Homemade Soy Milk - It's easy!

One thing I've noticed about the soy milk selection available in both Superstore and Sobeys is the lack of any sugar-free options. This annoys me. In Jersey I became used to my Edensoy Original Organic but I can't find it anywhere here. We have actually switched from using soy milk in everything to using dairy milk in coffee and rice milk on cereal. I'm no vegan and don't really have a huge problem drinking dairy milk but there is also a shortage of local organic dairy milk and I don't like the thought of the agricultural practices I may be supporting by not buying organic. Anyway, food ethics aside, I was feeling ambitious this weekend and decided to look into making my own soy milk. Turns out it is very easy! I basically followed the instructions found here: http://www.happyjuicer.com/Dairy-Free/how-make-soy-milk.aspx. The milk turned out pretty well. I think next time I am going to soak some almonds with the soy beans and also try to make a slightly thicker milk. However, it tastes good on its own and works in coffee - so I am pleased:) Maybe I'll give homemade tofu a go next weekend...hmmm.

Soy Milk

1 cup dried organic* Soy Beans
Filtered Water to cover the beans
3.5 cups filtered water for blending
Cheese cloth
1 tsp agave - a non-sugar natural sweetener, you could use another sweetener (honey, sugar)
Optional: vanilla, cocoa powder, almond extract - if you like flavoured soy milk better

Soak the soy beans over night in filtered water (at least 8 hours). You will end up with more beans than you need for the milk but this is ok - just boil the leftovers and use in salads/chili/dips. Drain 1 cup of the soaked beans and put in a food processor with 3.5 cups of fresh filtered water. Puree for about a minute until the beans have broken down. Squeeze the pureed beans through a cheese cloth into a med-large saucepan. Add any sweetener or flavouring you are using. Bring the milk to a boil and boil, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Allow to cool, transfer to a jar or jug and refrigerate. The milk is good for 3 days.

*non-organic soy beans are subject to a lot of genetic modification (90% of soybeans grown in the US are GM), which I try to avoid at all costs.