Jul 062014
 

Vegetable Juice

If you can make a smoothy out of fruit juice, then it stands to reason that you can make one out of vegetables. This one is made from tomato paste, fruit juice or water and a few fresh veggies. When made with fruit juice, it’s sweet and kid-friendly. When prepared with water it’s tangy and refreshing. Better suited for teen and adults palates.

Vegetable Juice Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • 2-1/2 to 3 cups apple juice or water, or a combination
  • 1 or 2 tablespoons lemon juice, optional
  • 1 carrot, peeled, tip and top removed, coarsely chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped onion, optional

Directions

In a blender combine all of the ingredients. Place the lid on the blender and process until smooth. Serve over glasses of ice. This makes about 4 large servings. It’s very refreshing on a hot day, and makes you feel all virtuous because there’s no salt, no fat and each serving provides 2 full servings of veggies. Plus it tastes good, which is always a bonus with healthy stuff.

If you’re making this recipe for children then leave out the onion and use apple juice instead of water. It will be sweet enough to taste good to a child’s palate.

Assuming 4 servings. Prepared with water; 1-tablespoon lemon juice and 1/4-cup onion.

Per Serving: 49 Calories; trace Fat (4.7% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 58mg Sodium.

Exchanges: 2 Vegetables.

 


 

Virgin Mary Smoothy

Use water, not apple juice in the above recipe. Include the onion. Add 1-teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 to 1-teaspoon hot pepper sauce and a pinch black pepper. Process as described. Serve over ice.

Jul 062014
 

Tamato Juice

I found this recipe in a cookbook from World War 2 that emphasized thrift and cooking with ration points. I had no idea that I could use tomato paste in the same way as frozen juice concentrate. The first time I tried it I was certain it would never work, but it turned out perfect. I never buy tomato juice anymore. I just make it myself from tomato paste.

Tomato Juice from Tomato Paste

Ingredients

  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 4 cans of tap water

Directions

You may use any size can of tomato paste to prepare tomato juice. Tomato paste usually comes in 12-ounce or 6-ounce cans. Either will work.

Open up your can with a handy can opener. Scrape the thick tomato paste into a jar or juice pitcher. Fill the can with water 4 times. Swirl it around to get any tomato paste stuck on the sides of the can. Dump the water in with the tomato paste. Use a long spoon to stir it about until the concentrated tomato paste dissolves in the water. If you’re using a jar, you can screw on the lid and shake it vigorously.

Most tomato paste is unsalted, so your tomato juice will be too. You can add salt if you like, but I never do. I think it tastes fresher without the salt. It may be used as soon as the tomato paste is dissolved. I prefer mine cold so I serve it over ice, or chill it for several hours before drinking. Some people like theirs with a shot of hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce, or both, but it’s pretty good plain too.

If you use a 6-ounce can of tomato paste then you will make 30-ounces. This amount will fit nicely in a quart-size canning jar. If you use a 12-ounce can then it will fit nicely in a 2-quart pitcher.

Here is a substitute that costs less than a third of it’s commercial counterpart, and actually tastes ten times better. Being thrifty pays off in quality, nutrition and savings.

Assuming 3/4-cup per serving.

Per Serving: 28 Calories; trace Fat (5.1% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 36mg Sodium.

Exchanges: 1-1/2 Vegetable.

 

 

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