Sunday, November 27, 2011

Juiced for the Holidays!


I have been stopping by an Organic Juice and Smoothie shop in East Memphis called The Cosmic Coconut, and I have to tell you I am hooked on fresh pressed juices combined in extraordinary ways.  These experiences got me curious and sent me on a mission to investigate juicing machines. After speaking with a couple of local retail sales associates (Dillards and Williams Sonoma), the Juicer appears to be a strong sell this holiday season in the Mid-South. 
I admit that I am not the juicing expert and would refer you to best-juicer-reviews.com for more technical reviews. However, the Juicers that I am posting cover broad price points, which makes it a bit easier to continue your search for the best Juicer for you.
Best Budget Juicer- $75
The Hamilton Beach Bigmouth 67650 is the top pick of Consumer Reports, Food and Wine Magazine, and consumerguide.com. The reviews state that this Juicer is easy to use and easy to clean. However, some reviews note that the pulp comes out wet- a sign of inefficient juicing. Additional comments were complaints about plastic parts breaking. 
Best Endorsed Juicer- $100
The Jack Lalanne Juicer is ranked the best Juicer in several polls. For one hundred dollars at your local department store, this may be a suitable purchase for someone primarily interested in juicing fruit. It can’t juice leafy greens (wheatgrass, spinach, etc.) and oxygen gets into the juice- meaning foam in the juice. Just like the Hamilton Juicer, the lower priced Juicers have complaints about plastic parts breaking. 
Most Efficient mid range Juicer -$149
The Breville JE98XL will press eight ounces of juice in five seconds. This Juicer has a wider mouth which equates to less time involved in chopping fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces in order to load them into the Juicer. Like other mid-range Juicers, the Breville does not do a great job of juicing leafy greens or wheatgrass. As a plus, this Juicer ranked very well with consumers on Amazon. 
Price is not a factor- $379.00
The Omega-VRT350 Juicer will do just about all that you desire, without the loud noise or the enzyme killing heat and little/no foam. Yes, this premier Juicer will juice your leafy greens and wheatgrass without a second thought. Some of the other noteworthy features are:
Easy to assemble, operate and clean
High juice yield ­ very dry pulp
Two juicing screens for firm and soft produce
**Per juicingperfection.com, this Juicer weighs 25 pounds and has an unheard of 10-year warranty.  Considering the size, this is a monster small appliance that will remain on top of your counter along side the stand up KitchenAid mixer.

If a Juicer is a top pick on your wish list, let Santa know ASAP. The local Williams Sonoma outlet is already sold out of Breville Juicers, and other well rated Juicers are becoming difficult to find in our area. 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Get your winter boost!


I just received my December issue of Whole Living magazine in the mail and I am excited with all of this month’s healthy eating articles. I suppose you can say that I went a tad bit overboard when I decided to ‘combine a few of the articles together’ to form a quick and healthy breakfast/snack. 
First Ingredient: 1 cup Blueberries
So much has been written about the power of dark berries (cherries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.)  and that they are powerful anthocyanins that prevent collagen breakdown --- call them super antioxidants. Load up on these babies.
Second Ingredient: 1/2 cup Walnuts
The only nut that contains a large amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega 3 that is an awesome ‘memory food’. It also contains a derivative of Vitamin E. They are loaded with protein and help fill you up, it’s a great snack food. 
Third Ingredient: 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Go the extra mile and freshly grate your cinnamon, it is an absolute treat. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a daily teaspoon of cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels-possibly helping control diabetes.
Fourth Ingredient: 1/2 teaspoon of Cocoa
Try purchasing an organic dark cocoa powder with 70% or higher natural cocoa. A powerful antioxidant, this food protects the skin from sun damage, something we still need to keep mind of in the winter months.  
To prepare:
Rinse blueberries and drain them. Chop or break apart walnuts so they will be a good bite size portion. In a small/medium bowl, blend the cinnamon and cocoa together. Pour walnuts in the bowl and then gently add the blueberries. Gently toss all of the ingredients together to coat and grab a spoon so you can enjoy and quick, yummy dish!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Girls Night Out At The Movies

Another great event going on in town is the biggest yoga party in Memphis, sponsored by LifeTime Fitness in Collierville. Grab some gal pals and head out to this festive event in the 'burbs on November 18th at 7pm. There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted and presented to the Memphis Chapter of the Susan Komen Foundation.