Costco is like Toys “R” Us for adults, don’t you agree? Every single time I go there I am left drooling over some “thing” that I know I don’t need but that I would really, really like to have! At the top of the list is the Dyson ball vacuum, a Jameson road bike, an outdoor hot tub, a trampoline and the ever coveted Vitamix!

My desire or thirst (pun intended!) for this machine was so great at one time that I almost dropped the $500 needed to by it, right then, right there, without even a consultation with the hubby. That would NOT have gone over well, trust me! But when I got home and relayed the story, the husband, aka “Handy Andy,” reaches into the cupboard and low and behold pulls out a Vitamix… to my surprise! But looks can be deceiving. 

This was no brand new Vitamix with the big stick-looking thing you use to shove the veggies inro it, never mind the other attachments, pretty colors and new smell. It was reminiscent of my grandma’s blender from the early 70’s, hence I wasn’t impressed. Andy had to explain that his was the original, before all the bells and whistles were added and before people were obsessed with juicing and smoothies!  

My new orange tree, compliments of my student/friend Pam who is moving to Palm Desert! Lots of juicing to come!

Well, I was sold after he threw in all my veggies, some ice and a cup of water, and tada…my masterpiece, or juice, came to life! Just as good as the fancy schmancy Vitamix! Who knew?! So basically I’ve been using a good ole fashion blender, same name, different face, to make juices like my friends but at a fraction of the cost… stretching the budget! The point here- you can still juice/create smoothies without forking over the $500! A student asked me share my top three favorite juices that I make and here they are.. easy peesy, one, two, threesie! 

__________________________

Papaya Smoothie: Use half a papaya, one cucumber, and a handful of mint and almonds. Add water and ice, then blend!

Berry Smoothie: Use a cup of kale (take stems off), one cucumber, five stalks of celery and a handful of strawberries. Add water and ice and blend!

Strawberry-Kiwi Smoothie: Use one kiwi, two handfuls of strawberries and fresh lime juice. Add ice and blend!

And just when I thought I was sold on my “Vitamix/blender” for life, Andy comes home with an Omega J4000 Juicer that was laying around at work, collecting dust. Wait, what? A free juicer? Yes, please! I just Googled this guy and he is sold for only $149.99… a fraction of the cost for the big boy Vitamix. And he works great, except he doesn’t do almonds… another reason a regular blender is just as fine!! Check out the juice I made yesterday and today using the dandelion greens from the Farmer’s Market on Wednesday. Delish! 

The Omega J4000 Juicer. Serious stuff here.

Green Machine Juice: Use a handful of dandelion greens (take off stems), one peach and one apple. Juice me! Add some water if it’s too thick!

_______________________

The husband done well with this one, I gotta say. Speaking of Andy, if you’re not busy tonight, he’ll have his food truck parked out at Castoro Cellars (they make all of the Trader Joe’s Coastal labeled wines) in Paso Robles for the reggae show playing there tonight. We love reggae. We both bleed red, gold, black and green. We had a reggae band, called the Mystic Jammers at our wedding. We love dub, dancehall and reggaeton. We just LOVE reggae. 

So when Andy got hired for this gig, he was like a Rastaman on roller-skates! You have to check out his menu… he is what inspires me to be the Yummy Yogini… how the heck does he come up with all this stuff??? And the names of the dishes? It’s true, he’s been a chef for 16 years and he is forever loving Jah! 

Andy representing with his Rasta hat! One Love!

Andy’s Jamaican Menu (just a sample so be there tonight!)

Raggamuffin- jerk chicken, cuban tostones (caramelized-glazed plantains), orange-red onion marmalade, crisp butter lettuce

Dreadknot- fiery piri piri shrimp, cucumber-papaya relish, quinoa salad, toasted peanuts

Leggo beast- pineapple-bacon stuffed pork tenderloin, spiced smashed potatoes, crispy brussel sprouts, coconut adobo

BumbaClot-black bean-butternut squash huarache, mango salsa, hibiscus glaze, toasted garlic rice

One Drop- grilled portobello & red pepper fufu, thai basil-goat cheese, kim chi, cilantro-lime aioli pressed in a hoagie served w sweet potato fries

_____________________________

Well folks, it’s Friday! I’m headed out to Morro Bay tomorrow for the Oyster Fest. Yes, this Rhode Islander loves to shuck and slurp down shellfish! Bring it! I’ll be back this weekend though with a new cookie recipe/challenge from my friend Lori M. She can’t get enough of these gluten-free, sugar-free cookies from New Frontier’s and she’s challenged me to create the same cookie, if not better! 

The Yummy Yogini loves a good challenge! Like headstands on the kitchen counter! Hey, why not?! 

Using my “head” to figure out how I will put that $6 watermelon to good use… or to good juice!