	I agree that the leftover ground almonds do not add anything desirable to baked goods. Mine goes into the compost bin or layer garden, and I"ll just eat it later as something else.

06-28-2009, 02:58 PM	#99
BikerAng MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Duvall, WA Posts: 1,783 Gallery: BikerAng Stats: 195/167/155 5'9" WOE: Atkins - organic & humanely raised Start Date: Feb 2007	peeling IS tedious, but I did peel the batch I made and used the left over almond meal in a batch of oopsies.

07-03-2009, 07:44 PM	#102
Kamalam Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Central Coast, California Posts: 244 Blog Entries: 8 Gallery: Kamalam WOE: Moving toward a plant based diet Start Date: February 2007	Cindy, great to hear you don't refrigerate or freeze... I don't have an extra freezer or fridge to accomodate 20#, but have been wanting to place my order anyway. Now I won't worry about that part of it! Just been waiting til the budget allowed... On a different front - can I ask whether there's been any kombucha news lately on the KT thread? I've received a couple of "new posting" messages, but every time I click over... I don't see the new posts! I'm stuck on pg. 28 (sorry this is off topic for the almond milk!). I miss hearing me some kombucha news!