Hemp milk (dairy-free, vegan, but creamy and yummy!)

Touted as the world's most nutritious seed, hemp seeds are the darling of the Superfoods. Packed with proteins, omega 3 and a long list of vitamins and minerals, it's a regular feature in our smoothies and salads. And now I've discovered another recipe!

I made my first batch of hemp milk today. It was rich and creamy, nutty, and for someone who's been used to  watery rice milk, heavenly! I've been craving the rich, creamy taste of fresh cow's milk, but the thought of the milk curdling in my stomach stopped me from drinking any. (I endured years of daily stomach aches before realising I was lactose intolerant!)

I meant to keep some hemp milk in the fridge but it all disappeared so quickly so I guess I have to make another batch tomorrow...

Here's the recipe:

• 3 cups of drinking water 
• 1 cup of Nutiva, Organic Hempseed, Raw Shelled, 8 oz (227 g)
• Half a teaspoon of Wilderness Poets, Pure Vanilla Powder, Farm Grown, 1 oz (28 g) or Simply Organic, Madagascar Vanilla, Non-Alcoholic Flavoring, Farm Grown , 2 fl oz (59 ml)
• 2-3 tablespoons of a sweetener. I use Wholesome Sweeteners, Inc., Organic Raw Blue Agave, Amber, 11.75 oz (333 g) or Big Tree Farms, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar, Blonde, 16 oz (454 g)
• 1 tablespoon of Nutiva, Organic, Coconut Manna, 15 oz (425 g) (for a creamy taste)
• 1 tablespoon of Nutiva, Organic Hemp Oil, Cold Pressed, 8 fl oz (236 ml) (for a super creamy taste)
• A pinch of salt. I use Klamath, Miracle Krystal Salt, 1.1 lbs (500 g) or Celtic Sea Salt, Light Grey Celtic, Vital Mineral Blend, 1 lb (454 g) 

Blend everything and enjoy!

I'm happy to munch the occasional seed and fibre, but if you like your milk smooth, you can strain out the pulp by pouring it over a nut milk bag or a soup bag. Apparently, you can spice it up by adding cacao, carob, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, berries, etc. 

Here's the original recipe: Happy Hemp Seed Milk

If you're planning to get any items from www.iherb.com, don't forget to use the discount code NEF914 when you checkout to get US$10 off your first order.

Read More»

Building a House of Sticks (Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?)

Another $0 toy that lasts for days!

1. Pick a sheltered location, under a big tree, with roots on two sides to support the house structure.

2. Set up the house skeleton structure by driving five sticks into the soil (two sets of parallel upside-down "v" sticks with a long stick joining them on top)

3. Bind the connecting parts with long flexible vines, leaves or aerial roots.

4. Collect lots of long sticks to build the walls.

5. Collect large leaves or palms to decorate the walls and provide some shade.

6. Take turns to hide inside or be the big bad wolf!

7. Come back the next day and continue playing! (The house is still standing after two weeks, despite the windy weather!)

Read More»