AMAZING CONCOCTIONS-Coconut Water and Cleansinng Pineapple Cucumber

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING CONCOCTIONS!
Well, my favourite thing is to drink the juice version, chilled. It’s seriously got such an amazing taste that you would not even believe it’s made out of cucumbers. I remember about a year ago, I winced at the thought of adding cucumber to a smoothie, now I believe it’s the greatest idea just because it tastes so refreshing and amazing. You seriously need to TRY IT OUT to know what I mean.
I was inspired to make this because I drank a juice exactly like this in LA at Juice Crafters. I just loved it so much I had to try and make it. Though I don’t have a juicer, the blended version is great enough.

Cleansing Pineapple Cucumber and Coconut Water
1 1/2 cup pure coconut water
1 cup chopped pineapples
1 medium cucumber
Optional additions: Mint, lemon juice.

Add all the ingredients into the blender and blend until it’s completely smooth and then pour it in a glass to drink. You may want to wait for about 30 minutes for the thick part to foam at the top. If you scoop it out, you end up with juice underneath.

Cleansing Pineapple Cucumber and Coconut Water

Serves: 2

 

Ingredients

• 1½ cup pure coconut water
• 1 cup chopped pineapples
• 1 medium cucumber

Instructions

1. Optional additions: Mint, lemon juice.
2. Add all the ingredients into the blender and blend until it’s completely smooth and then pour it in a glass to drink. You may want to wait for about 30 minutes for the thick part to foam at the top. If you scoop it out, you end up with juice underneath.

fruit kebabs with chocolate

Being raw is this easy! People have been asking for a simple recipe that everyone can make, not just those with all the fancy equipment (I am one of those lucky guys). So here it is! All you need is some sticks, fruit, chocolate and two hands. Heck, you could do this even you are missing a forelimb. No excuses unless you actually have NO arms. In that case - I am deeply sorry. But I have been fortunate to keep both of mine in top shape through the years so this was easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

You can use a bar of dark/raw/vegan chocolate if you don't mind and you have it on hand, but the first option is to make your own raw chocolate which simply requires cacao, coconut oil and some liquid sweetener. If you don't have those, alternatives abound; you can use cocoa instead of cacao, nut butter or cocoa butter instead of coconut oil, and really any sweetener you like, such as raw honey, agave, maple syrup, date paste, or even raw sugar. As far as the fruit goes, you can use whatever you want. I place these decisions in your worthy (and hopefully attached) hands. I took these photos using my own two hands and Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Love it.

One last thing - give these guys a listen. Solid tunage.

fruit kebabs with chocolate: makes 5 kebabs or so

Fruit:

1 apple

2 mandarins

3 slices of pineapple

and/or any other fruit you may have and want to use

Chocolate: 

1/2 recipe of raw chocolate (or a melted chocolate bar)

Slice all the fruit into bite-size pieces and stick on to chopsticks or kebab skewers. Then drizzle with the chocolate. You can let the chocolate harden but I mean REALLY - who has that time? Just eat it right away and bask in the glorious delight this healthy, raw, cruelty-free snack selflessly provides. 

juice fast: day 2

today was farmer's market day! it was (tragically) the last one of the season for our neighborhood. BUT - and what an important "but" - there are three winter farm markets in our city area so i don't have to go without local, organic, love-filled produce all through the chilly season. PHEW.

today i'm feeling great. last night i had sore muscles which is a sign of mild detox. yahoo! i had a tasty carrot-apple-orange juice with my parents for breakfast, fed a butterfly that has been finding comfort and safety in my room (until my cat attacked it today!) during the rainy weather, then went to the market.

we loaded up on EVERYTHING. when you're on a juice fast you are actually getting more nutrients then you normally would because you can without feeling full. the fiber is mainly what produces that full feeling and when you juice - you take that out! so although i wouldn't normally eat 4 apples and 2 cucumbers in one sitting, i can with juice. thus i bought a ton of veggies and greens today for the next few weeks of juice fasting; i know i will be able to consume it all.

when we got back i made THE MOST DELICIOUS REFRESHING AMAZING AWESOME JUICE EVER! seriously. this is in my top three fave juice recipes now. i bought some peppermint with the idea that it might make interesting juice, especially if i mixed it with citrus.

i was right. 

pineapple peppermint love: serves one or two

4 small carrots
1 apple
1 orange
4-5 pineapple slices
handful fresh mint leaves
1/2 cucumber 

cut, slice and peel as needed. then juice it. hurry up and JUICE IT.
be prepared to have your mind blown (as well as your taste buds).

the plans for the rest of my saturday are pretty great. my juice fast partner-in-health (get it? instead of "in crime"... okay fine i'm not funny) is heading over soon and we're going to make some savoury juice for dinner. the boyfriend is coming over later too and it's also my friend's 19th so we might go out to dinner to celebrate.

i DO need to get some school work done at some point... hm.

10 day juice fast: day 3

seriously... where are all of the terrible detox symptoms? today was another great day. i feel on top of the world. i've noticed all my senses are heightened. my emotions are also very strong, but easy to control. i feel quite light, as if i'm floating sometimes. i can feel every cell in my body and it's a magical experience.

last night i suddenly became very tired around 10 PM. i could hardly keep my eyes open. but after watching a movie with my friend i gained all the energy back! i wanted to run around and do everything at once. i couldn't sleep until 5 AM. i woke up at 11 AM or so, which is early for me. as i'm typing this - i'm realizing that's only 6 hours of sleep; yet i feel great!

my parents are being really understanding with this (PHEW!) and my mom bought me a bunch of fruit yesterday for the coming week of juice fasting. i cut up some pineapple this morning :) i need to get some more cucumbers, carrots, and celery though...

look at this beautiful juice! it is a work of art. it was made of:

handful baby heirloom tomatoes
2 carrots
2 stick celery
1 orange
1 apple
chunk of ginger
2 slices pineapple
2 bell peppers
1 kiwi
huge handful kale

YUM! looking at these photos is making me want more... maybe later. 

along with heightened senses, i am really appreciating music these past 3 days. i love my music and am so grateful i have the collection i do, but for a week or so leading up to the fast i was beginning to tire of listening. now...

forget it!

i am loving every single song that comes on, and i'm listening to it in a whole new way. so wonderful. i'm really in the best mood right now, and have been since i started fasting. i feel elated. 

my friend gave me this CD of radiohead remixes and it's so impressive. you probably won't like it - it's a bit weird - but give it a shot. i was listening to this song at the bus stop the other day and dancing (literally like no one is watching, i just don't care) when a man approached me and asked if i was aware i looked crazy. i said yes and thank you.

i had tons of positive energy today so i went downtown to buy a dress for my friend. on the way back it started raining and i soaked it up :) i stood on the street holding my arms out, staring at the sky. lovely! i could feel every drop hitting my skin and i was totally connected with the clouds.

for my second juice i used a papaya mom bought for me. the juice was made of:

1 orange
chunk of ginger
handful of baby heirloom tomotoes
2 slices pinapple
1 bell pepper
1 kiwi
huge handful lettuce
1 papaya
1 lime

i added some lime to the juice because whenever i eat papaya i put on lime juice. they're best friends and should always be together. 

i had a terrific bath today as well. i posted a link on facebook but if you didn't see it, no worries. all you need to know is to put olive in your next bath! it makes your skin sooooo soft. i added some lavender oil too, of course. 

tonight i'll be taking it easy. see you all tomorrow! love.