Guess who I rescued from the cobwebs in my basement this morning?!
My long-lost Jack LaLanne Power Juicer!!!!
(RIP JLL 
)
I used to be hardcore into juicing when I lived in Minneapolis right out of college. I’d seen Jack’s infomercial late one night, instantly caught the juicing bug and had to have one ASAP.
I begged my parents to get me one for Christmas that year, but it was a tough sell. This puppy wasn’t cheap, and they’d seen stuff like this out me before.
Is this going to be like that time you insisted on having a Topsy Tail but lost interest 3 topsies later?
No! I swear! I’ll juice everyday! Plus that was when I was 8! I insisted, secretly not knowing if I’d be juicing past New Years.
In the end, my powers of persuasion trumped any lingering doubt in their mind, and a big, beautiful Jack LaLanne Power Juicer was waiting for me under the Christmas tree that year.
Right away, me and the juicer were like this. I juiced my brains out. I juiced in the morning, I juiced at night, I juiced when I felt good and I juiced when I felt bad (fresh juice is an AWESOME hangover cure, btw!)
When I consistently drank fresh juice my skin looked amazing and my energy levels were though the ROOF. I started craving it and could totally tell when I had not had a big glass of the good stuff.
I juiced apples, oranges, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, pineapple, spinach and more. The secret to not tasting any veggies is to always include 1 apple. It’s crazy good!
Then, just like my parents predicted, I stopped juicing.
I don’t know why. There was no monumental juicing disaster that caused me to cease and desist. All of the sudden, after at least a solid 6 month stint, I just wasn’t juicing anymore.
Well, fast forward 6 years and some odd months later to this week, and I get an email from a friend that mentions the benefits of fresh juice. In addition to healthy skin and boundless energy, fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.
That’s when I decided to resurrect my old healthy habit. 
Ok, yes, it’s muddy green and slightly terrifying looking – but I promise that this is the most delicious, satisfying, thirst-quenching drink you will ever have.
Today’s mix included what I randomly had in the house:
- 2 Pink Lady apples
- 2 big handfuls baby carrots
- 2 big slices watermelon
- 1/2 bag baby spinach
The beauty of juicing (well of my juicer anyways,) is that you don’t need to seed/core your fruit and veggies. You just stick them in whole, or cut them up big enough to fit inside the chute.
The apples went in first.
Then the spinach,
(!!!!)
and carrots.
Then I had to switch to a new glass for the watermelon!
So pretty!
All mixed up!
GUUUUUUULP!! Pure, refreshing and FULL of vitamins. Plus you cannot taste the veggies at. all. It just tastes sweet and refreshing!
Ok, I do have to tell you that juicing is not all fun and games…
Perhaps part of the reason why I quit all those years ago is because…juicers are a pain in the @$$ to clean.
There’s 5 parts to disassemble & rinse and, from start to finish, I’d say the entire process from plunking in your produce to putting the parts into the dishwasher takes a good 15-20 minutes.
For an early-morning worker bee such as myself (I leave the house at 6:15am) it’s not practical to juice everyday, so I’m envisioning it as more of a weekend/couple nights a week thing.
Also, while it’s true that juicing takes out the filling and beneficial fiber you’d get from eating the fruits and vegetables whole, the vitamins and minerals are still there, and I never used juice to replace them anyways.
My goal is to start juicing only organic produce. For some reason, the thought of drinking non-organic produce is totally disgusting to me. Also, I got a little carried away and made a lot of juice this morning. Normally I’d do about half this!
Have you ever juiced? What’s your favorite combo?
In other news, I made a terribly fun Meal in a Mason Jar for lunch = Lemon CousCous with Broccoli!
It combined two of my current obsessions (mason jars & lemons) into one quick & summery lunch. All I did was toast 1/3 cup Israeli CousCous in about 1/2 teaspoon EVOO until it was maybe a little burnt golden brown.
Then I added a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, 1/3 cup + 3 Tablespoons water,
brought the water to a boil, lowered the temp, stuck a lid on the pan and let it simmer until all the liquid had been absorbed.
Meanwhile I squeezed 1/2 a lemon, 1 Tablespoon EVOO, salt, pepper & torn basil leaves into a mason jar, and shook it all up.
Then I added steamed broccoli and the cooked couscous on top.
Lid on, and shake to coat!
Lemony, sweet, chewy, filling meal in a mason jar!
I love juice and cous.
