For those who are lactose intolerant or who choose to live a totally vegan lifestyle, soy, rice and nut milks become a pantry staple. They can be substituted for cow's milk in the daily diet as well as in all recipes. But the sad truth is that not only is purchasing these milks very expensive, their cartons also create waste that is difficult to recycle.

I've been going without soy milk the last year or so to save money. It has become a luxury and I have found myself almost jumping in the aisle when I find a good sale at the grocery store. But as anyone who is an alternative milk drinker can tell you, when you look at the ingredients and the product you are consuming, the thought of making it yourself will inevitably cross your mind. It is a very simple product that is minimally processed, so there has to be a way to make it at home.

I was delighted to discover that there are counter top appliances specifically designed to make soy milk. A situation where you need to spend a little money to save money over the long run, soy milk makers are simple to use and easy to clean up.

Varying in price from $60 to $200, these machines take prepared soy beans, rice or nuts and turn them into a wonderful milk that is one fifth the cost of store bought milk. Depending on the size of the machine, a day's to a week's worth of milk can be made at a time. The milk can be kept in a sealed container for up to 10 days in the refrigerator.

Here is a link to a great recipe perfected specifically for use in a soy milk maker. The author also includes several great tips and tricks for keeping your milk smoother tasting by eliminating the nutty flavor that can occur when making your own.

The good news is, if you are like many people these days and don't have the extra money to buy the soy milk maker, it is really not that difficult to make your own with a blender or food processor.

The only thing you will need to purchase, besides the ingredients, is cheesecloth. Cheesecloth can be found at many grocery stores, fabric stores and cooking supply stores. But if you really want to reduce your carbon footprint, I've read about folks re-using t-shirts and pillow cases. Be sure they are clean and free from lint.

If you find yourself without a blender or food processor (or any kitchen utensil), head to your local thrift store. The stores in Toledo always have a plethora of used appliances. Yes, they work, but be sure to test them before you purchase just to be sure. If all else fails, you can get a great workout and mash the soybeans with a potato masher or mortar and pistol.

• Dry soy beans
• Water
• Cheese cloth
• Colander
• Blender or food processor
• Large pot
• Sweetener/ vanilla (optional)
• Powdered minerals and supplements (optional)

Simply soak your beans over night, add them to 3 - 3.5 times the amount of water and blend. After blending for a few minutes, strain the mixture over a cheese cloth lined colander into a large stock pot. Squeeze the excess juice from the cloth, skim the foam from the top of the milk in the pot and strain the mixture through the cheese cloth colander a second time. Add flavors and bring the mixture to a boil. Soy milk boils and bubbles quickly so be sure to stay close by.

When the milk has cooled you can add powdered supplements for added health benefits.

(Be sure to watch the posted videos before jumping into this project.)

Making your own soy milk leads to a more sustainable lifestyle and is just the beginning to saving all kinds of money.  The waste of the store bought carton is eliminated and the left over pulp can be used to make veggie burgers, another expensive grocery store buy. I was also thrilled to discover that it is very easy to make your own tofu by saving half of a large batch of unflavored soy milk, as well as soy yogurt and soy cheese. 

With a little time and know how, you'll be making your own soy products, which makes for a happy wallet as well as a happy planet.