Cooling & Tart Green Juice

I go through phases...always alternating between smoothies and juices, but for some reason during the summer, I really opt for the juice...it's cooling, not as sweet, and really helps me gain energy when the days are hot and lazy.  It's my preferred way to break the fast after sleeping.  Make sure you chew (swish) your juice and take your time with it...I like to sip it over 20 minutes, but not longer, to retain the nutrients. 

This juice is pretty lemony, but that's how we like it...not too sweet and super tart.  Adjust the greens (bitters) and lemon/limes (tart) and apples (sweet) to your taste to create the perfect balance for you.

We also use whatever we have on hand - whatever is abundant in the garden, leftover in the fridge, and little remnants of pieces of veggies here and there. We love broccoli stems, leftover cauliflower, half pieces of carrot.  Anything goes.  

Lastly, we love to get every bit of juice out, so we actually take out the pulp and juice that all over again.  You'd be surprised how much you get (for us, almost about a whole cup!).

Also, see if you can get most of these things organic, since when you juice, you want as many nutrients as possible in the juice.  Most of these nutrients are found in the peel, which you want to keep, but for some non-organic produce you really have to peel it (which means less nutrients for you). 

2 broccoli stems

1 cucumber (peel if not organic)

2 stalks celery

2-3 carrots (long, not baby)

2-3 green apples

chunk ginger

1 turmeric root

4-5 kale leaves

2 lemons (skin on)

1 lime (skin on)

1 clove garlic (optional)

Juice everything, and rejuice the pulp.  This makes a lot, enough for two people with some leftovers (for later in the day if we need it).  But we love our green juice, and we can't get enough of it.