Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream!

*Sorry, still no ability to upload pictures. Any suggestions are welcomed- to upload to a new server, or??

This is the first time I'll be making vanilla ice cream with the cashew cream... and I'm very excited about that.  For years, I made the vanilla with soy milk and creamer, but since I rarely use soy, and the cashew cream has made EXCELLENT ice cream- the time has come!

Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream

2 C cashew cream, or almond, rice, or coconut milk

1/4 C organic evaporated cane juice, or raw agave

2 TBL vanilla extract

1 TBL raw honey (optional)

1 tsp sea salt

Blend in a blender.  Allow to cool in the fridge for at least an hour, or overnight is better.  Process in your ice cream maker.   I love my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker! 

*GAME CHANGER: how to make cashew cream,click HERE!

*I made a simple syrup to make the vanilla ice cream.  Makes it easier to incorporate the sugar, as I used the evaporated cane crystals today. Organic evaporated cane juice is just that, the juice of sugar cane in it's whole, natural state. Only the water is removed. As a whole food it still retains its vitamins and minerals. It also retains its natural balance of sucrose, glucose, and fructose instead of being straight sucrose. Choosing organic, makes it void of the chemical processing, and pesticides.

*If you use the raw agave, and the cashew cream, it is a raw dessert! 

*Debate on whether agave is a healthier sweetener option.  I strongly believe, organic raw agave is a healthier option then all sweeteners, except honey.  However, honey is more difficult to replace in recipes, and has a stonger flavor. Agave is has a low glycemic index, and is sweeter than sugar. I love it for cooking, baking, and anywhere sugar is required. 

*I intentionally used vanilla bean seeds from my homemade vanilla extract!  It looks so pretty with the black flecks of vanilla!

*You combine milks to make any ice cream flavor.  I like cashew cream, and coconut milk, as they have a higher fat content- which creates a mouth feel closer to that of real cream ice creams!

*The vanilla extract I make myself, has no added sweetener like sugar, or corn syrup.  So, it is stronger,with more alcohol content.  The alcohol helps to create a creamier, more easily scoop able  ice cream.  If you use a traditional vanilla, add a TBL of vodka.

*The honey is optional, but I like added complexity to the sweetness.  Also, honey keeps the ice cream softer for scooping.

*Why salt in ice cream?  It's not the salty/sweet deal, it actually enhances the sweet, and the flavor of any ice cream!

Enjoy!
Yours in health,
Natalie

Raw Honey Lemonade

Nothin' says summer, like lemonade! Since I prefer to avoid refined sugars, I have been making my lemonade for years, with my FAV sweeteners... raw honey! Raw honey isn't like other sugars, as many people think. It is rich in antibiotic, antiviral, anti fungal properties, and is full of nutrients and enzymes. Raw honey is a gift to our health, from those hard working bees.


Raw Honey Lemonade

1 C lemon juice
1 C raw honey
6 C filtered water

Blend the honey and lemon juice in the blender. This will allow the honey to render to a thinner liquid that can easily be mixed with the water. Add honey/lemon mixture to a 2 quart pitcher, and add the 6 cups of water, and mix well. Pour over ice!

*I used organic lemon juice, that I bought at Costco. Fresh squeezed is of course, more tasty! Juice 5-6 lemons to make approx. 1 cup of juice. I love to add some zest too, (only if using organic lemons) to punch up the flavor!  Also, if you fresh squeeze the lemons, this would be considered a "raw" drink. For you "raw foodies".

*You could add a tsp. of sea salt to the pitcher of lemonade, to create your own electrolyte drink! Never pay big bucks for those artificially colored, artificially flavored, and corn syrup sweetened, crappy, toxic, over-advertised sports drinks again!! (Can you tell I am not a fan...) Again, pour over ice, OR mix 1 part lemonade to 1 part cold water for your to-go bottle

.One sip of this, and there is no goin' back to the powdered mixes, or canned concentrate stuff! This is summer in a glass, with a big dose of HEALTHY!


Yours in health!
Natalie