Mint

Mint is so refreshing and surprisingly good for your health! I picked some up the other day because it's always good to get a variety of herbs, veggies, and fruit to juice. The variety provides far more nutrients than just sticking with the same ole recipes. Mint reduces free radicals, inflammation, asthma, and is great for the GI system to name a few of its benefits. See the link below to read more about the awesome power of mint!!

http://rawandnaturalhealth.com/health-benefits-mint-plus-fun-facts-herb/

Big Daddy E's green juice!

3 celery sticks

3 Granny Smith apples

4 lacinato kale leaves

1 lemon

Small bunch of broccoli

1 in knob of ginger

1 in piece burdock root

My husband juiced up these veggies the other night, and it turned out really good!! Plus it's always nice to be served, rather than be the server;-) 

Mutt juice

I make "mutt" juice (a little bit of everything) on occasion when I just can't decide what I want! This was a very green juice but the beets dominated the color!!

Parsley

Cilantro

Basil

Kale

Celery

Cucumber

Zucchini 

Beet

Purple cabbage

Lemon 

Ginger

Burdock root

An apple

Carrot

Enjoy the Detoxing, alkaline, vitamins, minerals, GI benefits, skin benefits, anti inflammatory, immune boosting properties!! Yum!!! 

Green Juice

Green Juice

 I made this juice the other day and it was AMAZING! I even took a huge jar to work to share it with a couple of co-workers, who also thought it was delicious. I used the ingredients below plus about 5 apples.

1 bunch of lacinato Kale
2 celery stalks
half of a large cucumber
1 whole lemon
1 medium bunch of parsley
5 apples (I usually use braeburn)

Several shades of pink!

Several shades of pink! I'm talking about beets! For those of you that have read "50 Shades of Grey," several shades of pink might prove to be pretty boring, but I can guarantee you that beets, in several shades of pink, will be good for your health!! I was looking at all of the old beet recipes I have and each juice is a slightly different shade of pink. So pretty, but I'm partial to pink!

As you can see, I have tons of beets from my garden. I am so excited because last year none of them grew at all. I planted them a little close together this year, but I have picking them to thin them out, allowing the others to grow a bit bigger. Since I prefer to eat most of my veggies raw, I have been picking what I need and storing them in my frig for juicing. I had planned to make a beet ravioli recipe, but never got around to it. Summer is often just too busy to get complicated!!

As you read on Monday, I used them in my immune boosting juice. I happen to like the taste of beets, but when mixed with other things in juice, you can't really taste them all that much. Below is just a few beet recipes I've posted in the past.

Apples, carrots, red grapes, beets, and wheat grass.

This is an older pic of Gabe drinking beet juice! Crazy how fast he is growing up. Be careful, it turns everything pink!!

I don't recall everything that was in this batch with the beets, but it always looks so pretty!

Beet juice for work.

Orange and Beet Salad
For the full recipe: http://rawfullywonderful.blogspot.com/2011/05/orange-and-beet-salad.html

 More Beet Juice

Beets, apple, ginger, and orange

 Orange and beet juice.

 This one might be favorite shade of pink!!

And once again, more for work!

Again, I'll share the following website with you about the health benefits of beet juice!
http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-beetroot-juice.htm

Lemon Beet Juice.

IMMUNE BOOSTING JUICE

One glass for this morning and a jar to take to work. 

Those almost look like kidneys to me! Maybe it's a sign since lemons help detox the kidneys!!

 I rarely get sick, but in the past couple of days, I've picked up some kind of bug. Sore throat, cough, and some chest congestion. It's more annoying than anything, and I get tired of people pointing out that my voice sounds raspy. Yep, I can hear it people. I just ran a half marathon last weekend, so I'm sure my body is just taxed a bit. Anyway, I've been increasing my fresh juice consumption with items that help boost the immune system. I got up early before work today and made this lemon and beet juice mix. It was super good! I made enough that I can have several servings throughout the day. Today's mix was perfect since I have TONS of beets to use from my garden.

INGREDIENTS

5 small apples

small bunch of kale

small bunch of parsley

1 whole lemon

3-4 small beets with greens

HEALTH BENEFITS

BEETS

Here's a pretty good website to check out about the health benefits of beet juice. This specific web site, freeze dries the juice, so that it can be consumed easily with water and little hassle. It's raw, which is great. Check out all of the health benefits that they have listed though. There are resources listed under each health benefit as well.

http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-beetroot-juice.htm

LEMONS

Lemons were also a key ingredient in my morning immune boosting juice. I LOVE lemons and use them alot during the winter months.  They are great for the immune system for several reasons. They are very rich in vitamin C (ascorbic acid) , antioxidants, and citric acid. They help boost the immune system, detox the kidneys, they are a blood purifier, help fight off infection, and great for cough and colds, to name a few of their great qualities. Check out this website for more info. http://www.budwigcenter.com/blog/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-raw-lemon-juice/

PARSLEY

Here are a few paragraphs of info on parsley that were taken from http://www.greenmuze.com/blogs/natural-notes/1098-health-benefits-of-parsley.html

Parsley is an amazing medicinal herb, is delightful to the taste and agreeable to the stomach.  It is a very versatile plant to aid the body in regaining health. The root contains calcium, B-complex vitamins, and iron, all of which nourish the glands that help regulate the uptake of calcium. It is a source of both magnesium and calcium, and especially potassium.

