milk Archives - Simply Sells Kitchen

Oat Milk

Sandra Sells — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:37:33 +0000

Alternative milks have been around for quite some time. The rise in milk alternatives for those who are lactose intolerant or want to make certain lifestyle changes have really made their mark in the world today. Now many coffee shops have even made the choice to serve several types of dairy free milks. We’ve discovered how simple it is to make some of these milks on your own. If you enjoy the latest oat milk craze, this recipe really is for you! It is extremely simple and very cost-effective. The cost of a carton of non-store brand oat milk is about three to five dollars. So, making oat milk yourself is definitely less expensive and just as delicious. Most importantly, it gives you total control of its ingredients. Why we make our own Most commercialized alternative milks tend to have a bunch of fillers that most people are very cautious about. When making oat milk, we choose to use organic and (most of the time) gluten free oats, which adds to the cost but we feel it makes a better quality product for our family. Some oat brands contain glyphosate, which is a pesticide and something our family would rather not be drinking. Of course, using less expensive products can stack up savings. In our home, we use dairy free milks for drinking, in cereals and smoothies, in recipes that call for milk, and even in our Phillips Latte Go coffee machine. The smoothness of the oat milk is a personal choice. You customize the thickness by using more or less water. For straining, we like to use a nut milk bag, but a mesh strainer also works just fine. As a personal preference, we prefer to strain the oat milk twice through the nut milk bag. Our Recipe Our Simply Sells recipe makes just over three cups of oat milk. The first thing to do is measure 1 cup of organic rolled oats, 3 ¼ cups of very cold water, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, ½ tsp salt, 1 large Medjool date or 3 small, pitted dates of choice, and then blend them up in a Vitamix blender for 20 to 30 seconds. Do not over-blend the mixture. If you over-blend it, your milk can become thick, slimy, and gummy in consistency. This is also why it’s important you use very cold water. Once blended, it is time to strain the milk. Pour the blended milk through the strainer once or twice, until you have the desired consistency. Now you have a delicious oat milk to start enjoying! You can store it in the refrigerator for seven to ten days. To make a delicious banana oat milk, add one whole banana or for chocolate oat milk add a ¼ cup of cocoa powder. No matter how you decide to create your delicious dairy free drink, we really do hope you enjoy this simple recipe. We love making this at home because it requires very little effort, and homemade is always better!

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Tres Leches Cake

Sandra Sells — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 14:55:06 +0000

Baking at the Sells household is always a fun family affair. Whether brownies, cookies, or cakes it doesn’t matter. Kodi and I love it, the kids love it and, of course, neither of us can hardly wait to lick the spoon! This tres leches (three milks) cake is no exception. Baking as a family For us, baking dessert is a sign that we are relaxed and happy. Out come the kid’s stepping stools shortly followed by the young ones slightly arguing about who will be the closest to the mixing bowl action. We get so much happiness from our family coming together. I really do believe baking is therapeutic and brings a sense of hope that something good is just on the horizon. I know that might sound slightly dramatic but it does bring tons of joy in our house! We’ve always had a sweet tooth – who doesn’t – so we want to share a tres leches cake recipe that is sure to cure sweet tooth cravings. Besides satisfying your own sweet tooth the recipe is fantastic for a potluck, party or family gathering. History of Tres Leches Historically, canned evaporated milk used in tres leches started being made in the 1850’s and became more popular in the early to mid-twentieth century during both world wars. At that time it was popular to soak sponge cake in evaporated milk to preserve or sustain the cake’s life. In trying to keep up with demand for canned evaporated milks, companies expanded operations to Central and South America. Some say Nicaragua was responsible for using canned evaporated milk to create the delicious tres leches treat while others trace its origin to England in the Middle Ages. Miami even tries to stake claim to the origin of the popular dessert. Either way, regardless of who’s responsible, we can all agree that tres leches is truly a heavenly and magical dessert! The back story Our recipe started as a cure for Kodi’s sweet tooth back in his college days. It was originally a budget branch-off recipe of a coconut cake that he learned to make while living in Boston, which always hit the spot. After moving back to Florida, he discovered and grew a love for Spanish flavored foods. Tres leches cake has been a favorite of his since. In the beginning, he started with box cake, a few milky toppings, and then covered in sweet whipped topping. The cake was quick, easy, delicious and required very little effort. Now that we are well beyond college days, the cake has been reinvented into an upgraded version made from scratch. The result gives bragging rights to any baker! The tres leches recipe can be adapted for any holiday by decorating the top with colored sprinkles, berries or any other seasonal fruit. By doubling the recipe you can make a very large sheet cake that will really impress at your next gathering. Have fun and let us know what you think! Feel free and be creative!

