What a crazy few weeks it has been. How circumstances can change so quickly.
Events which have happened both here and elsewhere in the world have reminded me of how precious life is, and how the balance of life can be upset in a heartbeat. My thoughts go out to those who were seriously impacted by hurricane Irene. We were out of the country at the time, and it was just awful seeing the reports of what was happening here to friends and neighbors. It didn't seem like the right time to write a cheery blog post about a tasty juice, so I thought I would wait a couple of weeks.
Now, we enter the phase of getting back to normal - getting houses repaired, getting children off to school, getting yards fixed up. It's a lot of work, and a lot of stress.
I thought it might by helpful to give you a recipe for a restorative juice, to use when you've had a hard day,or are expecting one, when things just feel too hectic and you need to help your system recover and repair, giving it the energy it needs to deal with all the "stuff" that needs dealing with.
Restorative Stress Buster
1 handful English (of course!) parsley
5 carrots
2 apples
2 big handfuls spinach
2 stalks celery
Pack the greens into the juicer chute before you turn it on, then top with an apple, turn on, and push through the juicer. Juice the other ingredients.
This should make enough for two big glasses of juice, so share it with a friend, or put it in a flask to have at lunchtime.
The combination of vegetables will restore the balance of magnesium and potassium which can be lost during stressful times, as well as providing beta-carotene, zinc and vitamin C.
Here's to a good week!
Happy Juicing,
Jx
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Just Peachy!
I have been enjoying being back at home, making the most of those creature comforts that I missed so much last week.
Getting out and about at the farmers markets and experimenting with different juices. I am often trying to work with specific ingredients in order to incorporate them into juices to help specific ailments, that's what juice therapy is all about.
Sometimes though, as I wander around my local store, or market, I am inspired to make something, with some great, fresh, local organic produce. That happened this week with peaches.
Aswell as being perfectly delicious, peaches are a great source of beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin B3.
That being said, the main reason to try this weeks juice is because it is just decadently delicious, and can only be made with ripe, succulent, juicy peaches, just like you'll find in the store this week.
If you don't have a juicer, you can also make this by simply stoning the fruit, and putting it into your blender along with some ice. It will be thicker in texture and more like a smoothie, but just as fabulous.
Peachy Perfect
6 peaches
ice
Wash the peaches and stone them. Juice four of them, and add the juice to the remaining two peaches in a blender along with the ice. Whizz the lot together, pour into a pretty glass and relish every sip!
Happy juicing,
Jx
Getting out and about at the farmers markets and experimenting with different juices. I am often trying to work with specific ingredients in order to incorporate them into juices to help specific ailments, that's what juice therapy is all about.
Sometimes though, as I wander around my local store, or market, I am inspired to make something, with some great, fresh, local organic produce. That happened this week with peaches.
Aswell as being perfectly delicious, peaches are a great source of beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin B3.
That being said, the main reason to try this weeks juice is because it is just decadently delicious, and can only be made with ripe, succulent, juicy peaches, just like you'll find in the store this week.
If you don't have a juicer, you can also make this by simply stoning the fruit, and putting it into your blender along with some ice. It will be thicker in texture and more like a smoothie, but just as fabulous.
Peachy Perfect
6 peaches
ice
Wash the peaches and stone them. Juice four of them, and add the juice to the remaining two peaches in a blender along with the ice. Whizz the lot together, pour into a pretty glass and relish every sip!
Happy juicing,
Jx
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Camping and Juicing.............
I've just returned from a week camping in beautiful Narragansett, Rhode Island. My husband was competing in the Providence Ironman 70.3 which took place on Sunday July 10th. My family and I love camping, and always manage to fit in a trip or two at some point throughout the summer. I'm always faced with the dilemma of what to do about my juicing though. Should I take my juicer along, and plug it into the outlet in the restroom area in the same way that half the campsite plugs in their iphones and computers? Is there a way of powering it up through the car outlet, in the same way that my children avidly charge up the batteries on their ipods? Has someone come up with a clever way to make a solar powered juicer???? It seems not, and so, I sadly left my juicer at home, and decided to do the best I could with what Narragansett had to offer in the juice department.