Parsley is high in vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C.  As a wholesome organic-food it is also a good choice for bone health with vitamin K (536 mg in an average serving).

Traditionally. parsley has been used for congestion and inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, gravel, stones, and urine retention. The root and leaves are excellent for the liver and spleen. It is also one of the best reliefs for edema, helping when other remedies have failed; parsley is a very reliable diuretic remedy often ignored today. Parsley root and seeds contain ingredients that help produce a pain relieving benefit to relax stiff joints. 

Many people use parsley root tea to make stiff and unmanageable fingers work again. Pour a quart of boiling water over a cup of firmly packed fresh parsley and steep for 15 minutes.  Strain and then refrigerate.

Parsley works on the gall bladder and will remove gallstones if used properly by taking a pint of the tea daily.  Parsley is a specific for the adrenal glands, is powerfully therapeutic for the optic nerves, the brain and the sympathetic nervous system.

Parsley juice is an excellent tonic for the blood vessels, particularly the capillaries and arterioles. But remember that raw parsley juice is a most potent juice and should never be taken alone in quantities of more than one or two ounces at a time unless it is mixed into a sufficient quantity of carrot or other juices.  Parsley can help with expelling watery poisons, excess mucus, flatulence (gas), and reducing swollen or enlarged glands.

Taken from http://www.greenmuze.com/blogs/natural-notes/1098-health-benefits-of-parsley.html

Hopefully my little fresh juice concoction will help get me up and running normally again!!

Pineapple-Cucumber Gazpacho

 Pineapple-Cucumber Gazpacho

PINEAPPLE-CUCUMBER GAZPACHO

From RAW FOOD REAL WORLD by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis

4 cups chopped peeled cucumber (from 1 large English cucumber or a few Kirbys)

4 cups chopped pineapple (from 1 large or two small pineapples)

1 cup fresh pineapple juice

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

1 green onion, white and 1 inch of green, chopped

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 teaspoons sea salt

1 handful cilantro leaves, plus few extra for garnish

3 tablespoons avocado oil, macadamia oil, or cold pressed extra-virgin olive oil

1 handful finely chopped raw macadamia nuts

In a blender, add 3 cups of cucumber and pineapple, the pineapple juice, jalapeno, green onion, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. Add the remaining 1 cup of cucumber and 1 cup of pineapple, the handful of cilantro, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil. Pulse blender quickly a few times-the gazpacho should remain chunky. Taste for seasoning. If you have time, chill before serving. Before serving, add the macadamia nuts and stir to distribute them evenly. Place in serving bowls and drizzle the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil. Garnish with cilantro.

I have posted this recipe in the past, but decided to post it again for two reasons. First, it's such a refreshing summer treat. If you have a garden, it's a perfect chance to grab some fresh cilantro, green onions, and cucumbers to make this. Second, I decided to make a juice version of it today, and it turned out pretty darn good! In fact, my 2 1/2 year old drank so much of it that his little belly was distended!! Here's what I used:

1 small pineapple

1 medium cucumber

1 medium zucchini (because I have a lot I needed to use)

1 bunch of fresh cilantro

You could certainly juice a small green onion and a small jalapeno pepper as well, but I wanted to make sure Gabe would drink it! 

Here a few health benefits to this juice:

Cucumbers:

Cucumbers help promote hydration d/t the high water content, which also helps to reduce toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce acidity. They contain the lignans lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol (I know, I can't pronounce them either!) which have been shown to reduce several cancers including, prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer. The high content of potassium and magnesium help promote healthy blood pressure, They are a good source of silica, which helps promote joint health, strengthens connective tissues, and is great for nail health. Cucumber is also rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, C, D, folate and calcium, which when mixed with carrot juice can help reduce uric acid levels in diseases like gout. Interestingly enough, it also contains a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas to produce insulin.

Cilantro:
Aids in digestion, works as an anti-inflammatory, helps detox the body, helps to manage cholesterol levels, and helps prevent nausea. It's high in iron, magnesium, phytonutrients, and flavonoids.

Pineapple:
They are rich in vitamin C and help fight off viruses. They are also great for cough and colds d/t the high amount of bromelain they contain, which helps suppress coughs and loosens mucous. They contain manganese which helps support strong bones and connective tissues. Their anti-inflammatory qualities also help with diseases like arthritis. Pineapples also help to reduce the acidity of the GI tract. With the high acid producing diets that most Americans consume, this is a really important quality!

Raw Homemade Lemonade!

RAW HOMEMADE LEMONADE!!

