Friday, January 2, 2009

The Jack Lalane Way!

On Monday I was shopping at Costco and came across the Jack Lalane Juicer. It was on sale but still pricey. I called Greg and we decided to buy it with grandparent christmas money. I LOVE IT! And not just for it's chipper-shredder like qualities, the juice is great too! I'd be lying if I told you the thought of breaking up some compost in the bad-boy hadn't crossed my mind. I need help.
Jonas and I have been juicing every morning for breakfast. Well, I juice, he sits in his highchair and is surprisingly little help. He does enjoy the juice though, and now all of his sippy-cup nipples are stained orange. This week we juiced two apples and six carrots every morning. Some mornings I threw in a handful of parsley from the garden for good measure. You really can't taste the parsley and it's supposed to have blood cleaning properties so why not? I'm amazed at the amount of increased energy I feel these days. Remarkable.
Behind the juicer there is a collection bin for all of the pulp the thing spits out. The juicer actually came with a book on how to use the pulp. Legit recipes and crap. Brilliant. I feel like a real life eskimo, they use every part of the seal, *I* use every part of the carrot. See the parallels? Also it's been very cold lately. In addition to the juice we've been having at breakfast Jonas and I enjoy Apple Carrot Muffins. I admit the actual recipe name is "Golden Surprise Muffins," but honestly I find the word "surprise" in relation to food very off-putting. Don't you? The recipe didn't come from the Jack Lalane book but the Sunset Book of Breads my mom-in-law gave me. The end result muffin doesn't look like a traditional muffin, but I think they're delicious!
I didn't get anything done on the garden today. I did manage to buy some new gloves (three pair for three bucks on clearance at target. Holla!) and acquire a pitchfork and rake from the parents. I also spent some time thinking up things to plant and subsequently juice. I must get out to pick the lemons off the tree. It, not unlike me, needs help.
And, HALLELUJAH! Good news, we are going to pull out at least 3 of the oleanders on our bank and replace them with fruit trees. I'm thinking citrus and planning a trip to the nursery tomorrow. We will see what comes of it.

Here is the recipe for the Apple Carrot Muffins. It calls for 1 Cup shredded carrot, you can use either that or the pulp from a juicer if you are blessed with one. Notice it does not call for apple at all, that was my own tweaking based on the fact that there was apple pulp mixed with my carrot pulp. Do what you will...apple...carrot... they aren't going to look like normal muffins anyway.

1/4 cup each butter and brown sugar
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon each lemon juice and water
1 cup finely shredded carrots (pulp, whatever)
1 cup wheat flour (or all-purpose if you're not really committed:))
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Beat together butter and brown sugar until creamy, add eggs and beat until fluffy. Stir in lemon juice, water and carrots. In a separate bowl sift together dry ingredients. Add to carrot mixture. Stir just til moistened and spoon into greased muffin tins. Bake at 400 for twenty minutes. Makes about twelve muffin-ish things. I freeze them in a large Zip lock and reheat them in the microwave as needed. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

4 comments:

Siobhán said...

JEALOUS! throw spinach in, too. but not broccoli. i once did a bit of broccoli and berek and the girls could barely choke it down. and anything that might taste funky or weird can always be balanced out with a banana. 'cause those are in season, you know.

NIKOL said...

You know, my dad bought one of those juicers last Spring and LOVED it. He made juice all the time. Come to think of it, my mom hasn't been using that juicer. It's probably just collecting dust somewhere. I should take it off her hands. I'm generous like that.

Johnice said...

I have that juicer too! It's so freaking fabulous! Good going on the parsley...its better for you than most people realize. I agree with siobhan, throw some spinach in. And if you feel adventurous kale. Though with kale I'd start with a leaf or so at a time and build up.

Clong said...

It's funny ya'll mention spinach. I cut a big handful from my garden today and stuck it in the fridge to be juiced tomorrow. Providing I wake up early enough before church to have time to juice.

Nikol, as I started typing yesterday's entry I remembered you saying your dad bought the juicer too and I chuckled. When you told me you painted a vivid picture of how gung-ho he was, I thought it was funny that he was so excited over a juicer. Now I too have juicer addiction. Who's laughing now? Well me. Always.