I made this juice for my dear soul brother Bert Scholl who again has been dealt the cancer card, and again he shows how incredibly resilient he is. Bert is a unique breed, in the way a root system is to a tree…he just is. A solid loving friend, he is honest to a fault. But I would rather be knocked on the head with his honesty than to have someone tie a rock to my leg, smile, and wish me well on my flight… Bert and I have shared brotherly, bonding moments that will be housed in the chambers of my heart for all of my life. So why does a guy of this beautiful magnitude get cancer?… I can only speculate that the most most meaningful reason would be that we need people like Bert on this earth to lead by example. Someone to show us there is so much strength to gain in a complex disease like cancer, and to never give up. That is Bert Scholl in a nut shell, preferably a Brazil nut.
I know you got this one babe!
I’d also like to mention that Bert has a great set of vocal chords and his lyrics are both profound and moving. Bert Scholl is a singer song writer in the Ithaca, NY area. You can read up on Bert’s day to day relationship with his cancer on his blog “Where I Am In All Of This” @bertscholl.blogspot.com.

What a great way to charge into Fall and very soon to be Winter! This little nutrient dense Fall drink will put a set of jumper juice cables on your immune system. It’s simple, and it certainly doesn’t hurt if you live in an apple region. I rarely miss the opportunity to enjoy, no devour local apples in the Ithaca, NY area. It’s a sensual experience. Not sexual, but damn close!

I must mention the powerful phytonutrients and flavonoids that swim in this here mix. Flavonoids in apple, lemon, and ginger continue to be researched and are known to inhibit cancer cell growth in prostate, colon, gastric, pancreatic, and lung cancer to name a few.

Without further ado, here’s the mix!

* 4 apples, preferably local Mutzu, and or Fuji.
* 2 lemons
* about 2 inches of ginger root. The younger root is tender and has less bite and I prefer the flavor over older ginger.

* You can use a masticator (Champion), or a centrifuge ( Acme, Juiceman, Jack Lalanne, Breville juice). Both style of juicers will do a wonderful job. Always feed the most fibrous ingredient through the hop first. Ex, ginger, lemon, and finally apple.

So enjoy this simple yet powerful concoction. And please “Everybody get together now” and send some positive, loving healing vibrations Bert Scholl’s way. That’s what this Juice It Baby! blog is all about!
Love you Bert…

Bunny E., as in energy! It’s a simple drink that can have a big impact on how you start your day. And let’s face it… how you live your life. Carrot, apple, golden beets, and red pepper jump and jive in this Fall concoction. I like to put emphasis on root recipes at this time of year. They tend to have a grounding effect on the body. Being that Fall is a transitional time of year, I feel it’s most intuitivel and healthy to change with the seasons. Having said that, I’ll be getting out of the Northeast ASAP! One advantage to growing older, and not necessarily growing up, is that I know my limitations…

Here’s the mix:

* 2 lbs organic carrots
* 1 organic apple (preferably Fuji, or Mutzu)
* 1 large, or 2 small organic golden beets (substitute w/red if needed)
* 1/2 -1 organic red bell pepper

I recommend a centrifugal juicer for this juice. Centrifuge machines like the Acme, Omega, Jack Lalanne, Juiceman will suffice. The champion juicer which is a masticator can be used for this juice, but I find it to be a bit acrid, and not quite as sweet and smooth as the centrifuge. I know, booorinnng! This juice can also be pressed, which by all means is the healthiest process, yet will not achieve the sweet frappe finish.

On another juice joint note… Lately I came across a great little health-juice bar cafe website. It’s name is Hummingbird Cafe and it’s home is in Butte, Montana…thanks sweet Rainey! Wow, this young couple seems to be operating from a place of integrity. Purchasing local organic foods and hosting an array of indie musicians is a good way to create a cozy ambiance for their customers. And the fact that the Hummingbird Cafe holds a forum for health and wellness is a clear sign to me that these folks walk their talk when it comes to supporting their community.

Back in the late 80′s and early to mid 90′s it was easy to stumble on these little grassroots establishments. One of my passions has and still is to travel the US looking for small, yet powerful “sprouting” up juice cafes that provide good local organic products. Today I see very few. Big and small corporate pocket books have stolen the scene, and trust me when I say there is very little quality to be found behind these counters. From premixed powdered smoothies to juices from concentrate held in large dispensers, for sure we’ve lost our juice compass.

