Cookbook Review

Zingy Ruby red grapefruit give this drink its brilliant pink color and a sharp edge that will wake up any sleepy head.

• 1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled
• 1 white grapefruit, peeled
• 1 handful cranberries

Juice the grapefruit and cranberries together.

• The white pith of grapefruit contains pectin and bioflavonoids which make them an excellent antioxidant food.
• Cranberries aid in the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections.

Creamy A liquid, Japanese-inspired guacamole on ice -- nutritiously delicious and refreshing. We love it.

• 1/4 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves removed
• 1 lime, peeled
• 1/4 cucumber
• 1/2 avocado, peeled and stoned
• 1 tsp wasabi (optional)
• 3 ice cubes

Juice the lettuce, lime and cucumber. Transfer to a blender and blend with the avocado and wasabi. Serve over ice.

• Avocados are the most energy dense and nutrient-rich fruit per calorie.
• Wasabi, which is also called Japanese horseradish, is available in specialty stores and Asian markets in both paste and powder form. It has a hot, fiery, pungent flavor. Take care.

Creamy Unfortunately we can't serve this juice in true Thai style (plastic bags, roadside), but if you close your eyes and sip, you're practically there.

• 2 carrots, tops and bottoms removed
• 1 handful of coriander
• 4 fl oz (125 ml) coconut milk

Juice the carrots. Blend with coriander and coconut milk.

• Coconut milk is not the liquid floating around in the center of the nut, but a mix of grated, unsweetened coconut flesh heated with water or scalded milk, then strained. This can be made at home or bought canned.

Lush A strawberry and coconut lover's dream. Imagine you're on a beach on a balmy summer's afternoon.

• 2 handfuls strawberries, hulled
• 1 banana, peeled
• 2 Tbsp coconut milk
• 4 ice cubes

Juice the strawberries. Transfer to a blender with the banana, coconut milk and ice. Blend thoroughly. Serve topped with freshly shaved coconut if desired.

• Strawberries supply the super-nutrient, ellagic acid, and vitamin C. Both coat the lining of the lungs and fight free radicals.
• For an even healthier alternative, 2 tablespoons of silken tofu can be substituted for the coconut milk.

Fresh Drinking this juice makes you wonder how anyone can buy store-bought concoctions.

• 2 nectarines, halved and stoned
• 1 peach, halved and stoned
• 5 strawberries, hulled
• 5 drops echinacea extract

Juice the nectarines and peach together. Blend with the strawberries and echinacea.

• Echinacea helps boost a sluggish immune system and wards off potential colds and flu. It is most effective taken when the first, niggling signs of sickness are sensed in the body.
• Peaches and nectarines are extremely perishable so are often harvested when still firm. Look for fruits that are not too hard. The harder the fruit, the less likely they are to ripen properly.

Silky "That is the magic of floral smells . . . when you taste them, the flavor still eludes you, as if you are eating a piece of a place that might not exist, or a memory of something that never really happened . . ."
Diana Henry, Crazy Water Pickled Lemons.

• 8 lychees, peeled
• 1 tsp rosewater
• 2-3 ice cubes
• 1 tsp grenadine

Blend the lychees with the rosewater and ice. Pour in grenadine.

• Grenadine is a sweet, deep red, pomegranate-flavored syrup used to color and flavor drinks and desserts. Originally, grenadine was made from pomegranates grown on the island of Grenada in the Caribbean. Now other fruit-juice concentrates are also used to make the syrup.