We left Friday, and so I stocked up with a massive green juice before we left, and took a flask with me for the journey.
Our first night under the stars proved that some tents are more waterproof than others, and after several hours of torrential rain, our tent was left seriously lacking. The only upside was that Mark got in some extra swim practise for his race!! Under normal circumstances I would have been reaching for my juicer first thing to give myself some extra ping for the morning, but that wasn't an option.
The next night saw us up at 3am in order to drive the hour away to the start of the race. My children are great supporters of their Dad, but this challenged even their enthusiasm! However, we got into the spirit of things and had a good day cheering on the amazing athletes who challenge themselves to their limits. I must admit that by this point I too was feeling quite challenged, and really was missing my juice!
You would think we would get a good nights sleep, that we'd kind of deserved a break by this point, but no, mother nature was really out to show us who was boss on this trip. In anticipation of the weather forecast, we covered the tent in plastic sheeting tied down by string. Just as well. At 3am the heavens opened, and we were under the most vicious thunderstorm I have ever witnessed. The plastic sheeting held up, the tent remained relatively dry, but we were terrified that we were about to get struck down by lightning at any point - and Archie, my son, slept through the whole thing!
Monday morning dawned bright and clear, but by this time I was having quite a large sense of humour failure and was suffering from quite serious juice withdrawal symptoms! A detox in reverse!
The remainder of our trip passed relatively uneventfully, just the usual sprinkling of crazy campers, insect bites, earwigs, and frozen squid for fish bait leaking in the back of the car.
You can only imagine my joy as we pulled into our drive last night after a long drive home.
With relish I pulled out my juicer and made my favourite go to juice. A green delight of apples, kale, romaine lettuce, lemon, spirulina and wheatgrass, all blended with ice. Fantastic.
This camping trip gave me the break from my routine which showed me how much I really value my juicy lifestyle and the benefits that it gives me. I think perhaps I had become a little complacent about it, like we do about so many things. It's so easy to take things for granted when it becomes part of our everyday wallpaper.
This morning I feel like a new woman. I am marvelling at how lucky we are to have a microwave, a cooker, clean bedding, no bugs, a roof that doesn't leak and most importantly a juicer!!!
Below is my go to Green Juice, give it a try - I'm going to be drinking it all day!!
Green Juice
1 head romaine lettuce
1 big handful kale
2 apples
1/2 lemon
1 tsp spirulina
1 tsp wheatgrass
ice
Juice the first four ingredients, then add the spriulina and wheatgrass powders along with a handful of ice and whizz with a hand blender.
We left Friday, and so I stocked up with a massive green juice before we left, and took a flask with me for the journey.
Our first night under the stars proved that some tents are more waterproof than others, and after several hours of torrential rain, our tent was left seriously lacking. The only upside was that Mark got in some extra swim practise for his race!! Under normal circumstances I would have been reaching for my juicer first thing to give myself some extra ping for the morning, but that wasn't an option.
The next night saw us up at 3am in order to drive the hour away to the start of the race. My children are great supporters of their Dad, but this challenged even their enthusiasm! However, we got into the spirit of things and had a good day cheering on the amazing athletes who challenge themselves to their limits. I must admit that by this point I too was feeling quite challenged, and really was missing my juice!
You would think we would get a good nights sleep, that we'd kind of deserved a break by this point, but no, mother nature was really out to show us who was boss on this trip. In anticipation of the weather forecast, we covered the tent in plastic sheeting tied down by string. Just as well. At 3am the heavens opened, and we were under the most vicious thunderstorm I have ever witnessed. The plastic sheeting held up, the tent remained relatively dry, but we were terrified that we were about to get struck down by lightning at any point - and Archie, my son, slept through the whole thing!
