Product Reviews

I have had a number of questions recently regarding almond milk and whether or not it should be used in place of cow’s milk in people’s diets. Here is everything you need to know about almond milk:

Almond milk is made from, you guessed it, almonds. Similar to soy milk, almond milk acts as a cow’s milk substitute; it contains no cholesterol and is lactose-free and soy-free. Almond milk has less saturated fat than regular (non-skim) cow’s milk and is a great option for people with lactose intolerance or milk allergies.

Almond milk has a consistency similar to cow’s milk making it a suitable substitute in any recipe. It has it’s own unique nutty flavor, and comes in flavors such as vanilla and chocolate; these varieties are often sweetened with natural evaporated sugar cane juice. Almond milk is shelf stable and contains a handful of healthy nutrients including potassium, magnesium, and vitamin E.

While almond milk has a variety of nutritious vitamins, it is much lower in protein than cow’s milk. However it contains less carbohydrates and fewer calories than cow’s milk (60 calories per cup almond milk versus 80 calories per cup skim milk). Almond milk is great for anyone on a vegan or raw food diet. You can either buy almond milk at the supermarket or make your own at home; keep in mind that store-bought varieties are pasteurized and fortified with calcium.

So how can you make milk from a nut? The process is similar to that of soymilk.

• Soak almonds in water overnight.
• Blend almonds to form a frothy puree.
• Squeeze contents through a cheesecloth to strain out the milk. (The leftover almond pulp can actually be used in baking recipes such as cookies)
• Add water to equal desired volume.
• Refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Add sweetener of choice and a pinch of salt to flavor the milk.

If making your own almond milk seems too labor intensive for you, almond milk can be found at your local health food store as well as many of the major grocers such as Jewel and Dominick’s. Almond milk is sold as both refrigerated and shelf stable products so that you can buy and store it in your pantry for a later date.

If you are looking for a great nutritious milk substitute, I recommend giving almond milk a try! Almond milk can be used in smoothies, to flavor your morning coffee, or even poured over you favorite breakfast cereal!

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If you haven’t yet noticed, one of the latest trend at your local grocery store yet is coconut water. Coconut water is extracted from young green coconuts before the coconut ages and turns into a brown coconut when the water turns into the hard white meat we commonly think of when referring to the inside of a coconut. Coconut water is extremely popular in the tropics for its refreshing sweet water flavor. It is low in calories, fat-free, and loaded with natural potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium.

The naturally occurring electrolytes in coconut water make it the perfect beverages to keep you hydrated during or after a vigorous workout. Unlike sports drinks, coconut water is 100% and contains no added sugar or artificial flavors. There are a variety of brands of coconut on the market, even flavored options such as coconut water with pineapple or tangerine! I recently bought some coconut water from Jewel and plan to take some with me on my 7 mile run tomorrow to keep me hydrated in the Chicago heat!

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While shopping this weekend I got some new summer things to brag blog about! I love love love everything about summer – the sunshine, the beach, the smell of sunscreen, poolside cocktails, and frozen yogurt!

Here’s a quick look at what I came home with this weekend:

Burberry Check Trim Bikini – Summer always calls for a new swimsuit! I’ve been anticipating getting a new suit since Christmas and finally found one I love! It’s a white 2-piece with a plaid trim by Burberry (and no, that is not a picture of me, that is the model from their website). I love that it’s white, but am hesitant to wear it to the beach where it could get ruined. I may have to designate this suit for pool use only and wear last year’s black suit when I go to the beach!

Korres Watetmelon Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer – In the summer I hate wearing heavy foundation and was in need of a tinted moisturizer. The Korres makeup line is one of my favorites – their all-natural products are environmentally friendly and contain natural extracts with antioxidants to keep your skin healthy. This tinted moisturizer is SPF 30 and contains antioxidant-rich watermelon extract to counteract free-radical damage. It is water-resistant and sweat-proof to hold up in the heat and humidity of the summer and is made without synthetic chemicals or dyes.

Mark Jacobs Daisy Rollbar – I love everything Mark Jacobs, including the new Daisy perfume. This perfume has a fresh, floral, summer scent; a mix of strawberry, violet , ruby red grapefruit, gardenia, jasmine, musk, vanilla, and white woods. Not to mention I bought the cute travel size rollbar to carry around in my purse or beach bag this summer!

Laura Mercier HydraTint SPF 15 – In the heat and humidity of the summer the last thing I want to do is wear sticky lip gloss or lipstick that is going to melt off my face. So I bought this tinted lip-balm in a peachy nude color to keep my lips moisturized and protected from the sun all summer long. I like that it doesn’t have a potent smell or taste, just a hint of mint and orange flavor. It contains shea butter, grapeseed oil, and green tea extracts to keep your lips moisturized, so whether I am at work or at the beach I can keep my lips looking fresh!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love makeup and that that I am playing with fire the minute I step into Sephora. But all things considered, I had such a fun time splurging there this weekend and am very pleased with the purchases I walked away with! Now that I am all geared up, let summer begin!

What’s you favorite thing to shop for in the summer?

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As mentioned before, last week was my birthday and I received some of the best gifts from my dearest friends including a Cuisinart Juicer and a Bob’s Red Mill Baking Book! However I do have another gift to share with you all. A wonderful friend gave me a box of my all-time favorite tea – Tazo Vanilla Rooibos! I always order it when I go to Starbucks, but have not been able to find it at stores anywhere (apparently Starbucks sells boxes of it if you are looking!).

Vanilla Rooibos is a caffeine-free herbal infusion red tea blend of rooibos, vanilla, apples, and peaches.Rooibos is actually leaves that come from a bush in the South Africa and has a naturally sweet, slightly nutty flavor. Rooibos is high in antioxidants and polyphenols. Among many health benefits, rooibos contributes to boosting the immune system and slowing the aging process. It also has a relaxing effect that can help with insomnia and streets relief.

I recommend you get a Vanilla Rooibos tea next time you stop at Starbucks, it’s delicious! Thanks Jessica!

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Over the weekend I got a juicer for my birthday! I have been wanting a juicer for the longest time, and now just in time for summer I’ve got the Cuisinart 5-Speed Juice Extractor!

The Cuisinart 5 Speed Juice Extractor includes a large 3-inch feeding chute, an adjustable anti-drip flow spout, dishwasher safe parts, a pulp collector, and juice pitcher.

I celebrated my birthday with a fresh glass of delicious orange tangelo pineapple carrot apple juice! I cannot wait to make more juice! Maybe I’ll look into getting a book on juicing for some creative ideas! Any recommendations?

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