Juice Tinker #1: Blue Print Cleanse Spicy Lemonade

While I experiment with detox recipes, I'm also experimenting with juices - perhaps to do a 1 or 3 day juice cleanse. I love the idea of being able to clean out my system and restart... but again, loving an idea and loving a reality are two different things. First, I need to taste some juice.

I originally read about BluePrintCleanse on LearnVest.com - which is a fantastic personal finance website geared toward women. The women who founded the company were profiled. To try BluePrintCleanse, however, is incredibly expensive. Luckily I found Juice101, yet another wonderful website, that has recipes for DIY BPC.

As I get ready to work my way through the recipes, I decided to start with the Spicy Lemonade which does not require a juicer. Here is the BluePrintCleanse Spicy Lemonade recipe. Below I've reprinted the recipe using layperson measurements.

Spicy Lemonade

2 cups water
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tbsp Agave Nectar

Squeeze the lemons. Mix all ingredients together. Chill.
Modification: Next time I would use 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper and 2 tbsp Agave Nectar.















What Gus said about it: Ack! Devil juice! Never make me drink that again!

Whatever Gus says, I think its tasty... although as I mentioned, I would make it more sweet and less spicy next time. You can viscerally feel your metabolism speeding up when you drink this juice!

Detox Tinker #1: Cucumber Avocado Soup

This is how I confessed my detox plans to my boyfriend:

Me: I'm thinking about going on a detox diet.
Gus: Good, hun. What's for dinner tonight?
Me: Cucumber Avocado Soup
Gus: Babe. (long pause) Am I going on a detox diet too?

The answer is probably yes. Either that, or Gus will be on a Chinese take-out diet.

Mr. Gus perked up, though, when he saw what I was making. I decided to try a semi-detox version of the Cucumber Avocado Soup posted on Gwenyth Paltrow's blog GOOP. I like Gwenyth's blog because she seems like a regular person leading a fabulous life and sharing tips on how to join her. Some recommendations are a little funny (like how we should all get a backyard pizza oven) but all in all, I'm charmed.

I made a double batch of this cold soup, and it was very light and fresh tasting. It was incredibly easy, too - just throw everything in the blender! This is the recipe for the double batch.

Cucumber Avocado Soup
Serves: 2
Time: 10 minutes (tops)

2 cucumbers, peeled and roughly chopped
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
zest of 1 lime
juice of 2 limes
1 tsp salt
pinch black pepper

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

I modified the recipe by pouring it over about 1/2 cup of Israeli Couscous and sprinkling some Parmesan cheese on top. If you don't have Israeli Couscous, Orzo pasta would work just as well. This modification makes the recipe a little heartier and sufficient for a non-detox diet meal.


















Gus exclaimed: You're putting it over couscous? Its like Green Gumbo! This is like Top Chef!

I'm glad he approved :)

History of My Detox Infatuation

Back in college, one of my roommates went on a detox diet and I thought she was straight-up crazy. Nothing but salmon and wild rice for two weeks? Gross. I just didn't get it. But back then I also truly believed the cure for all ills was more coffee. And more coffee. And more coffee. It took me a long time, and a lot of yoga, to figure out that what you put in your body is directly related to how well your body functions and how good you feel. Nutty, huh?

Fascination with Detox

I first started thinking about detox in the context of carbohydrates. One day, about a year ago, I found myself in a happy relationship and about 15 lbs over my usual weight. I took up spinning and a more intense level of yoga. I even counted my calories. But I could only get about 3 lbs to budge.

That's when The 4-Hour Body came out... and I love me some efficiency! I immediately jumped into the no-carb lifestyle and found myself feeling AWESOME and loosing another 7lbs.

But one can only eat beans for so long, and while I still eat beans everyday for lunch- they give me crazy energy levels - I had to loosen up. And I'm glad I did, because I now suffer from on-and-off Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I guess my digestive tract has had it with me. :(

Why Now?

This leads me to want to try a detox diet, or perhaps a juice cleanse. I'm digging the idea of giving my digestive system a break, letting the blood flow to my brain, and saying good riddance to all the toxins I've accumulated from the lean pockets and ramen I turn to when I don't know what to make for dinner. I love the idea of being able to heal myself.

The Initial Plan

How do I turn an idea I love into a reality I love? First off, I'm bad at jumping into something whole hog. I tried this with The 4-Hour Body and it was stressful. The truth is that I have a very busy job, that doesn't pay a lot... so I have both time and money considerations as well. I've decided to take it one step at a time...trying out different detox recipes, doing some research, and having all my ducks (meaning recipes) in a row before I start. I'm hoping this will save me time, money, and frustration. Nothing's worse than having to eat $30 gross cold soup for dinner three days in a row because you didn't realize you hate parsnips.

So that's where I'm at folks - ready to start the detox journey... I will post my recipe attempts here, complete with reflections...hopefully to create a plan for rejuvenating my system.

Welcome

Hello there.
Welcome to The Daily Tinker, where I tinker and practice at life until I get better at it. Not so long ago I was concerned that I was swiftly becoming a jack of all trades, and master of none. Whether it was cooking, or writing, or sewing, or gardening, or fixing up the house. I just never seemed to follow through on becoming good at anything.

Embrace the Spiral.
And that's when I realized that life is a spiral. Or perhaps I always knew it was a spiral... but I had to be reminded. While I may spend a couple weekends planting a garden, only to let it go wild... I will come back around to it next year and do it better the second time around. Life and interests circle back around on themselves, and I will get many more chances at everything. This blog is dedicated to the spiral, and all the improvisations and experiments that lead me to be better at living each time around.

So what am I up to now? You'll have to read on to see...