Monday morning dawned bright and clear, but by this time I was having quite a large sense of humour failure and was suffering from quite serious juice withdrawal symptoms! A detox in reverse!
The remainder of our trip passed relatively uneventfully, just the usual sprinkling of crazy campers, insect bites, earwigs, and frozen squid for fish bait leaking in the back of the car.
You can only imagine my joy as we pulled into our drive last night after a long drive home.
With relish I pulled out my juicer and made my favourite go to juice. A green delight of apples, kale, romaine lettuce, lemon, spirulina and wheatgrass, all blended with ice. Fantastic.
This camping trip gave me the break from my routine which showed me how much I really value my juicy lifestyle and the benefits that it gives me. I think perhaps I had become a little complacent about it, like we do about so many things. It's so easy to take things for granted when it becomes part of our everyday wallpaper.
This morning I feel like a new woman. I am marvelling at how lucky we are to have a microwave, a cooker, clean bedding, no bugs, a roof that doesn't leak and most importantly a juicer!!!
Below is my go to Green Juice, give it a try - I'm going to be drinking it all day!!
Green Juice
1 head romaine lettuce
1 big handful kale
2 apples
1/2 lemon
1 tsp spirulina
1 tsp wheatgrass
ice
Juice the first four ingredients, then add the spriulina and wheatgrass powders along with a handful of ice and whizz with a hand blender.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Red, White and ..................
With the fourth of July weekend rapidly approaching, I wanted to give you a juice recipe that you could serve at a party or barbecue which would be both festive and healthful.
In almost every magazine issued in June/July there will be a recipe for a red white and blue smoothie which involves, blueberries, strawberries and a creamy vanilla something or other. I love these smoothies too, and they make very colourful additions to any table. However, I thought something a little different might be in order.
Coupled with the fact that the farmers markets are just bursting with fresh local produce right now, this is a great excuse to get down to your local market and pick up the main ingredient for this juice - tomatoes!
It's a classic, spicy tomato juice, but believe me, when you've tasted it made with fresh tomatoes, the stuff you get in the can just won't cut it anymore!
What you should know is that the tomato is the fantastic source of lycopene which is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids. Lycopene has been shown to be incredibly useful in disease prevention and in the fight against cancer.
There's only one problem with this recipe, and that's the blue. The red comes from the tomato obviously, the white comes from the ice, so I suggest that the blue can come from the colour of the cocktail napkin that you serve it on!!
Spicy Tomato Juice
3 big ripe tomatoes
2 stalks celery
1/4 lemon (rind on)
Fennel slice
1/4 cucumber
So, put everything through the juicer and pour over ice. I add some Worcestershire Sauce and Tabasco, and of course to really spice up your party, you could add a shot of vodka - who says juicing can't be fun!!
In almost every magazine issued in June/July there will be a recipe for a red white and blue smoothie which involves, blueberries, strawberries and a creamy vanilla something or other. I love these smoothies too, and they make very colourful additions to any table. However, I thought something a little different might be in order.
Coupled with the fact that the farmers markets are just bursting with fresh local produce right now, this is a great excuse to get down to your local market and pick up the main ingredient for this juice - tomatoes!
It's a classic, spicy tomato juice, but believe me, when you've tasted it made with fresh tomatoes, the stuff you get in the can just won't cut it anymore!
What you should know is that the tomato is the fantastic source of lycopene which is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids. Lycopene has been shown to be incredibly useful in disease prevention and in the fight against cancer.
There's only one problem with this recipe, and that's the blue. The red comes from the tomato obviously, the white comes from the ice, so I suggest that the blue can come from the colour of the cocktail napkin that you serve it on!!
Spicy Tomato Juice
3 big ripe tomatoes
2 stalks celery
1/4 lemon (rind on)
Fennel slice
1/4 cucumber
So, put everything through the juicer and pour over ice. I add some Worcestershire Sauce and Tabasco, and of course to really spice up your party, you could add a shot of vodka - who says juicing can't be fun!!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Juice Therapy to Ease the Pressure
Having written a few blog posts now, I wanted to go back to basics and talk about what Natural Juice Therapy really is, and how it can help some common complaints that get us down.
