Fresh Pressed Juice

Fresh juices from the health or grocery stores can run you upwards of $5 for one cup. So save your money, and make your own using a juice extractor.

You can customize your fruit blends, getting more of what you like, and less of what you don’t. And most importantly, it’s made fresh – so you know its still packed with nutrients and anti-oxidants (since the longer juice sits, the vitamins within it starts to break down).

The Machine

I have been using the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor for over 5 years now and it still is working perfectly. My only tip when you’re looking for one to purchase, is try to get one with a large chute/tube – that way you save time since you don’t have to cut up the fruit as much.

Tips

• Always wash fruits and vegetables before juicing

  

• Use only fresh ingredients – nothing turning brown or starting to spoil
• When juicing spinach or other leafy greens, ball them up into a tight wad then press into the chute using an apple, carrot, or any other solid you’re using in the drink.
• Using a vegetable peeler, peel all citrus fruits (using zest for another use-the citrus oil if extracted into the juice would over power everything and make a very bitter tasting drink). Keep the white pith though, as its packed with nutrients and creates a creamy like texture in the drink.

  

• All fruits with pits and large seeds, like nectarines, peaches, apricots, plums, and cherries, must be removed before juicing.
• The pulp/fiber that is removed from the juice can be used in other recipes or composted.

  

• Only juice what you can consume within one day. Essential vitamins and nutrients start to break down the longer they are stored.

Use Your Juicer to Make Dairy-Free Milk

Soy, almond and rice milk can be made in your juicer. Soak 1 cup of dried soy beans, almonds or rice, in 4 cups of water. Let sit 24-48 hours in the fridge.

Slowly pour 1 cup of the mixture (water and nuts) into the chute at a time until everything has been added.

Vanilla, honey, sugar, or agave can be added to enhance the flavor if desired. Soy milk may to need to boiled to improve the flavor.

Recipes to Get You Started

Most recipes make about 1 – 1 ½ cups of juice

Mango Tango
¼” inch slice fresh ginger
½ mango, peeled & seeded
¼ pineapple, peeled

Berry Delicious
½ cup cranberries
½ cup raspberries
½ cup strawberries
½ cup grapes
1 tsp honey, optional

Orange Smoothie
3 oranges, peeled (keep white pith)
1/8” slice fresh ginger, optional

Better Than V8
8 medium tomatoes
1 lemon, peeled
1 stalk celery
1 medium carrot
½ long cucumber
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp salt

Pucker Up
2 apples
½ lemon, peeled

Margarita Monday
2 cups red grapes
1 lime, peeled

Tropical Paradise
2 cups pineapple chunks
2 stalks celery
1 lemon, peeled
1 lime, peeled

Can’t Beet-It
1 large beets
2 pears
1 stalks celery

It Ain’t Easy Being Green
5 romaine leaves
2 cups honeydew, chopped
1 cucumber
1 handful cilantro, or parsley
1 lime, peeled
1 jalapeno, optional