I absolutely love a glass of lemonade when the weather is warm, and it can't just be any ole lemonade!! This raw homemade version is super delicious!! Not sure if you've ever read the label on store bought lemonade, but it has a lot of ingredients in it. For example, here's the ingredient label on one store bought version that actually claims to have no artificial sweetners or flavors. 

Ingredients

Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid, Contains Less than 2% of Maltodextrin, Natural Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide, Calcium Fumarate, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Color, Yellow 5 Lake, Tocopherol (Preserves Freshness).

It's too bad they have to throw in artificial colors! So, skip the chemicals and try this super healthy 2 ingredient recipe!! 

INGREDIENTS
1 whole lemon unpeeled
3 apples (I used gala)

This was enough for 2 small glasses. (this will also depend on how much juice your juicer yields too) If you are serving a large group, just adjust the amounts above in the 1:3 ratio. If your taste buds prefer it a little different, play with the amounts and adjust it to your liking. This has just been my favorite ratio so far!!

 Here's my kid version! I added about 4 carrots to the recipe above just to add a little veggie, but without drastically changing the taste. Gabe loved it, and Eric drank the rest. He was surprised at how much it actually tasted like lemonade despite it's

 orange color!

Really Really Green Juice

I was trying to use up produce in the frig, while trying to make a really really green juice. Here's what I ended up with:

3 apples
1 bunch of cilantro
1 large cucumber
1/2 small lime
3-4 large handfuls of spinach
2 frozen squares of wheat grass (or fresh if you have it)

It actually tasted pretty mild from what I expected. I enjoyed it. Didn't take a picture of the finished product because it pretty much looks like every other green juice! This is an excellent way to start off your morning! Nice and alkalizing!

Swiss Chard Juice

2-3 stalks and leaves of swiss chard
1 large bunch of parsley
1 whole lime
1 medium sized knob of ginger
3-4 apples

This had a distinct taste to it, which was refreshing. It's always good when you add different greens and varieties of things. I didn't take a picture of the end product, but as you can imagine was a shade of green:-)

Spicy Vegetable Juice

1 cucumber
1 celery stalk
3 carrots
2 tomatoes
1/2 yellow and 1/2 red pepper
1/2 jalapeno
small bunch of cilantro
S&P to taste

This is all that was left from the veggies above after juicing! Amazing!

 I usually save any glass jars so I can reuse them for juice storage. I take containers like this with me to work. They are great for raw soups or juices. And cheap.

Beetiful morning!

I recently decided that our family was in a "juicing rut." That being said, I'll be posting some new juicing recipes we are incorporating into our days! Variety is so key, but the craziness of life can sometimes get in the way. So, if you are also stuck in a rut, or not, hopefully you can enjoy some new juicing recipes!

Today is a beetiful morning for this juice!

Nice electrical outlet eh? That's not really what you're supposed to be looking at, but I uploaded this pic from my iphone and it's pretty hard not to look at:)

INGREDIENTS

1 beet
4 small apples
Bunch of fresh wheat grass or frozen. Sometimes fresh wheatgrass is hard to find.you could always grow your own;)
Large bunch of grapes (I like red)
7-8 carrots

Juice all above ingredients and enjoy!

Here are some benefits of wheatgrass:
Boosts the immune system
Reduced high blood pressure
Regulates blood sugar
Appetite suppressant
Prevents graying of hair (I'm totally increasing my intake!) and removes dandruff
Helps treat acne
Antioxidant rich thereby repairing damaged cells
Improves digestion and metabolism
Helps purify the blood and cleanses kidney, liver, and urinary tract (add it to your detox regimen)
Provides energy
Increases red blood cells


Health benefits of beets:
Great for cardiovascular health
Helps slow growth of rumors in cancer
High in iron do helps with anemia
Great for pregnant women d/t high levels of folic acid
High in antioxidants
Anti-inflammatory properties
Helps detox process
Have been shown to lessen tumor cell growth

Not sure about you, but these are motivating health benefits for me! My body should be detoxing as I type!!

A glass for Eric and I and some left over for later in the day!

Add caption

Gabe liked it! Nice look my son!

Beet Juice

 Fresh juice is one of the healthiest things you can make for yourself. It's also important to try and mix it up a little so your body gets a wider variety of nutrients. I used to juice beets all the time, but kind of got tired of them. I bought a bunch of them the other day and made this super yummy juice! It's a little sweeter to offset the earthy taste of the beets. I like Gabe to drink everything I make, so sweet is ok when it comes from fresh organic fruits!

 Here's what I used:
2 small beets
3 apples
2 oranges
You can adjust the amount based on what taste you prefer. I used the smallest screen possible to get very little pulp, but for some reason I still had to run the juice through a nut milk bag because it was still pretty pulpy. I don't mind it so much, but I didn't think Gabe would drink it with all of the pulp.

 It was so good and so pretty too! I've always said I wish I had a lip stain made from beets:)