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To be perfectly honest, I used to think that people who made their own nut milk at home were on another level of the domestic goddess scale. That was until I discovered that making your own nut milk has never been easier, with this super simple quick recipe.
Pecan milk doesn’t require straining or fancy equipment, unlike almond milk, and these nuts don’t even need to be soaked if you’re in a rush. However, soaking nuts makes them more digestible, easier to blend, and considerably improves the smooth texture in my opinion.
The result is a delicious, buttery yet rich flavour, not to mention that from a nutritional standpoint, it’s rich in protein, fibre and Vitamin E.
Perfect to sip on its own, blended in a smoothie, poured over granola and in a homemade matcha latte (click here for the recipe). See ideas for Upgraded Pecan Milk below!
Whilst I know that pecans are not the cheapest of nuts, I think they are worth every penny, and I’m sure you will all agree when you take your very first sip of this creamy deliciousness! To save a bit of cash, try switching up a third or half or the pecans for cashews. 
Makes 2 tall glasses:
INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup raw or freshly roasted pecans
  • 2 cups water, divided
  • 1 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Sea salt, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Optional but recommended: soak your pecans in 1 cup of water for 2-4 hours. If you don’t have the time/patience, feel free to skip this step.

2. Rinse the pecans (soaked or not) under running water, then place the nuts in a blender and with 1 cup of water and blend until creamy (about 30 seconds).

3. Add the remaining 1 cup water, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of salt (to bring out the other flavours). Blend again to combine.

4. Best served chilled. This will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stir before serving as pecan milk will separate over time.
UPGRADED PECAN MILK:

– Extra nutty: To enhance the intensity of pecans’ nutty taste, try using freshly roasted pecans instead of raw ones – just pop them in the oven on 170C for 5-10 minutes!

– Chocolate pecan milk: Add 1 tablespoon of cacao powder to the blender.

– Sweet pecan milk: Chop up a couple of juicy Medjool dates and add to the blender for some natural sugar.

Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @cerealandpeanutbutter if you try this recipe!

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This smoothie is a fabulous way to start your day as it incorporates all the major food groups – protein, natural carbs from the fruit and healthy fats from the coconut milk, as well as a wide variety of vitamins. It takes no time to whizz together and tastes absolutely delicious – let me know what you think on Instagram @cerealandpeanutbutter

Ingredients:
1 passion fruit
1/4 papaya
1/2 lime
1/2 lemon
1 handful frozen raspberries
1 sachet vegan protein powder – I used Miss Fits Nutrition mixed berry flavour (use code “CPB20” for a discount)
2/3 cup coconut milk

Method:
1. Cut the passion fruit in half and scoop out all the pulp.
2. Squeeze the lime and lemon juice, ensuring no pips fall in.
3. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

 

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I was recently invited to take part in the ‘teapigs matcha challenge‘ in which you consume matcha everyday for 14 days and see how great you feel! There are so many different ways to consume matcha, such as in a smoothie, porridge, latte, cocktail or shot. Scroll down through the pictures to see how creative I got with mine!

Benefits of drinking matcha
* Matcha is the highest quality green tea powder – 15 times stronger than regular green tea
* It contains huge amounts of antioxidants which prevent disease, including catechin which is known for its cancer fighting properties
* It creates a calm buzz, gently waking you up so you are less likely to have a caffeine crash
* It can help to boost memory, concentration and happiness because of the production of dopamine and serotonin
* It increases your metabolism so aids in weight loss
* It removes toxins from the body and is high in chlorophyll
* It can help to lower cholesterol levels
* It promotes a healthy immunw system thanks to vitamins A & C, iron, calcium and potassium
How to make your own matcha latte at home
1. Boil the kettle and pour about a centimetre of hot water into a mug.
2. Heat up some almond milk in a pan on the stove
3. Whilst the milk is being heated, whisk up 1/4 teaspoon of matcha powder with the centimetre of hot water in the mug until all the lumps are gone and it’s starting to get frothy.
4. Once the milk is warmed, pour it into the mug, whisk again, and enjoy!

I hope you are inspired to give this wonderful green powder a go – tag me on Instagram @cerealandpeanutbutter to show me your matcha creations and let me know how your matcha latte turns out!






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For those of you who, like myself, enjoy regular exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, what better way to supplement your workouts and help your muscles recover than with a delicious and natural source of protein in the form of my all-time favourite spread: peanut butter!

Hi-PRO Nutrition has released both crunchy and smooth varieties, which have the perfect creamy consistency and endless nutritional benefits. First of all, every 2-tablespoon serving boasts 10g of protein – that’s 25% more than most peanut butters – all of which comes exclusively from natural peanut ingredients, making it suitable for anyone lactose-intolerant or vegans since it does not contain whey.

Whilst it is calorie dense, coming in at 203 cals per serving, this combination of healthy fats and protein will keep you feeling full. Despite no added sugar or salt, Hi-PRO remains incredibly flavoursome, whilst offering a generous dose of fibre (2.4g) and a whole range of vitamins and minerals, including niacin, folate, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B3, B6 and E.

It is also really versatile – it can work well as a spread on toast, as a dip for apple slices or medjool dates (my favourite!), whisked into pancake batter, blended into smoothies, stirred into porridge or overnight oats, or used in baking for cookies and other sweet treats.

The only downside is that it can be dangerously addictive and I have found myself on more than a few occasions simply eating it straight out of the jar with a spoon!

Check out their website, pick up a jar in your local Sainsbury’s for £2.70 or order it on Amazon.
Below are a few of my recipes using Hi-PRO, and I have also incorporated Hi-PRO peanut butter into my recipe for Açai Chia Overnight Oats (click here) – or head over to @cerealandpeanutbutter on Instagram for many more! 
 
Post-workout chocolate milkshake
1 frozen banana
½ avocado
1 tbsp Hi-PRO crunchy peanut butter
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tbsp cacao nibs
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)
2 chopped medjool dates
1 cup almond milk
Whizz up all ingredients in a blender, pour into a bowl and top with fruit, seeds and granola.

Açai Smoothie Bowl
1 frozen banana
2 tbsp acai powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp Hi-PRO smooth peanut butter
1 cup brown rice milk
1/2 cup coconut milk
Handful of blackberries
Handful of blueberries
Whizz up all ingredients in a blender, pour into a bowl and top with fresh fruit, nuts and granola.





PB&B Toast
1 banana, mashed
2 tbsp Hi-PRO smooth peanut butter
2 pieces rye bread, toasted
Handful of berries

Mix the banana and peanut butter together, spread over toast and decorate with berries.





























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I am not exaggerating when I say that this appliance is life-changing. The Nutribullet is essentially a compact, high-powered blender that not only has an ‘extraction’ blade to make smoothies, soups or bliss balls, but also comes with a ‘milling’ blade that is powerful enough to blitz nuts into butters or make seeds/oats/grains into flour. It is one of the most convenient kitchen gadgets ever created and is also very easy to wash up as it is just two parts, the cup and the powered base. I never worry about it breaking, plus it is small enough to fit in a suitcase!
I love it and it is definitely worth investing in one for yourself.
 

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