A little bonus post on a Saturday afternoon! Z and I were supposed to have a field trip today, but he woke up with a sore belly so we postponed it. In lieu of that I have been busy around the house all day, including making something that I have been increasingly interested in....homemade almond butter.
We love nut butter around here...we use it is shakes, Z takes sandwiches with it to school and has it in his oats, and we eat it with a spoon as snacks day in and day out. But there is one major problem with nut butters. The cost. I really would like to only buy the organic stuff, but we can really only afford to buy organic peanut butter. And that comes in plastic jars! A jar of organic almond butter (which dies at least come in a glass jar) costs a whopping $19.99. You didn't read that wrong. $20 for a jar of nut butter. I'm sorry, but that is INSANE.
Once our plans changed today though, I saw an opportunity to get a bunch of stuff done around the house that I haven't had time to do recently. I washed my cashmere sweaters, I made a loaf of bread, I am in the process of making more edamame burgers, and I finally made almond butter. Not surprisingly, it is GOOD, and it was ridiculously easy to make. Here's what was involved:
Almond Butter
- 1.25 pounds organic raw almonds (these cost $7.99 a pound at my local Whole Foods)
- 2 teaspoons organic coconut oil (I bought a jar today. It is strangely solid, but it imparts a wonderful flavor in the butter)
- about 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey (optional)
This was super easy! First, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. While it is heating, spread the almonds out on a rimmed cookie sheet. Roast the almonds for 20 minutes then let them cool a bit. Next dump the almonds into the cuisinart or blender and turn it on. It will make a pretty awful sound at first, but just let it go and go. After about 10 minutes, add a teaspoon of the coconut oil. A few minutes later, add a second teaspoon of oil, the salt and the honey (if you are using it). Let mix for about 2 minutes more (15 minutes total) and voila! you have creamy, fluffy, delectable almond butter.
2 comments:
You know, I've been buying the raw almond butter from TJs. All it has is raw almonds. You have a point. I could throw organic almonds into the cuisinart and...... raw almond butter. Hmmmmmm.
I bought raw organic almonds because they are $2 a pound cheaper than roasted ones and roasted them at home...the flavor is just so much better that way! I know, I know, they are healthier raw. But I prefer them roasted. You really should try it, raw or roasted. Super easy and so much cheaper (and organic!)
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