This is a beautiful book with bright, colorful, full-page photographs of every single fruit juice, vegetable juice, and smoothie recipe that is presented. The type is large and easy to read, and each open page offers both photograph and recipe so that it’s easy to see exactly what you are making. In fact, the photos are so clear and lovely that it’s hard to decide if this should be a coffee table book or one for the kitchen.
Some of the tempting recipes include: Mango Berry Fusion (mango, raspberries, lime juice, and milk), Singer’s Cider (pineapple, pear, lemon, ginger, and cayenne), Evening Calm (cucumber, celery, lettuce, apple, and basil leaves), Carotene Dream (carrots, kale, and green onion), and the unusual Quiet Thyme (sweet potato, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, sunflower sprouts, and thyme). There are also some sassy smoothie treats, such as Brownie Shake (using carob), Berry Explosion (using protein powder and fresh ginger root), and Silken Strawberry Whip (papaya, strawberries, avocado, maple syrup, and milk).
The book includes an introductory section on vitamins, minerals, natural supplements, spices, and herbs, along with ways to include these in the various recipes for extra healing. There is also a section on desserts (Pineapple Cashew Mousse, Mango Pudding) and “pulp possibilities” (using pulps to make muffins, patés, and soups or, as Wai Lana notes, “nothing goes to waste in my kitchen”). In addition, every recipe includes a note as to the healthy benefits you are receiving by enjoying your drink. Bottoms up!
—Alaska Wellness, March/April 2005
