Juice du Jour: Beets The Best!

I'm a big fan of juicing. It's fun, easy and rewarding. It even creates a lot of washing up ; )

My favourite juicer is the Champion. And while the Champion doesn't extract the most juice, it is quick and easy to use AND easy to wash up, and those for me are the most important factors. Even Luke, a.k.a Monkey Boy (aged 3), is a big fan and can often be seen sitting on our kitchen window sill pushing all manner of fruits and veggies down the chute and plunging as if his life depended on it.

Today, Saturday, I have some rare time to myself. Not that I'm not working, but it's Easter Weekend and everything is slower here in Knowler's World. I am getting stuff done, slowly but surely, and it feels good. That said, I daresay things will change rather abruptly as soon as Monkey Boy returns tomorrow morning and chaos ensues, but for now I can hear the birds tweeting, see the sun mellowing, watch the cyclists breezing past and enjoy the solitude for just a few hours more : )

Anyway, back to the Juice Du Jour. Yes, this afternoon I took 10 minutes out to create a new juice. I don't think I have ever followed a juicing recipe in my life, but I have created plenty from scratch, and I find it a lot of fun, rather inspiring, and strangely therapeutic... "We should all become a nation of juicers!" cries my inner warrior envisaging herself walking the streets of Britain wearing a swanky A-Board to that effect.

But enough already!

Today's juice was inspired by the very potent-looking raw beetroot I saw staring back at me from my fridge. Considering my taste requirements for today (veggie undertones, feels healing but ultimately tastes fairly sweet), I gathered other selected ingredients from around my kitchen and set to it. And here's what I came up with...

Beets The Best!

Makes exactly 1 litre (1.75 pints - enough for 4 average sized drinking glasses)

Juice the following:

• 1 beetroot (bulb only)
• 4 medium carrots
• 3 oranges
• 6 apples
• Small bunch of parsley
• 4 strawberries (these make all the difference)

Now, just because I've never followed a juicing recipe before, it doesn't mean you don't have to ; ) I can personally vouch for this one being a tip-top cocktail that will make you feel suitably refreshed from the inside out and raring to go.

I highly recommend this one, especially if you've steered clear of juicing beets in the past (because they're rather pungent to say the least!). The addition of the sweet fruit and the sweet(ish) carrots make this one not just palatable but supremely delicious, and we've even managed to get a bit of green in there too! But don't just take my word for it ; )

Your assignment for this weekend: Make it, drink it and go out into the big wide world and boogie!

Comments

[Kendra]

I find that beet, pineapple, carrot and ginger makes the BEST morning juice. It's bright fuchsia, tangy and sweet.

[Chrisanne]

Love the juice you recommend!

[Best Juicer For You And Me]

I've never had straight juice before from beetroot, but after tasting some of its juices, I have to agree that to drink it like you suggest sounds less disgusting than I imagined two days ago. I'll take your suggestions and put them to good use.

[Patty]

I have a very good blender, similar to the Vitamix, and prefer to use it for my juicing instead of the actual "juicer". Should I reduce the amount of ingredients. Seems like this recipe would last me more than a day.
Thank you!

[Barbara Sharp]

I'm just about to juice beets for the first time and I'm wondering if the greens (the ones attached to the beets of course) are good for juicing. I think I've heard that beet greens are good for you. What do you say?

[Cathy]

Hi Karen

I love beetroot juice in my favourite combination - beetroot,carrot & celery and can't understand why anyone wouldn't like it. Are you talking about side effects:)

I often add lots of ginger, some parsley and then add a spoon of barley and spirulina powder. Spirulina powder is something I find hard to like, but if I use enough ginger it masks the taste of the spirulina.

regards

Cathy

[First Lady]

Hi I had a question juicing. Can I run a lime through the juicer (skin and all). Plz let me know. Thanks.

From Karen: Yes, you can. As always best to make sure it's organic but it's fine either way. You will only want to use a little though as it's very potent!

[Toné Jermain]

If it is your first time having pure Beet juice, Please be careful...Take a little at a time...I learned yesterday the hard way....Oh My God!!

[Carlie Mecque]

Does anyone know if this drink is ok to do if you are preganant?

[Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach]

Hi Wendy. I'm SO glad you made it, AND that you reported back on it. Good for you. I hope you remembered to do the 'get out there and boogie' bit!

[Wendy]

Well I have to agree that this is the most marvellous juice! I have never juiced beets before and it took me ages to find any organic ones, but yesterday I did and this morning made this juice. I am now sitting here drinking my second glass (First was breakfast, this is break time and I still have enough for lunch) Feeling very virtuous! I know I should drink these juices straight away, but what the heck I wasn't going to share it with anyone.