cold remedy #1 (non vegan)

My son and I have had an ongoing battle for the past couple of weeks with a cough and cold.  First he had it, then I had it, then he had it and so on.  Naturally, I prefer natural remedies and try to use them whenever I can.  It's nice if a helpful cure can be found in the produce section as opposed to the pharmacy.  I decided to give a couple of recipes a go this time round.  The first was an excuse to try out Manuka Honey which I've been hearing great things about.  Manuka Honey is a particular type of honey found in Australia/New Zealand and contains antibacterial properties which are good for healing.  I even heard someone with diabetes rave about it, as he was able to eat the 16+ variety every morning on his toast.

The first recipe I tried out was from the book 500 Smoothies & Juices by Christine Watson.  This is a hot drink with fresh pressed grapefruit and ginger.  The original recipe called for 2 peeled lemons but can be substituted with an orange or grapefruit.  Although I didn't try it I was especially curious about the extra strength cold remedy drink that included the lemons and a tablespoon of French brandy!

Cold Remedy

1 peeled grapefruit
3/4 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1 T Manuka Honey
3/4 C boiling water
Sprig of fresh rosemary

Put the grapefruit and ginger through a juicer.  Put into a large mug and mix with the honey, water and rosemary.  Let it steep for 5 minutes and drink.

This was a lovely drink and it definitely relaxed me and took care of the dry cough and tickly throat experience that I was having.  Although not a cure for the common cold, it's a nice drink to soothe and support healing.  I especially loved the taste combination of grapefruit and rosemary.  Very yum.  As for the Manuka Honey, it was delicious and also supported the healing the process.  I enjoyed a few more tablespoons in the Traditional Medicinal's Cold Formula Tea.  Very yum as well.  

Stop by tomorrow for the vegan cold remedy that I tried from David Wolfe's The Sunfood Diet Success System.

Juicy Suzy

whole planet foundation

Juice Caboose will be at the Whole Foods Park Royal Store Saturday March 10th and 24th from 12-4 pm serving up delicious fresh pressed juices and smoothies with 100% of the proceeds going to the Whole Planet Foundation.  

Whole Planet Foundation is a cause that the Juice Caboose is very proud to be supporting.  Whole Planet Foundation's mission is poverty alleviation in developing-world communities where Whole Foods Market sources products.  Through microcredit loans, they seek to unleash the energy and creativity of every human being they work with in order to create wealth and prosperity in emerging economies.  Most of the clients are women and there is a 97% repayment rate.  

As a mama, woman and entrepreneur I support this cause 100%.  Every single penny raised goes into microcredit loans and stays in the loans.  All administrative costs of running the foundation are paid out by Whole Foods Market.  All money raised for the Foundation goes into the loans and continues to finance the loans.  

We hope to see you there.  We will be trying out some new smoothie concoctions!  Come and try them out and support a great cause!

Juicy Suzy

perfect for sharing

Happy Valentines Day!

a beautiful juice

A juicy little post over at A Beautiful Mess today.  Check it out!  

juicy giveaway

Last week I had the juicy opportunity to juice up 50 lbs of red peppers for a large local company's test kitchen.  They are trying out a new recipe for upcoming trade shows and the Juice Caboose was there doing what we do best.

I was inspired by the 16 plus liters of red pepper juice.  Would anyone know what we were up to?  I decided this was a chance to find out.  This little contest will remain open until someone gets the right answer to the following question:

What do you think the product is that this juice will be used in?

Be creative.  We'd love to hear from you.  The winner will receive two free 16 oz beverages from the Juice Caboose.  That counts for any 16 oz juice or smoothie on the menu.  Free juice and smoothies cause that's what we do best and two because Valentines is just around the corner and of course, we want you to be able to share one of our delicious drinks with your sweetheart!  Offer only valid at the truck.

Of course the next question on your mind may be, when exactly will you have the chance to use this free drink offer?  Starting next month we will be open Saturdays at two locations!!  That's right!  Juice Caboose will be opening its doors for the first time in 2012 in March at the Winter's Farmer's Market and Whole Foods Park Royal.  Click on 2012 schedule above to see the exact dates.  I can't wait!  I can almost taste the fresh pressed Caboose Juice already!  Can you?

Juicy Suzy

avocado pear vanilla

This is a great smoothie for starting the day.  It fills me up and keeps me full longer. I've also brought this one with me when I'm out and it gets me going again if I'm on the go.  

Some good things about avocados:

• About 75% of an avocado's calories come from fat, most of which is monounsaturated fat.  Yes good fat!
• On a 100 g basis, avocados have 35% more potassium than bananas (even more if you blend up the pit!).  They are rich in B Vitamins as well as Vitamin E and K.
• Avocados have a high fiber content.  

Avocado Pear Vanilla Smoothie

-  1 Ripe Avocado

-  1 Pear 

-  1/2 t Vanilla 

-  1 C Ice

Blend and pour. 

Some variations include chopping up the pear and freezing it and replacing the ice cubes with frozen pear chunks.  Also, to sweeten up this smoothie you can add a little honey, agave or apple juice.  I've tried it with pear juice and it is a REAL treat!

If you are wondering about the kind of vanilla that we use in the Juice Caboose, I would like to introduce you to one delicacy that the Juice Caboose will not live without!  We purchase pure ground vanilla that is made from top quality Ugandan vanilla beans.  It is 100% pure ground vanilla that is both unheated and Certified Organic.  We use a minimal amount in our smoothies but it makes all the difference in flavor.  We purchase from Real Raw Foods in Naramata BC, a great BC company that we are proud to support.  They buy the best products for the best prices and all of their products are well researched and approved to meet high raw food standards.

::  photo source  ::

When I'm at home and don't always have some vanilla bean powder to dip into to, it is decadent and not cheap, I use Frontier Vanilla Flavour.  It is an alcohol-free vanilla extract and although it is not raw it suits me fine in my smoothies when I want to add some vanilla.  I would never use my vanilla powder in my baking.  That's just me being cost efficient.  It is way too precious for me to put into anything cooked and lose it's raw goodness and vitality.  

In old medical literature, vanilla is described as an aphrodisiac and a remedy for fevers.  A little something to keep in mind for Valentines Day coming up!  

Juicy Suzy

sweetly raw chocolates for valentines

The incredibly talented raw chocolatier Heathy from Sweetly Raw (Ontario) is doing a Valentines Day Special with her raw vegan chocolates.  She's taking orders up until February 10th.  Choose from Chocolate Truffles, Caramel Pecan Choccie Cluster, Pecans and Caramel in Dark Chocolate, Jumbo Chocolate Almond Butter Cups (YUM!) and Jumbo Peanut Butter Cups (not raw).  Treat yourself or your sweetie.  Stay at her blog a while and pick up a few great recipes and maybe make something yourself!  To check out the V-Day special click here!  

Enjoy,

Juicy Suzy