No Sugar Berry Lemonade

I'm back from my blogging break.  

Long story short, my body hates typing and being on the computer and I was in need of a break.  I had to come to terms with that and realize that I just needed to { in the words of my PT} "make modifications" to what I was doing.  So I still plan on blogging, just not daily like I was.  

On to the post! 

I feel like summer and lemonade go hand in hand.  I never really crave it any other time of the year and I don't care for how much sugar it takes to make a pitcher of it so I don't tend to make it here at home.  Hence why its Aug and there has been no lemonade love in our house.  We have been juicing and making other yummy sugar free drinks but for some reason lemonade got left out....until last week! :)

I love how when you stick it in the freezer to get it ice cold it gets all frothy like a root beer float.  :)

No Sugar Lemonade for 2 

What you need: 

2 med to large size lemons 

Berries {I used about two bowls full}

Juicer 

*any other fruit you want to add in :)

Step 1: 

Wash your lemons and berries{& other fruit if you are using more}. 

Remove as much of the peels as you can from your lemons. 

Step 2:

Cut up your lemons and berries. 

Step 3:

Juice your lemons in your juicer.  Take your lemon juice and divide it in half into two mason jars or other glass cups. 

Juice your berries and then divide that in half into the same jars you have your lemon juice already in.  

Mix it up and give it a taste.  If your berries are not super sweet it might be slightly bitter, my daughter and I don't mind that and actually kind of like that hint of bitter lemon taste.  If that happens and you are not to keen on it you could always juice a handful of red grapes{or any other sweet fruit on hand} and add that to it as well since those are usually pretty sweet this time of year. 

After we get the taste just right we pop it in the freezer for 10 mins or so to get it nice and cold.  Drink as is or serve it over ice.  

We love this version of no sugar lemonade and there are so many possible variations with all the amazing fruits {and even some veggies!} out there that you could have so much fun creating your own special family lemonade. 

And yes, I know there is sugar in fruit, by saying "no sugar" I am talking about the added sugar that is in so many drinks these days. ;)

Juicing Recipes Take 1

It's official, I am addicted  to juicing! lol :)

I have seen so many benefits from it, I am a believer.  I do eat food too, but when I do I keep it in a clean eating lifestyle when I can, life always throws loops and we can't all be perfect.

Here are just a few of my favorites right now.  As spring and summer come into play I am hoping to come up with more fun ones as more produce becomes in season.

I drink all my juices cold with ice, just tastes better. :)

My Green Juice 

4-5 pieces of kale, the whole thing, leaves and all

2 stalks of celery 

handful or two of spinach 

3 apples {1 green, 2 sweet}

1 orange 

1 pear

handful or two of green grapes

~You can use red grapes too, both ways are super yummy! 

Orange Power

28 baby carrots 

2 1/2 oranges

3.5 apples {any, my fav. combo always has 1 green at least}

Grape Love {Green Version}

2 cups of green grapes 

1 orange

2 green apples 

handful or two of spinach 

The blend of green grapes and green apples is fab! 

Red Version

2 cups of red grapes 

1/2 of a pear 

1 orange 

2 apples {1 green, 1 sweet}

Watermelon Apple 

The above photo shows two separate juices.

On the left is straight watermelon juice, on the right is apple {mix of sweet and green}

I took the two juices and did a 50/50 blend., so good!! 

I had some watermelon left over which I added some to a Grape Love {Red Version} and some to my Green Juice and that tasted awesome too. 

Morning Sunshine

I make a big batch of this for me and my daughter.  I just keep juicing oranges and apples until I have a good amount for the two of us.  Throwing in some berries can take the punch out of the orange if you don't dig citrus much.  Great for when you're fighting a cold. 

Vamp Juice can be found here

I finally found some straws that were BPA free for my juicing! They looks so cute stored in an old Starbucks cup. :)

Juicing Recipes: Vamp Juice

When I first thought about my juicing posts....I wanted to write a huge long deal about why I juice, what it does for me and so on.  But I thought about it......and figured most people don't want to be preached to or have ideas pushed on them so I decided not to.  At the end of the post I will add on some links about juicing and such so you can find out more.

For me, juicing has become a love.  It a matter of a few short weeks when I started it, my daily headaches were clearing up, as was my skin and face.  I have seen many other health benefits with it for me and for my daughter and husband as well.  Its amazing what fresh fruit juice can do and how delicious it tastes.  What you get in the store....tastes nothing like the real pure thing that has nothing added to it.  Some of the recipes are so good they are like liquid candy for my daughter and I.

Like this one that my daughter and I have named Vamp Juice.
Possibly because I had just watched Breaking Dawn .....or even more possible because I just love the whole Twilight thing.  Yes, I'm a mom and I love Twilight {the books more so than the movies} :)

For juicing I cut up all the fruit and veggies I need and then I put them into groups for what juice blend they are going in.  That way I just keep grabbing from that pile until its all gone and my juice catcher is all filled with liquid goodness.   That way there is no need  to keep checking the recipe because I know everything I need is in that pile. 

Small Vamp Juice:

1 and 1/2 oranges {the big ones, not the cuties or other smaller ones}

2 apples {1 green and one red like a gala, pink lady, ect.}

4 good sized strawberries or 5 - 6 smaller size ones

Juice is all up at once so its all blended in one container.  Serve cold with some ice in it. 

Big Vamp Juice

2 and 1/2 oranges {the big ones, not the cuties or other smaller ones}

3 apples {2 green and one red like a gala, pink lady, ect.}

6 good sized strawberries or 7 - 8 smaller size ones

Juice is all up at once so its all blended in one container.  Serve cold with some ice in it. 

Vamp Juice Reloaded

This one is an extra big Vamp Juice, for when the cravings get really bad ;)

2 and 1/2 oranges 

5 apples {at least two green and then a mix of the red type ones, gala, pink lady ect}

9 - 10 good sized strawberries 

2 - 3 handfuls of blueberries 

Juice is all up at once so its all blended in one container.  Serve cold with some ice in it. 

This is the one I am drinking right now as I write this ...so yummy! 

My juice always gets foamy....I think its because I pop them in the freezer as I am finishing each juice blend to get them into chilling mode asap so I can drink them sooner.  As you are drinking them, the foam dies down. 

My daughter and I are pretty addicted to this one and a few others.  Its def. a great way to start your day. :)

Here are some links...mind you,  there are so many amazing webpages on juicing there is no way I know them all or could list them all.  These are just two to show you a brief description of juicing and its benefits. 

http://lindawagner.net/blog/2012/01/health-benefits-of-juice-feasting/

I want to add in, I have never done a juice fast/feast.  But I do drink at least two big juices a day, sometimes more and then eating wise I keep it clean, minimal store bought processed foods, and tons of good for you things.  No junk or crap food. This site just has a lots of juice recipes, clean eating, and good info. 

http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/

Loved the movie, his reboot site is great for juicing recipes and its very inspiring.  

Again, I'm not a doctor and I am not saying, go out and do a juice fast.  I just think adding in juicing to your life can really help you.  I know everyone's body is different, but for me and my family, I have seen the positive changes juicing and clean eating brings and we am sticking with it. :)