The basic theory is that when our bodies are lacking in some vitamin, mineral or enzyme, we become out of balance and suffer from "dis-ease" literally. This can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, perhaps with a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, maybe asthma, arthritis, stomach pains, acid reflux, high blood pressure. Sadly, the list is long.
Natural juice therapy seeks to re balance the body, by flooding our cells with the appropriate vitamins, minerals and enzymes in a form which the body can use almost instantly, without having to digest it and process it first. In this way, we hope to redress the internal balance, and give the body the tools it needs to heal itself. At times when our bodies are fighting disease, giving the digestive system a break, and allowing that energy to be used elsewhere, whilst at the same time providing total nutrition, can be just the thing a body needs to help in the process of recovery.
Of course, it's important when considering using juice in a therapeutic way, to take the advice of your health care professional. You wouldn't want to suddenly come off your high blood pressure medicine and go on a strict regime of spinach and beetroot juice! However, incorporating specific juices into your diet, in order to help with specific conditions can be incredibly effective in the search for great health and vitality.
So, this weeks juice is one which you might choose to make and enjoy if high blood pressure is indeed one of your issues.
High blood pressure can be caused by the major blood vessels leading from the heart and lungs becoming furred up and constricted. The elasticity of the arterial walls is reduced, making the vessels very stiff. This increases the internal pressure of the blood flowing through the arteries and makes the blood pressure very high. The juice below contains spinach, carrots and beetroot all of which are known to be beneficial blood cleansers, clearing the blood of impurities which might otherwise be left behind to clog up the blood vessels. Apples contain pectin which is a soluble fibre and can help refine impurities from the blood stream and also help to clean the blood. Of course you need to have a sensible diet too, it's no good downing this juice three times a day then going out, having a burger and fries and expecting to see your blood pressure come down!
Whatever you do, don't change any of your medications, but try drinking this two or three times a day, for a week or so, and see if you feel any difference? The beautiful thing about juice, is that you can't do yourself any harm at all. Only good. There aren't many things that you can do to excess with no downside now are there?! Why not give it a try?
No Pressure
Spinach (a handful)
Carrots 3, unpeeled
Apple 1, unpeeled
Beetroot 1 medium, unpeeled with leaves
Put the spinach in the blender before turning it on, pack it down into the chute, then put the apple on top, and turn on the machine. Whizz everything else through, and serve over ice.
Happy Juicing,
Jx
The basic theory is that when our bodies are lacking in some vitamin, mineral or enzyme, we become out of balance and suffer from "dis-ease" literally. This can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, perhaps with a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, maybe asthma, arthritis, stomach pains, acid reflux, high blood pressure. Sadly, the list is long.
Natural juice therapy seeks to re balance the body, by flooding our cells with the appropriate vitamins, minerals and enzymes in a form which the body can use almost instantly, without having to digest it and process it first. In this way, we hope to redress the internal balance, and give the body the tools it needs to heal itself. At times when our bodies are fighting disease, giving the digestive system a break, and allowing that energy to be used elsewhere, whilst at the same time providing total nutrition, can be just the thing a body needs to help in the process of recovery.
Of course, it's important when considering using juice in a therapeutic way, to take the advice of your health care professional. You wouldn't want to suddenly come off your high blood pressure medicine and go on a strict regime of spinach and beetroot juice! However, incorporating specific juices into your diet, in order to help with specific conditions can be incredibly effective in the search for great health and vitality.
So, this weeks juice is one which you might choose to make and enjoy if high blood pressure is indeed one of your issues.
