Let the Juicing Begin!

Well it's official; I've done it! I picked up my very own juicer yesterday and it is my plan to add freshly made juice to my morning routine. I picked up the Jack Lalanne Power Juicer Ultimate from my local Costco. It cost $119.99 before tax.

Now it is far from the best juicer out there, but the price was something I could manage right now and does a good job for the price. Cleaning; as long as you do it right away before the pulp dries is actually a relatively easy process. Taking it apart and putting it together is also pretty simple.

(I'm drinking my freshly made juice as I'm typing this!)

My reasoning was also quite simple. I don't eat much in the way of fruit and vegetables, and certainly not as much as I should. I also eat a very small variety; It's not that I'm super picky, but I can't be bothered with a lot of them. I'm hoping that adding juice to my diet will ensure I get the nutrients that I need and as a by product give me more energy and (I'm crossing my fingers) help me lose a little weight as well.

Juice, for me, is much easier to consume than smoothies, because it isn't as thick, I can get down a lot more than I would otherwise. (This juicer produces quite a small amount of foam, which is a nice bonus.) It doesn't work very well on baby spinach, I think the leaves are too small so they just get whipped through. However I've found that if I mix the leaves in with the pulp and run in through in a ball, it does alright. Larger greens should work better; I plan on trying them soon.

So what I have juiced so far?

My current drink consists of:
Lots of Carrots (love them)
Apple (didn't peel or core it, but I found that even though they fit in the chute whole, they juice better when cut in half.)
Melon (I removed the seeds and cut the melon into slices; didn't peel. It juiced well.)
Baby Spinach

Yesterday included all the above except the melon, but there was also lemon, lime, beet and zucchini. I really liked it with the citrus, it really made it more refreshing. (Didn't need to peel as they were quite mild.) 

I look forward to trying mint, baby bok choy, cucumber, tomatoes, etc...

Mmmmm - Juice!

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The Pomelo

Also known as the Pummelo, Bali lemon, Limau besar, Buoi, shaddock, etc...




The pomelo is a citrus fruit, originating in Asia, and just a liiiiiiiiittle bit larger than your typical oranges. The pomelos that I have seen are about double the size of a regular grapefruit. They have ridiculously thick skin and an incredibly juicy and tasty interior.

Like a grapefuit, the color of the fruit inside varies; some are more greeny/yellow and some are more pink/red. I've heard that the pink ones are sweeter, but I haven't tried them myself yet so I can't really compare!




This fruit is great to test if you have a couple hours to waste or just want to spend a little quality time with the kids. You need to be prepared, especially the first time, for how long peeling this citrus will take.

I would suggest watching a few instructional videos to figure out a plan of attack. Merely clawing at it will take you hours. Obviously I should have done a little research BEFORE I undertook this particular adventure.

Peeling Method 1: (Note the music can be a little loud, you may want to turn it down.)

Peeling Method 2:

Note: The rind is bitter. Do not give into any temptations involving peeling the pomelo with your teeth. Please....

If you've peeled your first Pomelo and you're feeling rather confidant, why not take it to the next level and turn this unsuspecting fruit into a work of art!

Now, even though they remove it in the videos before eating it, the inner skin of the pomelo is what is supposed to contain the most nutrition; so if you really want to get the most out of it - eat the inner skin. The pomello is used in a variety of recipies for adding flavor to the food. If you are loath to toss the rind once it is peeled, then don't! Do a little research and you'll find a way to use up the whole thing. I've even heard of people cooking cornish hens inside a pomelo...

If you're interested in something sweet, check out this recipe for candied pomelo rind.

Thanks for stopping by -- see you soon!

Photos courtesy of John Loo. 

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Product of the Week: Compost Pail

Before I get into this post I want to mention that the company that sells this product is offering FREE shipping until Wednesday on orders of $100 or more. This is a brilliant offer and a great opportunity to try some of Only Green's absolutely fabulous products!

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Just because it is winter doesn't mean that you have to stop feeding your garden!

"The ventilating design of the compost pail keeps air flowing to prevent bacteria growth and odors. Line your pail with small food waste biodegradable bags and start collecting compost in your kitchen with very little cleanup." 

View this product.

"These bags are 100% biodegradable and great for your residential compost program as well as your back-yard compost bin. They are tear resistant, have a 12-month shelf life when kept in a cool and dry location, and will break down in 10-45 days in a commercial compost facility. 25 pack."

They also break down in your garden or compost bin and though it might take a little longer they do break down completely.

View this product.

 See you Wednesday!

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Pesticides and Produce: The Worst Cases

It can be hard to dedicate yourself to eating wholly organic; trust me, I know. The price of organic butter is nearly enough to make my head explode. It is equally as hard to stick to an organic diet if you don't have access to organic stores. Lucky for me, Medicine Hat has become a little bit more Organically Inclined in the last few years.

If you want to make a go of eating organic and you find yourself struggling, then it stands to reason to choose what you eat organic wisely. There are some fruits and veggies that have much higher pesticide exposure than others. My logic is this: switch those veggies to organic first. Once you have taken the worst ones out of your diet then begin incorporating in others. It may not be as good as eating all organic, but at the very least you won't be eating the produce that is the worst for you.


I snitched the following list from EWG.com, you can check them out if you want to see where my info came from.

The WORST Fruits and Veg (Non Organic)

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines
7. Grapes
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens

There you have it. If you're eating anything on that list that is non-organic, you just might want to consider switching!

Pictures via rduta and @joefoodie

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