These are the business’s that are now setting the bar for small start up juice cafes. The small juice cafes that are sprinkled throughout the country today have few quality establishments to emulate on their path to truly serve people who want and need good health. A note to the selfish “Grateful” ones who price discriminate against the poor, sick, and truly needy… “check yourself before you wreck yourself”, cause it ain’t about you, it’s about them!

All my best to the folks at the Hummingbird Cafe…Juice it up and keep it real babe!

While detoxing my body in Puerto Rico this past April I came across a great little CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). These young folks are a motivated small group of farmers turning the people of PR onto some great health and wellness! I was grateful to have benefitted from their efforts.

Every Thursday I would wait at the end of the road for my CSA drop. It sounds almost covert, but then again finding an organic CSA this close to where I lived took some effort… It’s rare to say the least! Each week the vehicle differed depending on delivery girl, so I had to keep my eyes peeled at all times. Once the drop was made I headed back to my beach pad and emptied the goodies out on my kitchen counter. Yes, when you are out in the beach boonies of PR the smallest of things can get your motor running. Especially when your main objective is to achieve optimal health! Thank you Sonia!

Here’s the mix!

* 4-6 large leaves of Asian lettuce, Boston bib, or any green leaf lettuce you have access to

* small bunch of buckwheat sprouts and or sunflower sprouts

* sweet red pepper sliced

* hand full of chopped chives or garlic greens

* small bunch of mixed greens, micro or regular adult greens. Mustard greens and arugula are a nice addition, too!

* cut up a few slices of papaya, mango works well, too. If those two are not within reach try slices of pear or apple.

* drizzle a generous amount of sunflower seed yogurt
(refer to my earlier post) as you layer your salad.

* drizzle a bit of EVO, Flax, sesame, or Coconut oil on top. Combining is ok, too!

* drizzle a little apple cider vinegar and or balsamic vinegar on top.

* pinch of cayenne pepper for a little shock effect!

When creating your little green pocket remember to have fun with it. First place the large leaves at the bottom of your bowl to start and go from there. Layer the rest as you see fit. This power ensaladas has been created for the “soul” purpose of injecting your body with an abundance of nutrient dense, life fortifying tasty health to help you bloom!

I believe my food is an extension of my personality…lots of character and plenty of life force!

So juice it baby and love it baby!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve whipped this type of concoction up in the past…many! This one sticks for me. Variables are most likely the reason why we exist, not to mention why something looks, or taste good to us. I know…obvious observation! My point in this loquacious tidbit is that what taste good and what taste amazing could just depend on the time of day and the smallest variables. For me this awesome little Cango baby delight came after a long day of hard work. It’s as if my body absorbed the nutrients before my lips were closed! I shared it with my good soul friend Sheila. If Sheila likes it, I know I have covered a full range of possible customers! We tend to have different taste which can sometimes put us at odds with foods. As the younger somewhat hip and distant generation would say…”it’s all good!”. I’m sorry but I always get a kick out of that one. Right on!

So here’s the mix! By the way, this baby has a ton of nutrients in it, so you can feel exceptionally good after the love is gone.

Juice the following ingredients. If you don’t have a juicer you can substitute with bottled juice, but only if you have to!

* 3 carrots

* 3 oranges of your preference

* 2 apples. I love a good Fuji!

* 1 lemon or lime

* half an inch of ginger root

Pour your juice into a blender and add the following frozen fruit.

*1 mango

*1 1/2 bananas

Mix until it funnels in the middle. As I said before this indicator will tell you that you have produced an almost perfect smoothie.
I say this because the only person I know that can make a perfect smoothie effortlessly is Chuck Norris!

When you freeze your fruit remember to peel it first! The first frozen fruit smoothie I ever made was back in the early nineties. I failed to peel my bananas. Hmm…quite the seen.
If you don’t have the time to peel your fruit you can purchase frozen fruit in a bag.

And as always people of the nutrient nation… Juice It Baby!

Alrighty! Let’s go… Get up, long stretch, head to the kitchen and break out that sharp knife! Be careful…

Starting your day with a mango breakfast is a great way to get your motor started, not to mention that mojo appeal in all of us!

Fruit doesn’t have to be boring…Dress it up and take it in!
You will be giving your body a fat metabolizing, circulation promoting, nutrient dense gift. Ladies and gentleman, may I remind you…circulation and mojo go hand in hand!

Here’s the way I do this mango mojo wake up…

* 1 whole ripe mango or two.
* 1 long drizzle of unrefined coconut oil or EVO.
* 1 lime
* 1 large pinch of cayenne
* 1 long drizzle of dark local maple syrup only if mango isn’t quite ripe enough.