High blood pressure can be caused by the major blood vessels leading from the heart and lungs becoming furred up and constricted. The elasticity of the arterial walls is reduced, making the vessels very stiff. This increases the internal pressure of the blood flowing through the arteries and makes the blood pressure very high. The juice below contains spinach, carrots and beetroot all of which are known to be beneficial blood cleansers, clearing the blood of impurities which might otherwise be left behind to clog up the blood vessels. Apples contain pectin which is a soluble fibre and can help refine impurities from the blood stream and also help to clean the blood. Of course you need to have a sensible diet too, it's no good downing this juice three times a day then going out, having a burger and fries and expecting to see your blood pressure come down!
Whatever you do, don't change any of your medications, but try drinking this two or three times a day, for a week or so, and see if you feel any difference? The beautiful thing about juice, is that you can't do yourself any harm at all. Only good. There aren't many things that you can do to excess with no downside now are there?! Why not give it a try?
No Pressure
Spinach (a handful)
Carrots 3, unpeeled
Apple 1, unpeeled
Beetroot 1 medium, unpeeled with leaves
Put the spinach in the blender before turning it on, pack it down into the chute, then put the apple on top, and turn on the machine. Whizz everything else through, and serve over ice.
Happy Juicing,
Jx
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Hot, Hot Hot!!!
You know it's hot when the Jones put on their air conditioning.
It's something that I instinctively fight against. I'd love to say it's because I'm trying to help the environment by not using the electricity, or because I'm trying to save money by not turning on the air conditioning system to keep my house cool. But really, it's because I love the heat. I love that it's too hot to sleep well, that every window and door in my house is open and that it's not cold!
For so long I was bundled up in fleece and wool, praying for the day when I could leave the house without adding several layers to my already bundled up body, and finally, those days are here! Why would I want to make my house cold again???
However. Tonight, I turned on the air conditioning. It's really hot.
The schools are advising that the children will be allowed to bring extra water to school tomorrow, they won't be running around outside and parents are allowed to collect them early if they are concerned. It must be really hot.
So, this weeks juice is double winner, a delicious sparkling juice which can also be turned into a fantastically refreshing popsicle for when the kids come home from school, ready to burn off all the energy they've not been allowed to burn at school!!!
Seriously, when the weather is like this, hydration is critical. Juice can be a good way to stay hydrated and still get valuable nutrition into your system. It's also helpful for children who don't like to drink straight water, diluting juice helps them get more water into their hot little bodies in a tasty way.
Thirst Quencher
2 grapefruits
2 oranges
1 pear
1/4 pineapple
1/2 a lime
Peel the grapefruit and oranges, then whizz everything through the juicer.
To make a delcious fizzy quencher, pour juice into a glass until it's about half full, add some ice and sparkling water to the juice. To make fantastically fun popsicles, pour the non diluted juice into the popsicle molds and put in the freezer for 4 hours or so. Really yummy!
So, for those of reading this in the tri state area, keep cool out there over the next few days! For those of you reading this in less sunny climes, turn on the heating and try it anyway!!!!!
Happy Juicing,
Jx
It's something that I instinctively fight against. I'd love to say it's because I'm trying to help the environment by not using the electricity, or because I'm trying to save money by not turning on the air conditioning system to keep my house cool. But really, it's because I love the heat. I love that it's too hot to sleep well, that every window and door in my house is open and that it's not cold!
For so long I was bundled up in fleece and wool, praying for the day when I could leave the house without adding several layers to my already bundled up body, and finally, those days are here! Why would I want to make my house cold again???
However. Tonight, I turned on the air conditioning. It's really hot.
The schools are advising that the children will be allowed to bring extra water to school tomorrow, they won't be running around outside and parents are allowed to collect them early if they are concerned. It must be really hot.
So, this weeks juice is double winner, a delicious sparkling juice which can also be turned into a fantastically refreshing popsicle for when the kids come home from school, ready to burn off all the energy they've not been allowed to burn at school!!!
Seriously, when the weather is like this, hydration is critical. Juice can be a good way to stay hydrated and still get valuable nutrition into your system. It's also helpful for children who don't like to drink straight water, diluting juice helps them get more water into their hot little bodies in a tasty way.
