CUCUMBER, APPLE, KALE, AND FENNEL JUICE

Fall is the time to get your veg on!  All the crops are being harvested and so there is no better time to eat lots of raw veggies and fruits.  This week at the market I stocked up on cucumbers, beets, fennel, carrots, apples, and lots of other fresh produce so I could make delicious fresh juices.  This morning I decided to pour the juice into a wine glass thinking it would make my husband more likely to drink it if it reminded him of his favorite beverage.  It took a little encouragement, but he drank it.  

CUCUMBER, APPLE, KALE AND FENNEL JUICE

2 organic apples, seeded

2 small organic pickling cucumbers or 1/2 of an english cucumber

3 leaves organic kale (great way to use up the kale in the garden that the slugs have been munching on)

1/4 -1/2 small organic fennel bulb

Method:  Juice all the vegetables and drink up!

GREEN SMOOTHIE

Even though I try to make sure I serve my son vegetables often, he doesn't always eat them.  Rather than fret over this I've decided to transform them into something I know he will consume - juice.  If there is one thing that can lure this kid into doing most things he generally does not want to do, it is juice.  So here is a recipe for a smoothie that includes beets, carrots, and kale, along with some sweets like apple and banana.  Yum!  Here is a picture of my wee one drinking his smoothie in his stainless steel bottle and straw.  Don't mistake that look on his face for disgust, he genuinely enjoyed it and asked for more.

GREEN SMOOTHIE FOR MY SWEETY

2 organic apples

2 organic carrots

1/2 organic beet

3 small leaves of organic kale

1 organic banana

1/2 tsp organic spirulina powder

Method:  Juice the apples, carrots and beet.  Pour into a blender along with the banana and spirulina.  Blend and enjoy!

NETTLE SOUP

I've planted nettle at every house I've lived in, much to the dismay of the new residents I am sure.  Anyone unaware of it's presence might be surprised by it's nasty sting!  But rest assured, the needles and their stinging properties disappear once the plant is cooked.  After removing the leaves from the stems I started juicing an apple and carrot juice and decided to add in some of the stalks from the nettle into my juicer and I was pleasantly rewarded with a subtle grassy essence to my drink!  I will definitely do that again.

CREAM OF NETTLE SOUP

1/2 pound organic nettle leaves

4 Tbsp unsalted organic butter

1 medium sized organic onion, chopped

1 1/2 pound organic potatoes, thinly sliced

6 cups water or stock

1 Tbsp organic white wine vinegar

2 tsp sea salt

1 cup organic whole milk

1 cup organic cream

organic black pepper

Method:  Wash the nettle leaves.  Melt the butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.  Saute the onion until translucent, 3-4 minutes.  Add the nettle leaves, potatoes, water, vinegar, and salt and bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer until potatoes are tender.  Using an immersion blender, puree the soup, adding little bits of the milk until creamy.  Add the cream and simmer soup.  Season to taste with salt.

APPLE CARROT NETTLE JUICE

3 organic apples

4 organic carrots

5 organic nettle stems

Method:  Juice and enjoy!

Juicing and the living is easy

I am living up to my promise to myself to juice creatively. Here is another combination we came up with and enjoyed thoroughly.

CARROT, CELERY, APPLE AND BROCCOLI JUICE

About 6 smallish local organic carrots

3 organic celery stalks

1 local organic cortland apple

1 organic broccoli stalk

Method:  Juice and chug.

Carrot Banana Smoothie with Fresh Ginger and Spirulina

This carrot juice smoothie was a great way to start the day.  I love juicing because it is an easy, delicious way to get more veggies in me and my toddler!  Lately I've been making my own yogurt because I am trying to avoid buying food in plastic containers that are not recyclable plastics #1 and #2's.  It is so easy, especially with the handy yogurt machine my sister picked up for me at Value Village for $1.99.

CARROT BANANA SMOOTHIE with Fresh Ginger and Spirulina

1 organic banana

1/2 cup fresh organic carrot juice

1/2 cup organic yogurt

3/4" organic fresh ginger root

1 tsp organic spirulina

Method:  Juice the carrots and ginger together and blend with the banana, yogurt and spirulina.

Fresh Juice Smoothie

When it comes to my juicer, I have to admit to being fairly predictable in what beverages I create.  My goal is to be a little more adventurous.  But this morning I stuck to the tried and true.  My all time favorite concoction is this smoothie.  If you don't have a juicer you can always substitute fresh apple cider from the Farmer's Market for the fresh apple juice.

BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE

1/2 cup unsprayed or organic local blueberries (mine are frozen except in the summer and fall)

1 organic banana, cut into pieces

fresh juice from 2-3 organic apples

1 -2 tsp organic spirulina powder (optional)

1 tsp bee pollen granules (optional)

1/2-1 Tbsp organic flax seed powder (optional)

Method:  Combine all ingredients in a blender or measuring cup if you use a stick blender and mix together until smooth.