As the coronavirus pandemic has us cooped up in our homes, it can be hard not to feel stressed, anxious, bored, and completely overwhelmed by everything going on in the world and in our lives right now. When I start to feel this way, I sometimes find spending time gazing at the moon helps me to find some inner peace.

Tonight will be a full moon but not just any full moon. The Pink Moon occurring tonight on April 7^th is just a little more special than the rest, in that it will be the biggest full moon of 2020. So to mark the occasion I thought I would share my pink moon midnight milk recipe.

So for all of you out there looking for something to do tonight instead of another Netflix binge or endless Tik Tok scroll, make yourself a cup of this warm, comforting beverage and make an event out of what should be a spectacular sight in the night sky.

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼-½ teaspoon ashwagandha (optional)
• ½-1 teaspoon beet juice or shavings for colour
• ½  teaspoon crushed rosebuds to garnish

The process is quite simple. There are actually a few ways you can go about making this. You can use the stovetop method, or if you have an espresso machine with a milk steamer you can do it that way. Both methods work well, but when I’m looking for a foamier top I use the milk steamer. You can also achieve a similar effect by using a milk frother.

Directions

Pink Food Colouring

We’ll start by making the pink food colouring. For this step we will be using a beet, grater and small dish or bowl. First wash your beet well. Once your beet is cleaned nicely, begin grating your beet over your dish.

For this recipe you can either use the beet juice only, or the whole shavings in your mixture. It’s really your personal preference here. (I love the texture and the sweet flavour the beet shavings give, so I usually like to toss mine in whole. If you wish to only use the beet juice in your drink, squeeze your pile of shavings to extract the juice. You can do this directly over your almond milk or into a small container so that it can also be used at a later time.

Now that we have the food colouring prepared, we can start making the drink itself. Here are the step by step instructions for both of the methods I mentioned.

Stovetop Method

Step 1 Pour the almond milk into a small saucepan. Add the maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ashwagandha and beet juice (or whole shavings). Stir everything together.

Step 2 Heat your saucepan until the liquid reaches your desired temperature.

Step 3 Pour your mixture into your cup or mug, top with crushed rosebuds and it’s ready for you to enjoy!

Espresso Machine Milk Steamer Method

Step 1 Pour your almond milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and beet juice into your steaming cup.

Step 2 Use your steamer attachment to steam your drink mixture.

Step 3 Pour contents into your cup or mug. Add in your maple syrup and ashwagandha and stir until it’s mixed in well. Sprinkle your crushed rosebuds on top and you’re ready to enjoy!

I hope this recipe brings you a cup of comfort, and a moment of calm during these uncertain and chaotic times. Stay safe out there! Xoxo