FLUE FIGHTING WINTER JUICE: 5 WAYS (V+, R, GF, P, NF, GRF, CHF)
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! It's sooooo good to be back. I really, really, really missed writing, creating recipes and taking pictures for the blog. And I missed being part of the blogging community :). But the 3 weeks off did me well and I can't think of a better month than January to start blogging again with these delicious flue fighting winter juice recipes! I know lots of people think the first month of the year is too dark, too gloomy and too depressing but you know what? I am rather fond of January. That's because the beginning of the year to me means a chance to make a fresh start and to be a better, healthier and happier me :).
Like many of you, I tend to make a wish list of things I want to accomplish and achieve . (I don't like using the term New Year's resolutions as it kinda implies that it'll all fall to pieces before Jan is even over ;). Whereas wish list is more positive, more attainable and less conspicuous, don't you think?). I always post my New Year's wish list on my personal facebook page because the scrutiny of family and friends, as well as their support and encouragement, makes me work harder at completing all items on my list.
So I thought I'd do the same for my blog this year – setting out what and how I want to improve it for your enjoyment as well as for mine :)
Here's my 2015 wish list for The Little Plantation:
1. RSS
The Little Plantation is now on RSS! It's a small but really important improvement and one that I hope will be of benefit to many of you. You can find the icon/link to my RSS feed in the right side bar.
2. BETTER COMMENT SECTION
I LOVE comments and am always sooooo grateful to those of you who take the time to leave feedback. However, my old comment section meant you never got notified when I responded. Dumb huh?! That's exactly why I've installed DISQUS, which notifies you when I've answered you (Hooray!!!). I hope you like the change and feel more inclined to say hi the next time you pop by ;).
3. BLOGLOVIN'
I shall try and introduce The Little Plantation to Bloglovin'. Let's see if they get on and become friends ;). I'll keep you posted on how things progress...
4. GET ONE OF MY RECIPES PUBLISHED IN A MAGAZINE
OK, I admit, this is going to be tough, but I'm feeling bold, want to aim high and need something interesting to tell my grandchildren one day. Let's see what happens...
5. BETTER RECIPE TAGS
I have added 2 new tags to the blog to make it easier for you to find what you're looking for. There is now a tag for child-friendly recipes (ChF) and for grain-free (GrF) recipes (find all tags in the right side bar). Would you like to see any more? Just let me know and I'll try to make it happen.
6. BETTER NUTRITION AND WELLNESS PAGE
This part of the site isn't very user friendly and it has been horribly neglected, which is a shame as I've got lots of knowledge to share about yoga, wellness and nutrition. So, I'm going to make that part of the site look cute, fun and sexy. Stay tuned, you guys, it's gonna be good ;).
7. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Last year I tried to publish a recipe every single Monday and sometimes an additional article on Wednesdays. But being a working, cooking and studying parent, it brought me lots of joy as well as lots of stress :( (FYI - putting a blog post together takes me HOURS, sometimes even DAYS). I need to practice what I preach and look after myself whilst making sure this blog is as good, vibrant and cool as you guys deserve it to be. Therefore I have decided to publish only recipes, pictures and articles I feel 100% happy with. This in turn means that – though I shall continue to mostly publish Mondays - posts may only be bi-weekly and/or at intervals that I can manage happily and easily. Thanks for understanding everyone :).
8. CLEARER IDENTITY
Sure, this blog is about plant-based food, yoga and nutrition, but aren't there 10.000s of blogs out there about the same thing? Over the holiday period I really thought about how to make this blog more 'me' because essentially it is such a personal space and one I want to feel proud of. Upon reflection I think I'm quite a private person and a bit shy about allowing it to be 'me' because my life and my reality aren't perfect (this link sums it up - SO funny, and SO true). But nonetheless I wanna make my attempts at a healthier, family, London-based life much more central to my posts. Not sure how I'm gonna actually do it. But hey, it's out there now, so I better find a way.
9. PHOTOS, PHOTOS, PHOTOS
I know nothing about photography, I don't have fancy camera gear, I don't have lightroom or photoshop (though I've got photoshop elements which I'm still trying to work my way round), but I still wanna kick ass with my camera and make the food look as delicious as it tastes. Because how else am I gonna get you to cook and eat the nourishing food on this site? Therefore I will work hard at finding my style and practice, practice, and practice. 'Till the cows come home. I promise :)
10. BETTER RECIPES FOR EVERYONE
I want to improve some of the old posts on the site and make my new recipes better and better and better and better... and I want to continue to make them accessible to people everywhere, no matter what budget or skill-level. Sure, I may use obscure ingredients every once in a while to challenge myself and keep it fresh, but I'll continue to work really hard at including affordable and attainable alternatives.
11. JAZZ IT UP
Guest posts, more interviews people in the know about plant-based food and nutrition, a joined post with another London-based blogger, guests posts, podcasts, another vimeo video etc. You name, it I'm thinking about it. I'm completely looking forward to being creative and playful. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any ideas you'd like to see on the blog :)
Still with me? Good, because I'm kicking 2015 off with a BANG. There will be 5 (yup you read that correctly), 5 recipes on the site this week. One today, 2 on Wednesday the 7th and another 2 on Friday the 9th. All in the name of good health and to a fresh, kick-butt start to 2015.
1 - FLUE FIGHTING WINTER JUICE: THE CLASSIC (R, V+, P, GF, NF, GrF, ChF)
OMG I LOOOOOVE this juice and am over THE moon to feature it here on the blog.