Make sure to cut your mango in small enough edible chunks. Plate your mango nicely, drizzle your coconut or EVO (Extra Virgin Olive oil) over your mango. Cut your lime however you desire and squeeze all over the top of the mango. Sprinkle a liberal amount of cayenne over the top of your to be wonderful creation, or how ever much heat you can handle! If your mango is not as sweet as you’d like, drizzle some dark locally made maple syrup, or dark agave nectar over the top. Please don’t use white sugar or fake maple syrup! It’s just not good for you in so many ways people…

There it is…enjoy! Always remember to take a moment to love your body…

When in a climate like Puerto Rico your body craves lighter fare. Raw-living is the way to go! This is a green leaf lettuce wrap that actually only takes about 10 minutes to prepare. It’s enough to fill you for a few hours and then you can have a smoothie later on! Island life can be very healthy and restorative if you desire. I walk 3-5 miles a day, eat mostly raw except when I desire a local root veggie, and body surf as much as possible! Not to mention the copious amount of Vitamin D I receive from the sun. Giddy up!

Here’s the mix on the cutting board!

* slice 2 tomatoes
* 1 avocado
* 1/4 red onion
* 1 cucumber (seeded and peeled)
* 4 cloves of garlic
* 2 green peppers
* hand full of dried oregano

The cilantro-lime dressing!
* blend 1 large handful of fresh cilantro
* 2 whole limes ( squeezed)
* 1/2 cucumber
* 2 cloves garlic
* long drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
* drizzle of apple cider vinegar
* drizzle of Braggs liquid aminos or Namu Shoyu ( raw soy)
* long drizzle of filter water

Take the biggest leaves off your green leaf and wash them. Lay your leaves face up on a flat surface… what ever works for you.

* Mix together all of your veggies and dressing in a bowl.
* Place a big scoop of your veggie mix in the middle of a piece of green leaf. Make it look nice because soon it will be all over your face!
* Wrap your green leaf from the sides in a pocket like fashion, or any way that will enclose the veggie mix!

Have fun with this and unless you have a mouth that can engulf the whole wrap, don’t even try to be neat!

I believe that you should not only love to feed the people in your life but also take time to love the people you feed. It’s a beautiful world…so eat it up!

This salad mix is easy and pretty damn tasty! Here is the way I mix it up…

*1 cucumber (seeded and cubed)
*2 tomatoes
*4 clove of garlic
*4 small hot green peppers ( substitute if needed)
*big wedge of red onion
*hand full of fresh basil ( sliced up)
*big pinch of dried oregano
* 1 avocado (sliced up)

Throw all the ingredients in a bowl (preferably a nice bowl )
* Salad dressing!
* drizzle on top of veggies
* extra virgin olive oil ( the good stuff)
*apple cider vinegar
*squeeze 1 lime or lemon
*Braggs liquid aminos or Namu Shoyu raw soy. Or not.
*flax oil (if available)

Easy big! Enjoy this baby!

Orange, forest green and, watermelon! These are some of the colors that represent the ingredients in these detoxifying, tonifying, and nutrifying drinks. I would like to take a moment to dedicate these big baby nutrients to all of you who suffer from disease, and any form of discomfort in your life, ranging from heartache to cancer .

In my life I have been gifted with the grace of service to others. To have, and to still have the opportunity to assist those who suffer from discomfort, disease, and discontent, is out of this world! I simply create high density, nutritious drinks, and foods that pack a nutritious punch. No refined processed ingredients, no empty calories, and no nutritional depravation! Yes, at times I deliver them with a whole lot of conversation. O.k., maybe you might say loquacious affection, yet never a heartless moment.

No, there is no claim here to healer, or practitioner. I am quite aware of those claims… not me. My position is that I simply attempt to create clean, healthy foods, and I do my best to follow my heart, and to not let my ego interfere in the process. When I am preparing my foods I feel centered, and clear. It’s my passion! The connection between the foods you eat, and the way you feel in your body, and mind is not only a wonderful side effect of eating healthy, yet imperative to ones health!

I apologize, for there is no recipe for these drinks today. No, they don’t contain any secret ingredient, or ritual. I just wanted to show you the colors that represent nature in a Ball jar!

I humbly dedicate these juices to all my sister’s, and brother’s who are attempting to heal in this life!…
And for goodness sake yawl (Orleans style), Juice It Baby!

