Beverage Babble

I finally worked up my courage to try another vegetable juice recipe. My aversion to this form of vegetable consumption is almost comical when I think about it. These are all foods I gladly eat in their raw and cooked states. I like them! I'm not sure why drinking them is so repulsive to me.

I have tried to drink V8 juice repeatedly in the past. I unsuccessfully willed myself to try and enjoy this beverage that is so welcome in almost any diet. I couldn't do it. I felt like I was drinking spaghetti sauce...a food I prefer hot and served over pasta!

With all these prejudices in place I didn't expect to like the juice I prepared. I was pleasantly surprised when it tasted alright. I still sipped it tentatively compared with the uninhibited draughts I would take from fruit juice, but I was able to drink the whole thing. Score 1 point for a healthy lifestyle!

Elaine's Vegetable Garden

1 Tomato

1 Red Pepper, small

1 Carrot

1/2 Yam

2 Stalks Celery

To reward myself for my act of bravery in extending beyond my comfort zone, I chose a fruit juice recipe to try next. This I am looking forward to!

Sugarless Lemonade

2 Apples

1/2 Lemon

I have finally found a hot beverage that is pleasurable and reasonably healthy. It is my own version of homemade hot cocoa. Since it is now widely accepted that dark chocolate has certain health properties, I decided to indulge. I was unable to find organic dark cocoa powder but then I decided that if chocolate bars rate their percentage based on cocoa content versus other ingredients then any organic cocoa void of sugar and fat should be 100% dark chocolate. Might be completely wrong but hey, works for now!

I'm aware of the controversy over cow's milk but that's where I am comfortable for now because of taste and budget. I compensate by only using a 1/2 cup in this recipe. I enjoy it immensely, especially when I'm up really early, but I wondered if I was enjoying it too much. I gave Shawn a sip and he grimaced like I had just poisoned him and exclaimed, "What is this?". No guilt, it's definitely a healthy food.

Healthy Hot Cocoa

1/2 cup milk

1 Tbs Organic Cocoa Powder

1/2 Tbs Maple Syrup

1/2 cup water, boiled

Wisk first 3 ingredients in small pan over medium heat while kettle comes to boil. Add water and continue to heat until desired temperature is reached. Do not bring to boil.