Juice, The Great Unknown

This morning began with aquatics and Joe joined me!  I think he would have preferred to just swim laps, but he was happy to be in the pool.  I was glad he came with me.  It was fun.  When we got home, guess what was waiting for me at my door?!  My juicer!  Woo!

So Joe and I had lunch first and then went walking at the Denver Botanical Gardens (pictures at the end of the post) and then we stopped at Whole Foods so I could pick up some ingredients for my first juice.  Joe left for work and I got busy unpacking and starting my first juice.

I decided to make the Mean Green Juice from the documentary "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead".  I followed the recipe and first noticed the wonderful smells that came with each fruit addition.  Second, I noticed how powerful the juicer was!  It was so cool.  I had no idea an apple could disappear so quickly!  I was quite enjoying my new machine.  Third, I quickly realized that I made too much...that part is going to take some practice.  Below is the picture of my juice and juicer before my first taste.

I made sure to add my ice because everything is better cold.  And I took the inaugural sip and....um....gross.  All I could taste was the kale.  So I added some more ice and some honey and set it aside while I cleaned out the machine.  Then I tried the juice again and it wasn't as terrible this time.  It took me about an hour to drink and finish my juice and during that time I contemplated ways to make it better (less kale, smaller sample, more fruit, etc.) and I was enjoying it a little more near the end.  Plus, I spent a lot of that time reading the book I got with my juicer so I can learn better recipes that I might enjoy more.

I did read in this book that those who are new to juicing probably shouldn't start out with strong flavored plant foods like kale.  Oops!  I should be starting with easy fruit juices and as my taste buds get used to fresh juice, then I can get more adventurous.  So perhaps tomorrow for breakfast I will try a fruit only juice and I will try the Mean Green recipe again next week.  I am going to put together my meal plan now for next week and order my foods and get more fruits and veggies!  I won't give up on juicing yet.  I need to play with my juicer more anyway...it's fun.  Also, the book had some cool recipes for using or freezing the pulp to make things like apple sauce and carrot cake.  Cool!  Now, enjoy some lovely pictures I took at the Botanical Gardens.  Do it!  Now!