I would like to dedicate this little power punch to a small group of friends down at Leveggio Artisan Coffee Roasters. Coe, Maryanne, Paul, and Sunshine. Yes, I said Sunshine!

Sometimes in life you find yourself in places that your not quite sure how you got there, again, and your not all that clear on your ETD. I’m speaking of Binghamton, N.Y. A small city I did some growing in. Recently, I found myself back in my home town after a long drive around the country that took just about six months. I felt I needed some down time, and my mom still resides here, so I decided to be open to a short stay with intention of good stuff to come my way. Thanks mom!

I have known Coa, and Maryanne Young for about five years. They are quality people, and caring friends, so when they asked me if I would like to set up a juice bar at Leveggio, I accepted! They took care of me, as if I were family… Thank you!

Coa the artisan roaster, and co-owner of Leveggio coffee. He roast the most incredible espresso I have ever tasted! (yes, I have my vices, too). Coa is committed to nothing less than the most fabulous coffee you can sink your taste buds into. His knowledge allows him to play with that which lies in between what is, and what will become the roast of the day! You see, Coa Young is not your average “dood”, trust me on this one (I mean this with much respect to my friend). Because, if he was, you would never get to experience the sublime ambrosia that rolls down your throat and grabs ahold of your taste buds and screams pure decadence to you”… are you getting this”!? It’s coffee people, and it is created by Coa Young in a fashion that sends you out the door feeling cosmically content you came… and you will be back!

Maryanne Young is Coa’s wife, and co-owner of Leveggio Roaster. She is a strong “glue” in the shoes that walk through that door every morning! Actually, Maryann isn’t all that crazy about early mornings, nor am I, but you get what I mean… yes. Besides holding the position of co-owner of Leveggio, she too, is a committed emissary for the significant beans that permeates the brick walls at the cafe. Depending on the barometric pressure that day, the intoxicating smell of Coa’s roasting, dances up and down the streets outside Leveggio’s doors. The smell is deeply desirable to the olfactory! In short, Maryanne has the ability to bring people together, and make you feel like family, like your home. She also pulls a shot of espresso that holds a certain feminine quality. Soft, with a smooth finish. It may sound odd, but very true.

Paul Myers is a friend who too, frequents Leveggio for the incredible experience of the magic black bean. Paul is a James Beard nominee chef. For those of you who are not familiar with this award… well, it’s big! I am grateful to have shared my concoctions with Paul over the summer. He has an incredibly discerning pallet, and has taught me a thing, or two about how I view my foods, and the flavors I create. Paul has a true appreciation for specialty foods. Having owned his own restaurant, he truly appreciates locally made food, and is a hardcore supporter of the farmers who grow it. Another one of Paul’s loves is his family! His wife Carrie, and his son Franklin rank no less than number one on his list of passions.

Sunshine Flag… Now here is a woman with a fervor for creation. Sunshine is a creator of sweet tooth decadence, and owner of Cakette! I believe she is driven by possibilities, and the all knowing of the good stuff in life that “just is”. She has a keen sense of who she is on this earth. This, combined with the gift of culinary expansion, gives her “rock star” status at Leveggio.

These are my friends who supported me through the summer, as I juiced away every Thursday at Leveggio Coffee, and showed up almost every morning toting a cooler bag of my mixes. They all have tried my drinks, and although I almost always seem to forget the fact that Sunshine has a strong adversity to bananas, she forgives me!, and the drinks are drank. It’s a band of friends, you might say the “Breakfast Club” at Leveggio, and I hope to always stay connected to these wonderful people…

This green baby is a delectable mix of both greens, and fruits. The combination of fruit, and greens gives this drink a super boost of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals! You get your A,B,C,and,D’s in this baby. It’s a perfect dedication for this group of friends. Varying in taste, and personality, yet equally as brilliant!

Here’s the mix!

Juice the following ingredients, if possible!

* 1/4 pinapple (pealed)
* 1-2 apples (love Fuji’s, and Pink Lady’s)
*1 lemon (peeled)
* 3 oranges
* sliver of ginger

Whole ingredients in blender:

* 2 big handfuls of spinach
* decent handful of parsley
* 1 avocado
* handful of green swiss chard (optional)

*Pour the juice over the whole ingredients in blender, and add a touch of filtered water if necessary.
Blend the bajuice out of it!

This is a tasty baby that will take you through most of the morning, without any major cravings. If you do experience some cravings, just grab a brownie!… totally kidding!!!

I humbly dedicate this juice to my Leveggeo posse! Luv you guys…

And for goodness sake… Juice It Baby!