Frugal Friday

Delicious Creamy Oat Milk

Welcome, I hope you have all had a lovely week? Firstly I just want to share that this week we celebrated 1 year since having our hens. So I gave them a treat and said happy birthday! It has been a real blessing and provision from God and I am very thankful.

 I have been experimenting with making my own oat milk over the last couple of weeks. It is better for you with less additives and it is extremely cheap to make. 

I still buy some almond milk when it is on special as it has more calcium which is something I need with low bone density but a couple of bottles of homemade oat milk per week will save between $6-$8 in the groceries every week.

The first recipe I used a couple of weeks ago was one I found on Pinterest and I thought that it was ok but I wanted to find something better and more creamy. This recipe I found in a library book called "The Vegan Dairy". It is such a great book. It is very useful for anyone who is avoiding dairy for any reason. For me it is health reasons.  

Here are some step by step photos of the process with the recipe following.

First step: I soaked the oats with enough water to cover by 1 inch for 15 minutes then rinsed under cold water and drained.

Step 2: I placed the soaked oats into the blender with the required amount of water and left to soak for 5 minutes.

Here is the equipment needed.

Step 3: I blended the oats and water for 2 minutes.

Step 4: I poured the oat milk into a nut bag and strained over a bowl. You can also use muslin or cheesecloth. Gently squeeze to help milk to go through.

Step 5: I rinsed the blender out then poured the oat milk back in and added some salt and vanilla extract.

Step 6: Pour into a clean bottle, a funnel is useful so it doesn't spill.

My homemade oat milk! This is a 1 litre bottle so it made about 750/800ml.

Ingredients:

90g/ 3/4 cup rolled oats

750ml/ 3 cups water plus soaking water

pinch of sea salt (optional)

1 tsp agave syrup or clear honey (optional, I didn't use)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

1 tbsp powdered lecithin (optional, I didn't use but this is to prevent the milk separating)

Makes about 800ml or 3 1/4 cups.

Store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. It will thicken or separate so stir or shake before use.

The leftover oat pulp can be used to make a quick porridge which I did the last time and it was quite yummy. It can also be used to make oat flour, which I am going to try.

I hope this recipe will be useful for some of you, if not, hopefully it will at least get you thinking about what you can perhaps make from scratch at home to save money and to find a healthier option.

Have a great weekend, thanks for visiting.

Blessings, Fiona

"Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon." Isaiah 58:10