During the winter months we make it at least twice a week, with my son and I always fighting over the last glass (he wins of course, needless to say). The ingredients are delicious, seasonal and hence at their nutritional best. Oh and each glass of this orange deliciousness is full of vitamin C to kick that wintery flue to the curb.
I first stumbled upon a similar recipe here after watching this movie, which gave me the strength to do a 12-day juice fast this time last year. I have since tinkered with the original to make it well... perfect (insert blush emoji). Now here is hoping you like it as much as we do.
IMPORTANT: Please drink the juice as soon as possible after making (if nothing else, on the day), so as to get as much of the vitamin C into your body as you can. But if need be, keep in a closed mason jar in the fridge for a few hours.
Preparation Time: 5-15min
Serves: 2 greedy grown-ups OR 2 grown-ups and a child
Ingredients:
6 large (around 1kg) (organic) carrots
2 (organic) lemons
2 (organic) apples (see tips below for details)
Instructions:
Wash the carrots and apples.
Top and tail the carrots and chop in smaller pieces to fit your juicer (if need be).
Chop the apples into smaller pieces to fit your juicer and remove the stem and core.
Peel the lemons, chop in smaller pieces to fit your juicer (if need be) and remove the seeds.
Place everything in a juicer and go for it!
Tip 1: Ideally, try to use an apple variety that is local, organic and seasonal or just the one you like best:). However if sugar is a concern to you, stick to green apples, as they tend to be one less sweet, yet still add a delicious taste to this juice.
Tip 2: Don't forget to peel your lemons. If not, the juice can get quite bitter.
2 and 3 - FLUE FIGHTING WINTER JUICE: THE GREEN ONES (R, V+, ChF, GrF, GF, P, NF)
Hey everyone. Good to have you back.
Here are juices number 2 and 3, totally on trend in green. Because green - as you know - is the new black ;).
Happy juicing.
JUICE 2 - THE GREEN ONE - JUNIOR
JUICE 3 - THE GREEN ONE - SENIOR
Preparation Time for both: 5 - 15 minutes
Both serve: 2 greedy grown-ups OR 2 grown-ups and a child
Ingredients:
6 large (around 1kg) (organic) carrots (JUNIOR)
6 large (around 1kg) (organic) carrots (SENIOR)
2 (organic) lemons (JUNIOR)
2 (organic) lemons (SENIOR)
2 (organic) apples (JUNIOR)
1 (organic) apple (SENIOR)
1 – 3 (organic) kale stems or kale leaves (JUNIOR)
3-5 (organic) kale leaves (SENIOR)
Instructions:
Wash the carrots, kale and apples.
Top and tail the carrots and chop in smaller pieces to fit your juicer (if need be).
Chop the apples into smaller pieces to fit your juicer and remove the stem and core.
Peel the lemons, chop in smaller pieces to fit your juicer (if need be) and remove the seeds.
Place everything in a juicer and go for it!
Tip 1: Please see tips for previous juice above ...
Tip 2: There are lots of different varieties of kale on the market. Which one is for you? Well, Curley kale is relatively mild and a great way to get started if you're not sure about green juices.
In turn Cavalo Nero has quite a strong, slightly peppery taste, which can take some getting used to. If you are not sure, just start by using the stems only (see what you can do with the leaves here) and work your way up to include several leaves.
Of course, if you're a juicing pro, head straight to juice 3, using 5 green leaves.
Tip 3: Juice 2 is made with children's delicate palette in mind ;) or for the novice juicer.
Tip 4: Please make juice 3 if you're particularly keen to keep an eye on your sugar intake.
Tip 5: Finally, combining kale with so much vitamin C, means your body can absorb more of the kale's iron. Good news if you are worried you are not getting enough iron.
4 and 5 - FLUE FIGHTING WINTER JUICE: PUMPKIN DELIGHT
Last, but certainly not least I present to you PUMPKIN DELIGHT. What I love about this juice is that it includes lots of seasonal and local products and allows them to really shine.
P.S. I know it might sound weird putting raw pumpkin in your juice but trust me it taste A-mazing. It's a real, real treat and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do :).
JUICE 4 - PUMPKIN DELIGHT SWEET
JUICE 5 - PUMPKIN DELIGHT MELLOW
Preparation Time for both: 5 - 15 minutes
Serves: 2 greedy grown ups OR 2 grown ups and a child (for both)
Ingredients:
6 large (organic) carrots (about 1kg) (SWEET)
6 large organic carrots (around 1kg) (MELLOW)
2 (organic) lemons (SWEET)
2 (organic) lemons (MELLOW)
2 organic apples (see tips under JUICE 1 for details) (SWEET)
1 organic apple (see tips under JUICE 1 for details) (MELLOW)
50 - 100g of raw (organic) pumpkin/butterbut squash (SWEET)
50 - 100g of raw (organic) pumpkin/butternut squash (MELLOW)
Instructions:
Wash the carrots and apples.
Top and tail the carrots and chop in smaller pieces to fit your juicer (if need be).
Chop the apples into smaller pieces to fit your juicer and remove the stem and core.
Peel the lemons, chop in smaller pieces to fit your juicer (if need be) and remove the seeds.
Peel the pumpkin and chop in smaller pieces to fit your juicer (if need be). Remove any remaining seeds.
Place everything in a juicer and enjoy!
Tip 1: Please see tips under JUICE 1 for details.
Tip 2: Read about pumpkin's breast cancer fighting properties here.
Thanks everyone for popping by :)
Would you like to see more juice recipes? You can try my seasonal ABC juice or my elderflower and pear green juice.
