The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker (Robert Rose, $27.95)
There’s more to juicing than just good taste. There are wide-ranging nutritional and health benefits and since juicing has become more and more popular, the second edition of this seminal book couldn’t be more timely.
Eight years ago when Pat Crocker, a culinary herbalist and professional home economist, published the first edition of her “Juicing Bible,” many readers weren’t ready to sample concoctions with names such as Cauli-Slaw, Cucumber Cooler, and Bone Blend Tea. In recent years, cable cooking show have made us more sophisticated and health-conscience. In our evolution, we have also become more adventurous. This new and expanded collection features 100 brand-new recipes, bringing the total to 250 fruit and vegetable juices, tonics, cleansers, digestives, teas, roughies, smoothies, milk and coffee substitutes, and frozen treats.
The collection is divided into several parts. There is in-depth information on the systems of our body and how they relate to what we eat and how we live. There are chapters about food allergies and herbs to avoid in pregnancy. The book is full-illustrated in addition to advice on purchasing fruits and vegetables and proper storage techniques. Since it is recommended that we get a “daily 8,” namely five servings of vegetablkes and three or fresh fruit, the recipes by Crocker will make that task easier, especially if there are finicky children in the house.
Three recipes were tested. The Orange Zinger was simple and tasty. I love cranberries and the homemade cranberry recipe yielded a juice that was tart but not too tart. My third selection was The Green Diablo, a tea that blended green tea with parsley, citrus peel, ground cayenne pepper, stevia leaves, lime slices, all steeped in hot water and served hot. It was surprisingly good and an excellent antioxidant.

The Green Diablo
2 tsp green tea leaves
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp citrus peel
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
One half tsp stevia leaves
5 c boiling water
4 slices lime
In a non-reactive teapot, combine ingredients and add boiling water. Let steep, covered, for 15 minutes. Strain the tea and garnish with lime slices.

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