Make your own cultured almond yoghurt or milk with the help of your favorite probiotic. After about eight hours you'll have a batch ready to use. The yoghurt or milk should have a slight lemony fragrance and it gets more tangy and bubbly the longer it sits.

Eat a spoonful, add to smoothies (at the end of preparation), pair with your favorite semi-sweet fruits, like berries, pears, peaches, nectarines, or use to make a delicious salad dressing.


Ingredients: Makes 1 cup
1 cup pure water (or 1/2 to 1 cup more water if you're making milk)
1/4 cup dry organic almonds*
3 tablespoons hemp seeds (hemp hearts)
1 capsule probiotic. (We use PB8.)

Directions
Soak almonds for one day, or overnight in pure water.
Drain, and remove skins. (Squeeze on the almond and the skin usually pops off.)
Put into blender with water and hemp seeds.
Blend on highest speed until creamy smooth.
Add probiotic and gently blend.
Transfer to a jar and set on kitchen counter or a warm place for the day, or overnight. If it's hot in the house, check after 4-6 hours to see how much it's fermenting. The cooler the air temperature is the longer culturing will take.
Refrigerate for up to five days. It will continue to very slowly ferment.

*Organic almonds will sprout because they've only been flash steamed, but the kernel inside is still viable. (Recent laws require pasteurization of all almonds in this country.) Commercially grown almonds have been treated with chemicals, and they won't sprout. They may be cheaper, but in this case, they aren't as good.

Life becomes so sweet with appreciation and gratitude. This is when the simple things glow and take on a special life that feels like magic is happening with each breath. Time slows down, and the moment becomes so full, feeling like it contains all that is.

A few days ago while this state, I noticed that the plants on our deck were glowing with happiness after being watered. My bare feet soaked up the most delicious feeling from the soft green grass. A tall glass of watermelon juice tasted like ambrosia and quenched Rex's and my thirst. At Padden Lake, a cooling breeze rippled through the trees on a hot day to revive us, feeling like the breath of God.

I've noticed many times that my state of being can change in a heartbeat. It can quickly move from being in the flow, or suddenly, almost inexplicably, become reactive. I feel this is when old patterns or conditioning have come to the surface. Yet sooner or later love brings me back to my center where I can see the beauty in life, and feel on track once again.

This is also true about the foods that we eat. Choosing the most vital, healthful foods so that every day our cells are bathed and nourished is a gift we can give to ourselves. In turn, the body responds and sends out waves of appreciation and feelings of well-being. And the breath of life opens to the inner light, and the heart is blessed.