Andrew Kay: Biting the bullet
Breakfast may never be the same, but bring on the cocktail hour
Over twenty years ago I went away on my holidays only to return to find that my lodger had committed a murder in my kitchen. Don’t get over excited, in a fit of domesticity he had decided to defrost the deep freeze – using my favourite kitchen knife – and had punctured the vital organs and rendered it dead.
He was beside himself with remorse and when it came to my birthday that year he went crazy and bought me a juicer, a really pucker model with a massive motor that would juice hard vegetables, not just soft fruits. I loved that beast and it became a firm favourite – at the weekends.
To be honest it was such a faff to clean the parts that I only had time at the weekends. A few years back it finally died after a good and long service. Sad as I was I did not miss the cleaning of that fiddly micro-blade that did the job, nor did I miss the huge amount of fibrous pulp that it threw out. It was okay when I had a garden and a compost bin, but when I moved to a gardenless flat it just created a mountain of compost that attracted all kinds of bugs.
A few weeks back I was offered a device called a Nutribullet. It promised to reduce almost anything to juice without creating the fibrous waste – and it was easy to clean. Why not I thought, and a few days later it was delivered.
That night I read the book and digested the contents, appropriately as this, it would seem, was to be very much about digestion. I did not however use it as that night, like Old Mother Hubbard, my cupboard was bare.
The very next day, after leaving the office, I trundled off to fill my bag with fresh fruits and vegetables. I bought spinach and broccoli, nectarines, herbs, apples and carrots. I added some fresh chillies and ginger and a pile of citrus fruits too. I got home and decided to give it a whirl. Well whirl is hardly fitting as the engine is pretty fierce and it is easy to see why the blades beat everything into a smooth submission. I made a mix of orange, carrot, nectarine and ginger. Whizz, pour, devour. It was delicious and as promised the goblet and blade rinsed so easily under the tap.
The drink was good, hearty even and I soon realised that the large goblet was certainly too much for one and moved to the smaller cup provided.
The next morning I made one with broccoli and fruit and added herbs and lemon juice. It was certainly a filling start to the day, perhaps a little too large still as I had some left which I sealed and refrigerated – not great as even in the enclosed cup it oxidised and went bitter. A lesson learned, fresh is best with this device – although since I have made an excellent lemon concentrate that keeps well and diluted in sparking water is delicious.
Week one I was vigilant, a healthy mix of fruits and veg every morning had me feeling good, despite a rotten summer cold, and I even lost weight – around 8lbs – which was useful as my DJ was getting a tad snug and I had occasion to wear it that Sunday.
Week two went equally well, and I was really getting into a routine. My Nutribullet was my new bezzy mate and my evangelistic fervour spread, three friends on my recommendation went out and bought one.
Thus far my Nutribullet was a healthy change in my life. Then I fell off the wagon, well not quite. I realised that I could use it to make rather impressive cocktails too. First a stunning frozen marguerita, the beast crushes ice with no effort and it certainly gets the most out of those limes – but do wash them first and try to get unwaxed. And yes, I did put them in – skin, pith and all.
Next I made a frozen strawberry daquiri with basil leaves and black pepper, I know, so sophisticated. I do advise that you use a spirit measure when doing this as it is all too easy to go mad with the booze.
I still have the juice in the mornings, apple carrot and ginger today. Cocktails are a weekend treat, as is a bacon sandwich on Sunday. Well I’m no saint.
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