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Traveling and packing with kids

Sandra Sells — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 19:18:42 +0000

I have tried many methods of packing for kids and keeping organized. What seems to work for me is that packing cubes and/or Ziploc bags are your best friend. I used Ziploc bags on our last trip but I have added a link to some awesome packing cubes here. I have two children and I don’t usually unpack the suitcase when we are staying in a hotel or vacation rental unless the clothing item needs to be hanged. I tend to iron most items that need ironing before folding them very neatly. I stack by outfit with socks and underwear right on top of the outfit. Then I place the stacks in gallon size Ziploc bags and place the bags in the suitcase. The number of bags you need depend on the size of your child and the amount of outfits needed for the days away. You may get some creases due to folding, so if you would rather roll outfits that is fine too. I am ok with a little crease here and there, but thankfully most of the clothing items survive the trip and are not that creased. If the occasion requires perfection a little touch up ironing is done on location. Most hotels or vacation rentals have irons available as part of their amenities. Overpacking is sometimes inevitable. I have learned it’s not the end of the world, but when you are flying it can be costly. To avoid over packing and being charged for heavy bags, it is ok to let your children rewear clothing items. It really depends on the climate and activities done in the clothing, but, if able, you can launder them. Most of the places that we stay in have a washer and dryer. To suit our family needs, we opt for a vacation rental with multiple bedrooms more often than a hotel. They usually have a full kitchen and laundry room. I am not saying I want to do laundry when traveling but throwing the play clothes in the laundry is not that hard. This is very helpful when you have young children. If we are traveling for at least one week, for each child I pack 2-3 play outfits, 3-4 pajamas, two nice daytime outfits, and one nighttime/dinner outfit per child. Another tip is to have the pants and tops match more than one outfit. This way in pictures it looks like you packed an outfit a day but you are just mixing and matching. Pack one pair of dressy shoes, flip flops and/or water shoes, and one pair of sneakers. Bathroom items are a personal choice on what is needed, but I would stay within airline guidelines and know you can always run to WalMart or its equivalent. If you are going to a cold climate you will want to make sure that you are thinking about longs sleeves/layers, a coat, hats, gloves, and boots. I usually pack enough socks and underwear for all the days away because I feel as though we may need extra anyway with kids, and they do not weigh much. I also always pack the on-the-go diaper bag with a full change of clothes and emergency items for whatever may occur at any time, especially when flying. A sweatshirt is also brought along with any cozy item or stuffed animal required by your child. I tend to offer a lot of grace to my children when traveling because it is out of their normal routine. I always let them pack a Ziploc bag full of favorite toys to bring on the trip. We know that they may get restless so iPads are charged and headphones brought along to help occupy them. Snacks are a must when traveling I always bring healthy items and treats as well. Vacation is meant to be fun and I want the kids to feel like it is an exciting thing that we are doing. With young children it feels like you are bringing your whole house with you sometimes. Bringing multiples of things really isn’t necessary unless you are going to a place with no civilization. In that case good luck! I probably wouldn’t be going there with kids anyway. With young children, baby items are a must and can take up the whole suitcase, but be as minimal as you can. We bring one milk cup/bottle for each child and their water cups. We have learned that if able, bring shelf stable milk (for children over one year old) in your diaper bag. This will reduce any need for a cooler and can hold you over until you can get to a refrigerator. I have added a link to the shelf-stable milk that we buy here. The milk for children may need to be brought in your carry-on-luggage if flying, but it is allowed most of the time since it is baby milk. Bring as many shelf-stable milks as you think you will need for travel and also for a few days until you can reach a store. In the past we brought enough baby food and diapers for a few days with a plan to purchase more when we arrive at our destination. These items are important and a priority when traveling with a baby, so do your best. Give yourself some time to prepare when packing for your family. Don’t do it the night before as it could mean being up all night. If you want to avoid being disorganized follow these tips that have worked for me. I can also simply tell my husband to go to the suitcase or drawer and know that the children will be wearing what I have planned. My children are my pride and joy. It brings me a lot of joy to dress them and honor them in this way. I want them to look cared for. If all you take from this is to use a Ziploc bag for packing, then I have done my job. It really helps!

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