Tonight is Ladies Night – holla! My Mom and I are going out for a little shopping then dinner. Can’t wait.
TGIF!
That juice looks gooood! But since it’s only the juice, do you have an idea of how to calculate the calories/other nutritionals? Just curious!
Also, What do you do with all the leftover pulp? Just throw it away? I think Gena @ Choosing Raw makes crackers with it or something….
You can find out the exact number of calories but it involves a lot of weighing, measuring and math. I just calculate it as the same as if I were eating the fruit/veg whole. I am still thinking up what to do with the pulp! I’m thinking it’d be a good mixin for chili or tacos!!
It seriously is. I freaking LOVE juice, but I have gotten out of the swing!!
My husband has been begging me for a juicer! Every time we go to Costco, I say “no”. I know juicing has it’s benefits and it’s something I’d love, but we have no more room for any more kitchen gadgets!
I adore your meal in a jar. It reminds me of the salad shakers containers, but soooooooo much better!
Why don’t you go juice crazy (make a giant pitcher) one night a week and only have to clean it once a week? Then put the pitcher in your fridge? Or does it not taste as good?
Oh! I found this website. Nevermind hehe
http://www.choosingraw.com/question-of-the-week-can-i-make-juice-the-night-before/
AH, I love that meal. Looks so simple. I need to get some cous. Mason jars are the best…for oatmeal, for food to go, for drinking out of. Mmm…
Have fun with your laaadies night!
I love juice and will fork over a pretty penny for a glass of it… but I can’t see myself putting energy into cleaning a juicer. It’s sad that I’m that lazy…
Mmmmmmmm. . . Love juicing! From one juicer to another, I found that if you put a plastic grocery bag (or even the plastic bag that you put your produce in) in the container that catches all the pulp and non-juiced things, it makes for a little simpler clean up – but still a pain! Hope you find that this helps!
the meal in a mason jar looks and sounds delicious!! cheers for ladies night!!!
Hey that looks fabulous! I wonder if one large glass of juice could substitute for breakfast on the run??? You could make the juice the night before and put it in a large glass in the fridge and then voila!
Since you lose the fiber when you juice it doesn’t keep you full very long. Also you lose the vitamins and mins if you let it sit, unfortunately!
We have the same juicer and I loooooathe cleaning it. I have 1 tip for you that will help cut down maybe 2-3 of those minutes. Put a plastic grocery bag in the blue fibrous catcher (like you would a trash bag in a trash can). Then attach it to the juicer and juice as you would normally. The bag catches all the trash and when you’re done you can toss it or compost it.
Are you still able to get Israeli CousCous in the bulk bins at your Hy-Vee? We live in the metro as well, and I can no longer find it at our Hy-Vee and a couple other stores I’ve checked.
I’m 95% sure West Glen Hy-Vee still has some in the bulk bins!
Hy-Vee has bulk bins?! Man…I need to have a little talk with my Hy-Vee manager ASAP!
I need to get me a juicer – YUM!
I really need to get a juicer. That looks awesome.
I have juicer envy
I also seriously love your meal in a mason jar idea. Not only does that look yummy, it’s a good way to transport lunch to work, without any plastic chemicals seeping in!
I’ve never juiced before but I so want to! And your meal in a mason jar looks delicious!
I really want a juicer!!
You’ve inspired me to get out my juicer and have a go at it, that looks so refreshing and nutritious! Someone needs to invent an easier clean up method for the juicer and we’d all be juiceaholics.
I have one of those, it is in my garage! OH PLEASE do juicing so I get the bug too! YOU will save me!
You know what helps clean up? Save old plastic grocery bags and use them like trash bags in the pulp catcher.
I’ve never had luck reusing the pulp, I always feel like it’s way too dry and grainy, but maybe that’s because I dont use the same brand juicer. Hmmm.
I LOVE juicing though
The juice looks great…I have heard how difficult they are to clean as well. I drink green smoothies (1 cup water, 4 handfuls organic spinach, 1 organic banana and 1/2 cup of organic berries) every other day. I feel great and they have all but elminated my arthritis pain. As for mason jars, I store all of my fruit for my smoothies in the freezer in mason jars to cut down on plastic use. (Mine are freezer safe.) I have taken lunch in them as well. Currently, I have a whole watermelon sliced up and stored in mason jars in my refrigerator:)
My dad bought that juicer a few years ago and we used it about 6 times and haven’t touched it since. Most likely because we all agree it’s so hard to clean! It was quite tasty though!
