Go Slow: Hurom Slow Juicer

If you have experience with juicers, as I have, you might have been frustrated by the amount of vegetables you had to have on hand to produce one measly glass of juice. Then came the ordeal of cleaning. I was convinced that paying $6 at the health food store was a simpler alternative till I encountered the Hurom Slow Juicer. What makes it a great appliance at a gathering is that in between uses, you can just run water through it to clean it, without having to take the whole thing apart, thus enabling fresh—and different—juices to be enjoyed throughout the party. Plus, since the juicer works at a slower speed, it does not destroy vitamins with heat, and takes EVERY BIT of juice from food, leaving the pulp virtually dry. The mechanism inside works more like a mortar and pestle, crushing and pressing foods—releasing the nutrients, enzymes, and phytonutrients—resulting in a rich-colored juice that does not separate. Put in your favorite fruits, vegetables, even soybeans, walnuts or wheatgrass, to make super-nutritious drinks in an instant. Watch the video (it has a hypnotic quality) and review the nutritional tests on their website. $349.  A good excuse to try this super-fresh cocktail from Joseph Shuldiner, soon to be appearing in his upcoming cookbook “Pure Vegan” coming out in Spring 2012 from Chronicle Books.

LAVENDER-TANGERINE MARTINI
Makes 1 drink
Preparing this cocktail is like bartending in a citrus orchard. The floral scent of lavender with the bright, fresh taste of tangerines is positively Mediterranean. The gorgeous color of tangerine juice is also such a welcome change from the usual palette of pinkish Cosmopolitans and greenish Appletinis. Your “Trend Meter™” will enjoy the evening off. To prepare enough for a party, juice tangerines and lemons in a Hurom Slow Juicer by peeling the fruit, cutting in half, and dropping in to the juicer.
2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier, or other orange liqueur
2 ounces fresh tangerine juice
1 ounce lavender simple syrup, (recipe below)
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
Lavender sprigs or a twist of fresh tangerine peel for garnish
Place all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds or until well chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lavender sprig or fresh tangerine peel twist.

Lavender Simple Syrup
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoon dried or fresh lavender flowers
In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add lavender. Allow to steep for 30 minutes, then strain. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated.