Green Juice 1

Last year, my wonderful boyfriend got me a juicer for my birthday. It is so much fun to play with, and fresh juice has incorporated itself into my diet on a somewhat regular basis. I go through fits and starts with juicing - because so much produce is used for one serving of juice, I try to make juices from what I find on sale. This week, I was in luck! Pineapples were on sale for $2, and I found a discounted bag of Shanghi Bok Choy that was on the cusp of usability. I've grown fond of the after-bite a jalapeno pepper and fresh ginger add, so they tend to be staples in my juicing habits. All in all, this juice cost less than two dollars a serving, which is a steal compared to a juice bar.

Recipe: Green Juice 1
Difficulty: easy
Author: Amanda
Serves: one large glass or two small glasses

Ingredients

• 2 bulbs Shanghi Bok Choy (or any kind of bok choy)
• 1/4 fresh pineapple
• 1 green apple
• 1/2 field cucumber
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 1 inch segment fresh ginger

Directions
Separate and wash bok choy leaves well. Cut off the top and bottom ends of the pineapple, peel, and quarter with the core intact. Wash the cucumber and apple, and cut in half. Trim the top end off the jalapeno pepper, and cut an approximately one inch segment off the fresh ginger. Put all items through the juicer on appropriate settings for firmness, and serve immediately.

Step-by-Step Photos

Rinse, separate, and prepare everything for the juice. Once you get started, it moves really quickly so you need to have everything ready to go. Every juicer is a little different, so how big you can leave your fruits and veggies is dependent on what machine you are using.

Juice ingredients, adjusting juicer settings depending on item firmness. I usually try to start with the apple or cucumber because of the high water content - that way the bok choy can get sandwiched between the other ingredients. I don't know if that actually is more effective, but it makes me feel like it is. So that's what I do.

Pour juice from receptacle to a glass, while attempting to keep the foam from the glass. Fresh juice foam tastes a little scummy to me and has an odd texture, but if you like it you can go ahead and drink that too.

Serve immediately. Fresh juice may start separating if left alone for a few minutes, so I usually use a straw or a spoon to stir it occasionally as I drink it. I found this juice filling, refreshing, and with a nice kick at the end from the jalapeno. Delicious.