I am used to drinking cow’s milk, but since that is not allowed on SCD I required an alternative for my coffee, smoothies, and other culinary needs. Most almond milks and milk alternatives sold in stores have added emulsifiers, gums, or other non-SCD ingredients. Almond milk is easy to make at home if you have the right equipment. This recipe yields about 1.5 cups of almond milk. Prep time: 20 minutes, plus time for soaking almonds (1 hour up to 24 hours).  (happily sipping a fresh cup of almond milk as I write this post!)

Equipment Needed:

• Blender or food processor
• Jar
• Measuring cup
• Strainer
• Cheesecloth or food-grade cloth bag
• Bowl
• Spatula

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of almonds
• 1.5 cups of water (1 cup for thicker milk, 3 cups for thinner milk)
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract if desired

Instructions:

1. Place 1 cup of almonds into a glass jar and fill with water. Place in fridge. Almonds can soak for 1 hour (if in a rush) or up to 24 hours. The longer the soak, the richer the milk. **note, I used blanched almonds which are recommended in the beginning phases of the SCD. You can purchase almonds blanched, or blanch yourself. To blanch almonds, place in boiling water for 1 minute, then strain and rinse with cool water. Pinch almonds between fingers to remove skin.   
2. After almonds have soaked, drain and rinse well. Add almonds to a blender or food processor.
3. Add 1.5 cups of water. Process or blend for 2-4 minutes, or until mixture is smooth and no chunks remain.  
4. Line strainer with cheesecloth or cotton bag and place over a large glass bowl. Pour almond mixture into lined strainer. Use spatula to scrape down blender/processor.  
5. Lift cheesecloth from strainer and wring out liquid from almond pulp. Once all liquid is squeezed out, reserve the pulp for later use in your baked goods, or add it to yogurt or smoothies. It also freezes well.
6. Pour liquid (almond milk) into a glass jar. Feel free to be creative at this point. I suggest adding a pinch of salt and a dash of vanilla extract. But cinnamon, honey, or dates are also nice options.
7.  Store almond milk in fridge. Use within a couple of days.  

**Please note that almond milk, although a good substitute for cow’s milk, is comparatively low in calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Aim to consume other calcium and nutrient rich foods in your diet to ensure adequacy.