Grapefruit Carrot Ginger Juice
I've been reading my monthly horoscope for over a year now at Astrology Zone. Susan Miller is legit! Even though she keeps telling me I'm going to have a baby every month, she's been pretty accurate with everything else. This month she says that us Leos will be getting into shape. I trust her; I've already done a juice cleanse this month!
If you listened to our first podcast in 2012, you might know that I want to treat my body right and be good to myself in 2012. I got a manicure last week and am hoping to get more massages in 2012. I also want to eat more whole grains, reduce my sugar intake and eat less processed foods. I think more juices like this one here would also pave the way to health in 2012. It's a SUPER cold fighting juice. Just look at that color!
Grape Cucumber Pear Juice
I get the feeling that everyone who owns a juicer is juicing this week. Am I right or am I right? I was toying with the idea of doing another 3-day juice cleanse this week, but my head's not there yet. I've got have a whole box of crackers in the pantry and a few coconut lime bars (recipe soon!) to eat through first. I did however, juice til dinner on Saturday and that felt pretty great.
In the 3 Day Cleanse book, they describe this juice as being "very clean tasting." After my eat week, that was all I needed. The grapes are sweet & juicy. The pear & cucumber are both pleasantly mellow and the ginger is a nice kick in the pants. This what I like to call a spa juice. Put some cucumber slices on your eyes, wrap a towel around your head and drink away. Clothing is totally optional.
Gin Toddy
Every cloud has a silver lining. I taught my German friend the meaning of that idiom the other day while we were hanging out in the parking lot at preschool. I think we were commiserating over living with an active 3 year old!
I've been sick for over three weeks. I'm on the mend, but man was it was rough! After finally caving in and going to the doctor, I found out I have bronchitis. Yikes. As miserable as it was, I found a silver lining to being sick. I finally gave myself permission to slow down and the dire need for hot toddies spawned a new toddy recipe! The silver lining of this bronchitis cloud was most definitely made of hot gin toddies.
So what does a gin toddy taste like? It's kind of like a gin & ginger ale but all wintry! I liken it to a bright yellow polka dot raincoat. It will remind you of summer, but somehow it's appropriate for the cold weather outside.
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Hot Toddy
TODDY. It's a funny word, right? I always feel weird when I say it out loud. If I've had enough toddies, the weirdness totally disappears and I might even shout TODDY if given the chance. I can also speak fluent Italian when I'm drinking. We'll get into that some other time.
It's toddy season! The weather is cooler and it's time to get boozy. Bourbon in hot water with lemon, honey & ginger is supreme. I live off these drinks in the winter because they make me feel like I'm wrapped in a fuzzy cashmere blanket and I'm sitting by a fire. Toddies are also great if you've got a wicked cold. I like to put ginger in mine to give it an extra health boost.
HOT TODDY. Now say it 5 times fast! Ridiculous, right?
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Apple Fennel Melon Juice
I know what you're thinking. You want to say, "That's a whole lot of stuff in a juice and I'm not really sure how I feel about juicing fennel." I understand it sounds weird, but you totally need to get over it. I too was skeptical when I first juiced fennel, but somehow it works! In fact, IT TOTALLY WORKS. It adds depth to a juice and makes it snazzy. Plus the apple and the cantaloupe are sweet enough to mellow it out.
Listen up! I really want you to experience my new favorite juice. Just do it. It's amazing.
Mini Ginger Almond Cheesecakes
"I've never had almond cheesecake before!" my neighbor exclaimed after she stuffed her THIRD mini ginger almond cheesecake into her mouth. "Same here," I muttered through my mouth full of cheesecake. We were standing around a plate of mini ginger almond cheesecakes on my kitchen island as if we were two college students huddled over a bong. You can be rest assured, we were just making sure to test each and every cheesecake for quality assurance! One bite after the next, I fell in love with the whipped cream & cream cheese ALCHEMY. Oh the fluffiness! The creaminess! And that thick spicy salty gingersnap crust? It slayed me. How many minis add up to an actual slice of cheesecake? Who cares!?
So...another faux cheesecake recipe that prevents me from making an official cheesecake! I've never made a real cheesecake and I kind of have no desire to when I find simple recipes like this one. I love the cream cheese aspect of cheesecakes....how it's subtly savory and a little thick. But the thought of eating a whole slice of cheesecake makes my stomach turn. It's just too rich and dense for my bones. I like creamy desserts that are light & fluffy with a little bit of savory crunch, and these little minis do just the trick! Now you'll have to excuse me. I have one last mini cheesecake calling my name......
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Orange Ginger Pepper Carrot Juice
We had a tough week last week. Within the first few days of 2011, I was plagued with a massive head cold. As soon as I started to feel better, Casey was down and so was Cooper. Unfortunately, Coop's sleeping schedule was reminiscent of the newborn phase and the poor guy was barely eating (the horror!) Basically, it was the antithesis of fun. The good news? We are all on the mend and I think I have this new juice to thank for that!
It's really important to get in a lot of fluids in when you're sick. This juice will totally help with that. Not only is it LOADED with Vitamin C, it's deliciously sweet and has a tinge of heat from the ginger. It's so vibrant that you'll still be able to taste it when you're taste buds are all messed up. Just look at the color, and you know you are putting something good in your body. Cheers to fighting colds!
Curried Squash & Red Lentil Soup
This soup introduced me to two things: Red Lentils & Cilantro Oil. I learned that red lentils are super deceptive. They don't really stay Red or keep their lentil shape when cooked. However, they do thicken up a soup and add extra fiber & texture. I like that. Cilantro Oil? It's my new favorite thing! It's a crucial component to this dish and it is INSANELY good when paired with my Killer Garlic Bread. Casey and I tested out a shameful amount of pieces with it! How could the garlic bread be anymore enticing??!! Cilantro oil! The best part is that it's easy to make and such a fancy little accompaniment. The soup instantly elevates to fancy status because of that special green oil. Who knew?
OK back to the soup. I'm usually skeptical of soups that have water as the base instead of chicken or vegetable stock. This soup shocked me. There was simply no need for stock because the curry and ginger packed the flavor punch it needed. The squeeze of lemon at the very end adds the slightest tang and beautifully balances the sweetness of the butternut squash. And let's talk about the butternut squash for a second. It's creamy! The way it squishes between your tongue and the roof of your mouth? Lovely! I spent a good 15 minutes sampling that feeling with each cube. Please try it and tell me I'm not weird. Ok umm I'm feeling self conscious now. Go make this soup!
