Green Grapefruit

3 large kale leaves

Handful of spinach

Handful of mint

1 large grapefruit

1 lemon

1 half thumb of ginger

3 cucumbers

First, a put the kale leaves and spinach through the juicer. I think it’s better to juice leaves first. For one, you can use the pulp in other dishes. Two, the juicier fruits push the leaves out of the juicer. Simply juicing goes much easier.

 

 I used the kale and spinach pulp by adding it into the leftover cabbage soup I made last night that’s continuing to be heated in the slow cooker for tonight’s super. 

Next, I added the mint leaves followed by the grape fruit (If your juice catcher has a screen to remove pulp it’s a good idea to clean out the screen after juicing leaves before juicing the rest of your vegetables and fruits). Then, I added some lemon slices. Between, adding lemon slices I add in the ginger. I believe this helps juice the ginger nugget. Last, I add the cucumbers. I feel that it helps push everything out of my particular juicer (Omega J8003).

BTW the Omega J8003 is awesome. If your looking into a juicer and confused which one to get --- the Omega will be your best friend. 

Basically, this tastes like grapefruit. If you don't like grapefruit then I wouldn't recommend this... or I suggest adding half of an apple. 

 But if your like me, you have a talent for easily gaining weight and thus do your very best to stay clear of sugar or too much fruit.

It for sure doesn't taste like a salad for those of you who don't really care for veggies.





Together his juice recipe made about 775g of juice.

 

Juicing for Soda --- Say Goodbye to Aspartame

Using my Omega J8003 Juicer I can make my own sodas at home. It’s very simple really.

I purchase produce like ginger, lemon, pineapple, and oranges. I juice these items separately and store them in glass jars --- keeping them in the refrigerator.

Really all you need is:

Sparkling water

Ice

2 Tbs. of your choice of: lemon, pineapple or orange juice.

½ tsp – ¼ tsp of ginger juice for kicks, but be careful cause ginger can get violent. I don’t always use ginger in my soda drinks.

The lemon is my favorite. 2 Tbs. is really enough. You might need more for the orange juice. It’s really up to your own taste.

You can even make a hot drink by skipping the fizzy water and adding boiled water.

 

          I haven’t been drinking soda since September 2014 I believe. I was told by a doctor that I have myofascial pain syndrome.

The first attack I had, I thought I was having a heart attack. The second attack was in my hip and it was causing my toes to move involuntarily. It honestly hurt to be alive. I had an attack around last Christmas and it was around my shoulder. But, the contraction of my muscle, again, made me feel like it was my heart about to explode. Every breath I took was a painful sharp cut in my chest and shoulder.

Luckily, I had some left over muscle relaxers from my earlier doctor visit.

          I read up on myofascial pain syndrome and learned that there is no real cure for it. Other than to relax, stretch often, exercise, meditate, don’t get stressed, and eat healthfully. This information started to bleed into fibromyalgia. The symptoms listed in fibromyalgia seemed to ring a bell in my own life. In my earlier twenties, I had chronic shoulder pain, and itchy ears. I thought maybe it was because I’d been waiting tables forever at a busy Mexican restaurant carrying heavy trays and oil floating in the atmosphere only to find its way in my ears. But, now I believe that I might have had some early symptoms of this muscle condition. In my late twenties, before turning 30 I started to have these muscle attacks. Other symptoms I've had are: early feelings of arthritis in my thumbs and knees, numbness in my legs or hands, anxiety attacks, jaw pain, and foggy memory. I'd forget words while talking. I had an overall bad memory. Not fun at all. It seemed impossible for a somewhat healthy young individual to be experiencing.

          I also began to experience blurry vision which is another symptom of these two muscle conditions. But, what really got my attention was when I read that aspartame can cause many of these symptoms and is associated with fibromyalgia and MPS. I had spent my whole life consuming diet products (both my grandmother and mother are diabetics). Diet sodas and diet mixed drinks have been a big part of my life from an early age. I consumed them thinking that they were a safe alternative to drinking regular soda. I have now decided that I no longer want to have these aspartame poisons in my life. I now drink water, teas or the soda drinks I make at home.

I’d always been keen on exercising and keeping fit, but really I can’t do what I used to. I’m afraid too that it will cause another painful episode. I now lift very light weights or use resistant bands. To be honest, exercise scares me now because I’m always afraid I am going to aggravate a muscle. But, I try and I’m juicing and eating as healthful as possible. I think it’s been helping a lot.I have seen and felt many changes. I haven't had a muscle episode in a while. I honestly believe it's all due to  the changes I've made in my diet.

Juicing and *Then* Baking with Beet, Carrot, and Apple Pulp

This morning I made a juice for my breakfast:

Beet Juice

2 round slices of beets

2 apples

4 carrots

1 lemon

1 ½ a thumb of ginger

First, I saved the carrot and apple pulp in a mixing bowl.

Next, I juiced the beats.  I didn’t add all the beet pulp to the mixing bowl (again, I don’t really measure, so maybe about a ¼ cup of beet pulp).

I also added a little of the ginger pulp to the mix. But, be careful because ginger can be violent.

Carrot, Beet, & Apple Cake (vegan)

Carrot, Beet, and Apple pulp

1 ¼ cup of flour

¼ cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk iHerb.com

½ of canola oil

2 tsp of salt

1 ½ tsp of baking powder

½ cup of agave

2 tsp of cinnamon

2 tsp of all spice

¼ tsp of ground clove

I preheated the oven to about 325. I used a 4.5 x 8.5 inch Pyrex Easy Grab Loaf Dish. I let the cake cook for about 45 minutes. I would watch carefully. The top seems to get toasty quickly… but, I’m using a conventional oven.

It seems to have a banana bread consistency.

 It’s pretty tasty too and my doggy seems to be enjoying it. Don’t worry I’m not giving a lot to her. Yet, I read that beets are good for dogs’ liver (as well as us humans) and agave and honey are safe for dogs as long as you use moderation. They aren’t toxic, but calories.

Calories, calories, calories.

Cornbread --- Made with Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk and Agave

Cornbread --- Made with Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk and Agave

1 ¼ c. flour

¾ c. corneal

1/8 c. or 2 Tbsp. of agave (If you want it sweeter ¼ c. of Agave)

2 tsp. of salt

1 c. of unsweetened almond milk (I added a little more… I believe it made it moister)

¼ c. of canola or olive oil

1 egg

Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease an 8 to 9 inch square pan. Bake it for 20 to 20 minutes or until it’s a bit golden.

I added a little more almond milk…but I didn’t really measure. I don’t ever really measure to be honest. But, in my opinion some extra milk makes breads softer.

I put ¼ c. of agave in my cornbread last night…It wasn’t too sweet. I was afraid it would be very sweet. My only concern is the calories. Afterward, I read that agave has more calories than sugar, and when substituting sugar with agave --- it’s recommended that you half the measure of sugar. For example 1 cup of sugar would be ½ of agave.

I used Tree Of Life unsweetened Vanilla Almond Beverage that I bought from iHerb.com

I used Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave that I purchased from Costco.