SUMMER JUICE BLEND: WATERMELON, GRAPES, BLUEBERRIES AND LEMON

Here's another refreshingly delicious juice blend.  I can't get enough!  Add the power of raw fruits and vegetables to your diet by juicing, you will feel it from the inside out. I love adding grapes to this juice blend because the restorative power of grapes is phenomenal, and they are known for cleansing the liver and removing uric acid from the body.  It also protects the blood vessels and the heart.  It's super refreshing and delicious.  Who doesn't like watermelon in the summertime?!?

SUMMER JUICE BLEND: WATERMELON, GRAPES, BLUEBERRIES AND LEMON

1/2 a watermelon
1/2 to 1 pound grapes
1 cup blueberries
1 lemon, juice of

Juice all the fruits together, except the lemon.  Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the juice blend and stir.  It is now ready to serve.

Enjoy!

HOT TOTTIE HONEY LEMON COUGH SYRUP WITH COCONUT OIL

Hot Tottie, Fresh squeezed Blood Orange + Navel + Tangerine Juice, and Ginger Chews

Written by contibutor Britney Manuel of Btanjerine.

 

Well I thought that I could escape from getting sick, but alas I have succumb ((sniff sniff cough cough)).  I remembered this honey lemon concoction circulating around Facebook and Pinterest (it has been pinned over 800+ times) and thought it was worth a try.   I have adapted this recipe from The Coconut Mama.  You can find the original recipe here, with all the informative health benefits.  I made a bigger batch so that I could sip it over the course of a couple of days.  And since my daughter just got sick as well, it was perfect to have on hand.

 

HOT TOTTIE HONEY LEMON COUGH SYRUP WITH COCONUT OIL

Ingredients

6 lemons

1 blood orange (or any other type of orange)

1/4 cup of coconut oil

1/3 cup of raw honey

Directions

Juice lemons and blood orange.  Warm the coconut oil until it melts and mix all ingredients together and enjoy.

Sip as much as needed, and store in the refrigerator.  The coconut oil will harden when it is cold, so gently warm the portions you need until the coconut oil melts.

Makes 2 1/2 cups

This would make a great gift for this flu season.  A jar of the hot tottie,  ginger chews that you can find here, and freshly squeezed blood orange juice.  A trio sure to help anybody feel a little more pep in their step!  

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite home made flu remedy? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below. Links are welcome.

DETOX + BEAUTY WATER

Refreshing Beauty Water

Written by contibutor Britney Manuel of Btanjerine and A Simply Raw Life.



So as many of you know I am a Pinterest junkie, and amidst my pinning I’ve pinned this recipe for "sassy water" ummmm....several times let’s just say.  So when I saw it the other day for the umpteenth time I decided, “I need to make this!”  To my surprise the blog was in Russian, but you can scroll down until you see some letters you recognize.  You can check it out here.

Let’s admit it, sometimes its hard to drink as much water as one should.  But this snazzier take on a necessary beverage is like a little black dress for your water.  I found it made it easier and more enjoyable to drink my daily allotment of water.  

This water is a great detoxifier and some of the health benefits include:

• Ginger aids in digestion and can reduce your risk of constipation.

• Lemon works as a natural diuretic and promotes a healthy pH balance. 

• Cucumbers contain erepsin, an enzyme that helps your body digest protein and also supports the health of your kidneys due to their diuretic properties. 

• Chemicals in mint leaves also support digestion. .

For more info on this "sassy water" check out this article here.  It also supports having a flat belly, and i am all for that!

So here are the deets!

 

DETOX BEAUTY WATER

BITS & PIECES

1 cucumber (peeled + thinly sliced)

1 lemon (peeled + thinly sliced)

1 tsp ginger  (finely chopped)

10 mint leaves

THE PROCESS

Add sliced cucumber, sliced lemon, chopped ginger, and mint leaves to a pitcher.  Add 2 liters of water.  Let it seep for a few hours or overnight et voila!  Refreshing beauty water!

**NOTE: I don’t add the lemon peel because if it seeps for too long in the water it starts to taste bitter.  Also  after I drank all the water,  I refilled the pitcher and let it seep another night.  So I got 2 uses out of it.  Of course the flavor is not as strong as the first batch.

SIMPLE HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD

This was an inspiration from an outing with Felicia to the wonderful little cafe Lemonade.  Side note: They have many great and unique options for the everyday vegan.  Anyway, Felicia got this wonderful salad that was heirloom tomatoes with a light olive oil and basil dressing.  And that was it, but it was sooo flavorful!  I think that the key is to use really great tomatoes,  if you don’t have quality tomatoes you might as well make ketchup or something else because it just won’t do the salad justice!  I purchased my tomatoes from my local farmers market.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD

 

THE BASICS

 

2 small heirloom tomatoes

8 yellow grape tomatoes

1 tbsp. basil finely chopped (I used purple basil, but you can use whatever you have on hand)

zest of 1/2 lemon

1/4 c. olive oil

coarse salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

 

THE PROCESS
 

Pour olive oil in a bowl.  Add finely chopped basil and muddle basil by smashing with the back of a spoon.  Next quarter tomatoes into bite size chunks.  Add salt and pepper.  Stir to coat all tomatoes and garnish with lemon zest.  Enjoy!

 

Makes approximately 1 serving

 

A flavor revolution in your mouth!