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Chamomile Tea Latte

10/11/2018

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One of my absolute favorites, learned from this page! I've made this one by far more often than any other drinks thus far, and even bought a one pound bag of chamomile flowers to have a ready supply at hand. I've even made variations with boba, and plan to try steeping some lavender in combination for an ultra-soothing blend right before bed.
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  • 2 cups milk (Any milk of your choice.)
  • 2 tablespoons loose chamomile tea
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 5 cloves, crushed
  • 1 cinnamon stick + ground cinnamon
  1. In a saucepan, heat milk on medium-low heat with chamomile, cinnamon stick, and cloves.
  2. When little bubbles form along the sides of the pan, let it simmer for a couple of minutes before turning off the heat. With the heat turned off, steep for 5-10 minutes depending on how patient you are.
  3. In a french press, use a strainer to separate the chamomile tea milk by filtering out the chamomile, cloves, and cinnamon stick.
  4. Add vanilla extract to the milk.
  5. Move the french press plunger 10-12 times to froth.
  6. Pour the chamomile tea latte into 2 mugs, spoon out the froth on top, and sprinkle on ground cinnamon.
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Lavender Walnut Milk

10/10/2018

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Obtained from this page, I found it a challenge to strain it as well as the nut milk needed to be to be drinkable. Perhaps I just needed to blend it for longer, but after a time, it started to froth up at the top of the blender, which I didn't exactly want either. Perhaps next time I will either just let it keep blending and deal with the froth, or else I'll use a cheesecloth to strain it.
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  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon raw hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup raw walnuts
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • two pinches sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried edible lavender buds
  • 2 teaspoons honey (plus more to taste)
  1. Blend water, hemp seeds, walnuts, vanilla, and salt until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
  2. Transfer into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until tiny bubbles begin to form and steam rises. Remove from heat.
  3. Place dried lavender in a tea sachet or disposable tea bag and seal, then immerse in milk and cover saucepan. Steep for ten minutes, then remove sachet and squeeze to release all lavender oils.
  4. Stir in honey to taste. Serve immediately, or blend again for higher foam factor.
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Vegan Spiced Pumpkin Drink

10/9/2018

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I first made this drink half out of morbid curiosity to see what it would taste like to drink pumpkin in some form other than a soup, and also to simply use up the pounds of pureed pumpkin I had stored away in the fridge. As it is, the pumpkin is pretty much undetectable (perhaps because my first experiment used soymilk rather than almond, and the soy overpowered its subtle taste) but otherwise, I found the drink a lovely alternative to my favorite, the chamomile milk tea.
  • 2½ cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • optional: vegan whipped cream + walnuts for garnish
  1. Whisk together all the ingredients on medium-low heat in a small saucepan until the drink is perfectly hot and no lumps remain.
  2. Serve hot!
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French Press Breakfast Chocolate

10/9/2018

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I don't know about this page's claim that this could substitute for breakfast, but I was pretty game to give it a shot when I first made this! It was my first attempt at using the French press to give a hot drink a foamy layer, and in my inexperience, pretty much aerated the entire drink. Nevertheless, made from my leftover Valhrona dark baking chocolate and heated to a belly-warming temperature, one could do absolutely no wrong and indeed I felt no need to add anything else to my palate after drinking it (at least, for a good half hour to an hour).
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  • 10 oz good quality dark or bittersweet chocolate, cut in rough chunks
  • leftover vanilla bean pods (optional)
  • 1 cup (8 oz) milk
  • 1/4 tsp espresso powder (optional)
  1. Put the chocolate in the bowl of a food processor. Make sure the bowl is completely dry. Process until the chocolate is finely ground. You want a coarse granular texture. Stop if the chocolate starts to clump together and release its oil.
  2. Let the chocolate dry at room temperature for several hours. Then process again briefly. The chocolate will have lightened in color.
  3. Store the chocolate in a mason type jar with a tight fitting lid. If you are using the vanilla bean pods, layer them in as you fill the jar.
  4. Put 4 Tbsp of the chocolate powder in the bottom of the French press. Add in the espresso powder, if using.
  5. Put the milk in a quart sized Pyrex measuring cup. Microwave for 2-3 minutes, until it just comes to a boil. You can do this on the stove if you want to.
  6. Pour the scalding hot milk over the chocolate and put the plunger top on the pot, but don't depress it yet.
  7. Let the milk sit for 2 minutes.
  8. Then plunge vigorously for 1 minute to froth the hot chocolate. It will increase in volume. Do this on a steady surface.
  9. Pour into 1 large or 2 small cups and enjoy!
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Vanilla Matcha Green Tea Latte

10/9/2018

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One of the rare caffeinated drinks I'm willing to risk drinking! (Albeit, only if it's near morning.) My saving grace is that, even as one of the higher caffeinated teas out there, green tea doesn't seem to spike so quickly as, say, black tea. So, in general I find it easier to tolerate the effects of green tea and, of course, can't get enough of its beautiful scent and taste. First learned from here.
  • 1/2 tsp. matcha powder (or green tea)
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice), warmed
  • 1 Tbsp.+ sweetener of choice (I used honey, vegans use maple syrup or agave)
  1. Add matcha powder to your french press. Add water, almond milk, and sweetener, and mix until combined. It’s OK if the matcha doesn’t completely dissolve. (If using green tea instead of matcha, let the green tea steep for a few minutes first before removing.)
  2. Insert the press and quickly push it down, then pull it up continuously for 15 seconds, or until the latte is frothed to your liking.
  3. Pour into an 8-oz. cup, using a spoon to scoop out the foam and place it on top.
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    No Caffeine Needed

    I am, by nature, already a pretty high-energy person, but I like a beautiful-looking mug of something frothy and delicious-looking as much as the next person. I obtained a French press so that I could feel fancy at home too, but nearly everything I make from it is, by necessity, caffeine-free, so that I don't vibrate my way out of my skin the rest of the day (or drive everyone else around me crazy).

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