Thirst Quencher
2 grapefruits
2 oranges
1 pear
1/4 pineapple
1/2 a lime
Peel the grapefruit and oranges, then whizz everything through the juicer.
To make a delcious fizzy quencher, pour juice into a glass until it's about half full, add some ice and sparkling water to the juice. To make fantastically fun popsicles, pour the non diluted juice into the popsicle molds and put in the freezer for 4 hours or so. Really yummy!
So, for those of reading this in the tri state area, keep cool out there over the next few days! For those of you reading this in less sunny climes, turn on the heating and try it anyway!!!!!
Happy Juicing,
Jx
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Metabolic Boost!
There's an expression that my granny used to say which was “ne’er cast a cloot, til May is oot”. She was from Edinburgh, Scotland, and roughly translated it means “ don’t put away your winter woollies until the end of May, or you’ll end up freezing cold and wet!” I would say this year, she was on the money‼
However, now that June is here, it seems we have turned a corner. The dull days do seem to be over (hope I’m not speaking too soon!) and the lazy hazy days of summer are feeling tantilizingly near. I am feeling confident enough to put away the majority of my winter woollies, and bring out the shorts and t-shirts. You’re probably doing the same. However, as we dig out the short shorts, bikinis and swim shorts, the short sleeved shirts and skimpy sundresses, it’s worth doing a bit of an assessment as to the state of the affairs in the body department. In my house at least, it seems that the extended winter months have taken their toll, and the warm comfort food, the casseroles, breads, cakes and cookies have found themselves sitting comfortably in areas where they really shouldn’t be and aren’t appreciated!
I was therefore thrilled when reading one of my juicing books, to find a recipe for a metabolism boosting juice which I am really enjoying and it is certainly getting me zinging again! That and the regular 30 minutes running with Abby the retriever, and I am soon going to be feeling ready to put my gardening shorts on in public!
Here’s the recipe, it really is delicious.
Metabolic Boost Juice
1 tomato
3 sprigs parsley
2 sticks celery
1 orange
1 spring onion
1 grapefruit
1 radish
1 medium red or green pepper
Peel the grapefruit and de-seed the pepper. Wash all ingredients, trim, chop and put through the juicer.
The pepper, tomatoes, parsley and orange are all rich in bioflavonoids to support the capillaries. The grapefruit stimulates fat metabolism and celery helps to remove excess fluid. It's a fat melting, metabolism boosting glory in a glass!
Happy Juicing
Jx
However, now that June is here, it seems we have turned a corner. The dull days do seem to be over (hope I’m not speaking too soon!) and the lazy hazy days of summer are feeling tantilizingly near. I am feeling confident enough to put away the majority of my winter woollies, and bring out the shorts and t-shirts. You’re probably doing the same. However, as we dig out the short shorts, bikinis and swim shorts, the short sleeved shirts and skimpy sundresses, it’s worth doing a bit of an assessment as to the state of the affairs in the body department. In my house at least, it seems that the extended winter months have taken their toll, and the warm comfort food, the casseroles, breads, cakes and cookies have found themselves sitting comfortably in areas where they really shouldn’t be and aren’t appreciated!
I was therefore thrilled when reading one of my juicing books, to find a recipe for a metabolism boosting juice which I am really enjoying and it is certainly getting me zinging again! That and the regular 30 minutes running with Abby the retriever, and I am soon going to be feeling ready to put my gardening shorts on in public!
Here’s the recipe, it really is delicious.
Metabolic Boost Juice
1 tomato
3 sprigs parsley
2 sticks celery
1 orange
1 spring onion
1 grapefruit
1 radish
1 medium red or green pepper
Peel the grapefruit and de-seed the pepper. Wash all ingredients, trim, chop and put through the juicer.
The pepper, tomatoes, parsley and orange are all rich in bioflavonoids to support the capillaries. The grapefruit stimulates fat metabolism and celery helps to remove excess fluid. It's a fat melting, metabolism boosting glory in a glass!
Happy Juicing
Jx
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