JUICING COUTURE

ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS THIS YEAR (IT ALMOST TOPS EVERY YEAR) WAS MY BREVILLE 5 SPEED JUICER.  IT KICKS BUTT AS FAR AS JUICERS GO.  THIS THING IS THE BEES KNEES.  AND BECAUSE OF THIS DEAR TO MY HEART KITCHEN APPLIANCE, I THINK I AM NOW ADDICTED TO JUICING.
A LONG TIME AGO, IN WHAT SEEMS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD, I HAD A JUICER. MY MOM BOUGHT ME A NICE ONE FOR CHRISTMAS.  (THANKS MOM - YOU KNEW I WAS DESTINED FOR JUICING GREATNESS WAY BACK THEN)  THAT JUICER DID THE TRICK, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK POUNDS OF FRUITS AND VEGGIES TO SQUEEZE OUT ONE GLASS OF JUICE. IT WAS A SMALL ONE, WITH ONE SPEED.  BACK THEN I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST.   I USED THAT THING UNTIL IT FINALLY DIED.
NOW I AM ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF JUICING.  I LOVE THIS ONE! YOU CAN DROP IN A WHOLE APPLE AND IT PULVERIZES IT INTO SWEET, VITAMIN RICH JUICE.
FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO I HAVE BEEN BASICALLY MAKING THE SAME VARIATION OF JUICE.  I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH BABY CARROTS, APPLES, ORANGES, PEARS AND GREENS LIKE YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE.
*THE BEST THING ABOUT THE VEGAN LIFE (WELL, ONE OF THEM ANYWAYS) THAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT I HAVE NOT THROWN AWAY A PIECE OF PRODUCE BECAUSE IT SAT IN THE BACK OF THE BOTTOM DRAWER OF MY FRIDGE FOR TOO LONG.

SO THIS AFTERNOON I DIVED INTO MY NEW DAILY JUICING RITUAL WITH AVENGANCE.  I MIXED TOGETHER SOME KALE, BABY SPINACH AND FLAT LEAF PARSLEY.  I LIKE TO MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER, PUT IT IN A BIG BOWL AND THEN PUT IT IN THE FRIDGE. THAT WAY IT IS ALL RINSED AND READY TO JUST THROUGH IN THE JUICER.  NOW, HERE IS WHERE I MIGHT LOSE SOME OF YOU.  "SPINACH? KALE?? YUCK!!"  HANG ON! DONT GO!!  WHEN YOU MIX THESE SUPER HEALTHY GREENS AND HERBS WITH SAY, AN APPLE, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY TASTE JUST KALE AND SPINACH.  THE PARSLEY DOES GIVE THE JUICE A NICE LITTLE ZIP.
OK, SO ONWARD.... WITH THE GREEN MIX (ABOUT 2 CUPS OR SO)  I THROW IN 2 ORANGES (YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE RIND ON THE CITRUS FRUITS - IT ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU TO DRINK THE ZEST PART - I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OIL??)  AN APPLE, A PEAR AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF BABY CARROTS.  I GET ABOUT 2 1/2 GLASSES OF JUICE WITH THIS MIX.  IT IS DELICIOUS! I HAVE BEEN DRINKING THIS FOR BREAKFAST EVERY MORNING BEFORE WORK. IT GETS ME THROUGH TILL LUNCH.  SOMETIMES I MIGHT SNACK ON SOME ALMONDS OR HAVE A LARABAR IF I DO GET HUNGRY.  SOMETIMES I ADD SOME ORGANIC HEMP PROTEIN POWDER AND SOME NATUR THYME BRAND ENHANCED GREENS POWDER TO ADD SOME EXTRA GOODNESS TO IT.
SINCE I HAVE BEEN JUICING I HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE MORE ENERGY, MY STOMACH IS DIGESTING QUICKLY SO I DON'T FEEL BLOATED, AND MY SKIN IS GLOWING - NO IT IS NOT ORANGE - THERE IS JUST A NICE HEALTHY GLOW TO IT THAT I ONLY ACHIEVED WITH SOME BARE MINERALS BLUSH BEFORE.  IF I DON'T HAVE JUICE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, I DON'T FEEL THE SAME. I CRAVE IT, RATHER THAN CRAVING SUGARY STUFF.

I AM SURE I WILL SWITCH UP THIS COMBO OF FRUITS AND VEGGIES AS THE SEASON CHANGES.  I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO STICK WITH ORGANIC STUFF AND IT IS HARD TO HAVE A DECENT SELECTION THIS TIME OF YEAR.  I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE LOCAL FARMERS MARKET BRINGS THIS SUMMER!