All In One Food

China is considered to be the original destination of soy milk. According to Chinese history,  soy milk was developed by Liu An for medicinal purposes. Soy milk is a stable emulsion of oil, water, and protein. Soy milk is made by soaking dried soybeans, draining them, grinding them, combining them with water, boiling, and then straining the resulting milky liquid.You can make soy milk at home with basic kitchen tools or with a soy milk machine. Soy milk is commonly found in aseptic cartons. Most of the soy milk available on the market is flavored and fortified with extra calcium or vitamins.

You can easily add thickeners to your soy milk to give it a mouth feel of cow’s milk. Naturally soy milk has kind of a beany taste to it, but this can be eliminated or reduced by using proper processing techniques for the soy milk.

Like cow’s milk, soy milk is versatile. So its no wonder soy milk helps make some tasty recipes. Plain soy milk can be used in cooking recipes and in beverage recipes. Soy milk can even be used in coffee beverages and in deserts. Soy milk can be served hot or cold and is often flavored with soy sauce and vegetables to produce a spicy soup.

Also, soy milk can be made into tofu the same way milk can be made into cheese. Soy milk can also be found in many vegan and vegetarian dishes and can be used as a replacement for cow’s milk in many recipes. Infact, many people consider soy milk a healthy alternative to cow’s milk.

SOY MILK PANCAKES/Serves 2

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

How To Put It Together

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a small bowl, mix the vanilla soy milk, egg, oil, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
3. Pour the soy milk mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture, and whisk together until smooth.
4. Grease a skillet, and heat over medium low heat.
5. Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto the heated skillet, and cook until bubbly.
6. Flip with a spatula, and continue cooking about 1 minute, until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter.

SOY MILK PUMPKIN PIE/Serves 8

Ingredients

• 3/4  cup  sugar
• 1 1/4  teaspoons  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground ginger
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground nutmeg
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground cloves
• 1  can (15 oz.) pumpkin
• 1 1/4  cups  soy milk (10 oz.)
• 2  large eggs
• Pastry for a single-crust 9-inch pie

How To Put It Together

1. In a large bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Add pumpkin, soy milk, and eggs; whisk until well blended.
2. Pour mixture into unbaked pastry in pan.
3. Set pie on bottom rack of a 425° regular or convection oven.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350°; continue baking until center of pie is set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes longer.
5. Set pie on a rack until cool, at least 2 hours.
6. After serving, chill pie airtight.

SOY MILK SHAKE/Serves 2

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons  fat-free chocolate syrup
• 2 1/8  teaspoons  instant espresso granules or instant coffee granules, divided
• 1 1/2  cups  vanilla soy ice cream (such as Soy Dreams)
• 1/2  cup  low-fat plain soy milk

How To Put It Together

1. Combine syrup and 1/8 teaspoon espresso granules in a small bowl, stirring well.
2. Using a spoon, drizzle half of syrup mixture around the inside rim of 2 small narrow glasses.
3. Combine remaining 2 teaspoons espresso granules, ice cream, and milk in a blender; process until smooth. Pour 1 cup ice cream mixture into each glass.
4. Serve immediately.

BANANA SOY MILK MUFFINS/Serves 1 muffin each person (1 dozen)

Ingredients

• 1  cup  wheat bran
• 1  cup  mashed ripe banana
• 2/3  cup  soy milk
• 1/4  cup  packed brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons  prune baby food or prune butter (such as Lekvar)
• 1  large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup  soy flour
• 1/4  cup  finely chopped pecans
• 2  teaspoons  baking powder
• 1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• Cooking spray

How To Put It Together

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients; let stand 5 minutes.
3. Add sugar, baby food, and egg; mix well.
4. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.
5. Combine flours and next 4 ingredients (flours through salt) in a bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
6. Add bran mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
7. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray.
8. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center.
9. Remove muffins from pans immediately; cool on a wire rack.

BLUEBERRY SOY MILK SHAKES/Serves 3

Ingredients

• 2  cups  frozen unsweetened blueberries
• 1  cup  soy vanilla yogurt, softened
• 1 1/2  cups  low-fat soy milk

How To Put It Together

1. Process all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Serve immediately.
2. 1% low-fat milk or yogurt may be substituted, if desired.
3. Frozen blueberries will yield a brighter color and smoother texture.