Sugar, Sugar, Sugar!

I just experienced my first real sugar fast, and I'm not going to lie to you, it wasn't pretty and it didn't last nearly a fraction of the time I was hoping it would.
Learning a bit about sugar right now.  This includes white sugar, natural sugars, whole food sugars, high glycemic fruit, white starches, flours, breads and grains.
I'm not going to get into a lecture. I would just like to link you to a couple of short videos and ask you to think for a minute about your relationship with sugar.
I've been thinking a lot about my relationship with sugar lately. I'm looking forward to my real sugar fast. I know I need to prepare myself better, but I also know that it is time, that it will be best for my body to give sugar a rest.

 Drinking one soda a day...

 And a musical interlude...

Watch the Bears

Frosty Orange-Mango-Kefir Soda

After the family spent some serious time on a hot and humid Fourth of July weeding the garden, we needed a serious reward, and I was happy to oblige.

Frosty Electrolyte Mango Soda
2 oranges, juiced
The meat of one mango
1/4-1/2 C coconut water kefir
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp MSM powder (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tray ice

Blend together and Enjoy!

Strawberry Almond Delight Cookies!

Or...
What to do with that leftover nut pulp!

I've been asked so many times, what do I do with the leftover pulp when I'm through making almond milk?? It's so pricey, and there is so much of it that goes to waste.

We like to get creative. A lot of times it ends up being turned into cookies.
This is the recipe that I threw together this morning.

I started with the pulp of 3 cups of soaked almonds (I used this to make a full carafe, 64oz of milk)
In the blender, I mixed with the pulp:
1-10oz bag of strawberries
1/2C maple Syrup
A dash of cinnamon
1-2 twists of Himalayan Sea Salt
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Blend well.

I poured this into a bowl and then added:
1/2 - 3/4 C ground chia seeds. You can do this in your high powered blender if you rinse and then thoroughly dry it first, otherwise you can use a coffee grinder.
Mix thoroughly.

If you let it set for 15-20 minutes the chia will firm up the batter and make scooping easier.
I used a cookie scoop and placed the balls on a solid dehydrator tray and dehydrated until firm (several hours) and then transfered to a mesh sheet where I finished drying.

All three kids have been gobbling them up. Its a great snacky-snack for in between meals, when you want them to have something nutritious. The hardest part has been having them NOT eat all of the cookies before they are finished dehydrating!

This is one of my quick and easy solutions to almond pulp.
Get creative! Its easy!
Be sure to let me know what you come up with that you can't keep your fingers off of!