Your dinner looks yummy!
Oooh cool juicing stuff! I try not to drink my calories because it’s not as filling. That being said, I always get sucked into that blender demo at the State Fair on the 2nd floor of the building with the butter cow. This blender makes smoothie-style drinks (so would replace a “treat” which I’m okay with, lol) with veggies and fruits. But it’s something like $200-$300 or something like that.
we bought a juicer (cant remember if it was this one) but our carrots kept getting stuck and we ended up returning it. good thing too, because it was a pain to clean.
i am obsessed with mason jars right now too! i bought a box of them and i prepare yoghurt parfaits in them at night, and then i have a quick grab and go breakfast in a jar. all i do is add the granola or the nuts in the morning! and im not tempted by the mcdonals that is a stone’s throw from my office! try it!
I used to make a large batch of juice on the weekends, then freeze most of it in ice cube trays. I’d add a few cubes to my rice protein/almond milk shake in the mornings throughout the week. Not sure if this is the best use of the juice, but thought it was better than nothing.
Cleaning the juicer was my downfall too – if anyone knows of a juicer that is truly easy/easier to clean, I want to hear about it
Okay okay, HUGE favor to ask. Do you think you could drive over to my place and make this for me?? Please? Actually, I could always drive out to Iowa, but I wouldn’t want to impose.
Hey! Just wanted to stop by and say that I love reading your blog! I am trying to get started with my own but I have been reading yours and other blogs for about a year now. By the way, that juice looks awesome. I actually had a juice yesterday and was really surprised that I couldn’t taste the veggies. Have a great day!
Word to the wise – bloody marys made with fresh juice are to die for! Every time I hear cous cous I think of Pineapple Express… “the food so nice they named it twice.” Lol!
P.S. Your basil is looking good – I don’t think mine is going to make it.
I have juiced since I had cancer in 1981. I have a half dozen used juicers now stached in my attic. They were all a pain in the @$$ to clean. A couple of years ago I invested in a Vitamix 5200, and it was a very good decision. I now make green smoothies. I start with any fruit that is juicy and make some liquid (usually oranges and mangos) then add any number of greens ( usually spinach, kale, arugula, celery, cilantro, collards, parsley, mustard greens, dandelion greens or chard). It makes a great smoothie and you can clean it up in 5 minutes!
I too am in love with mason jars…they’re just so timeless and always look cool!
Juice looks great…wish I had a juicer. That cleaning part would stink though…I can barely handle cleaning my food processor.
so glad you posted this! I recently bought a juicer online at amazon.com. It was selling for $30 but I got it for $10 (thank you SWAG Bucks). Its been sitting on my counter top for almost a month now and I have not used it once. You’ve given me the motivation to start my juicer up. I think I’ll try making a peach/mango juice drink.
Funny that you blogged about the Jack juicer. I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking I need to get mine out of the pantry. I put it on the shelf about two years ago, after I got carried away with juicing carrots. My hands turned orange. So, I need to limit my carrots. To keep the bin clean, I line it with a vegetable bag from the store, you know the ones you put your produce in. They are perfect. Then I just lift the bag out, and the bin is clean. I agree, all the parts are a pain to clean. Have you ever tried to juice wheatgrass? I really need to get back to my wheatgrass shots, that is so healthy. Now, I’m going to get my juicer out of the closet.
Ohhhh. So beautiful. I love the colors of all that juice
Nature makes the best kind of juice.
I don’t have a juicer but got a Vitamix for Mother’s Day and it’s been delicious smoothies, dressings, sauces and frozen frying slushies many times weekly since. My kids love the healthy creations and the fiber isn’t lost. Olé!
I’ve always wanted to start juicing. I’m obsessed with smoothies.
I do hate tedious clean ups though. Perhaps they’ve come out with more efficient ones since you bought that (?). I’m going to look into it. Looking forward to reading more about your juicing adventures.
I think it’s such a great idea to put means in mason jars. I have so many from canning that we were using them for glasses. thanks for the idea!
[...] and a few other necessities.I also wanted to bust out the juicer again (only slightly inspired by Iowa Girl Eats), because of some recipes Breville provided in the instruction manual. I got a bunch of [...]
One tip for juicing: If you line the thing that catches the pulp with one of those plastic produce bags, you can just pull the bag out and throw it away instead of scrubbing the container.