Sub Rosa Green - reaping the not so secret delights of green juice by secretly juicing

I live and work in France. A wonderfully beautiful country filled with wonderfully beautiful french people. 

A culture celebrated for it's ways in the kitchen and burning passion for food, I moved out here originally to study the traditional french techniques and recipes.

Since my arrival my journey has catapulted me in an entirely different direction, you know it....RAW VEGAN.

Although it may seem I'm be marching to rhythmically challenged, or deaf drummer,I'm not. I'm actually breaking dancing to DJ Jazzy Jeff and it's FRESH! (I know that was over the top )

Anyway, working in a very traditional french kitchen, you can imagine how eyebrows have raised in my direction concerning my changing eating habits.

Constant questioning concerning my large salads at lunch are something I haven't quite grown comfortable with yet.

 Some believe I've been struck down with an eating disorder, most think I the most unhealthy person since Keith Richards, and other seem insulted like ' how dare she eat that apple, she's calling me fat, wrong, ugly and bald, isn't she!'

I have most definitely solidified  their idea of me as a bizarre breed of Canadian creature.

To get down to the point of this post, the other day I was cleaning out the cupboards in garde manger before lunch and discovered a mini juicer!! It was crammed in the back, amid statues of aged vinegars and cold pressed oils and covered in some sort of unidentifiable gunk (definitely not juice), obviously forgotten and left to rot.

 Instantly I was dreaming of the rush of liquid chlorophyll life surging through my veins, the sweet tastes of apple and lemon, carrot and ginger. I was more than excited.

JC (my chef), caught me gawking and shot me an unimpressed look. He came over to see what was occupying my attention. He saw the juicer and explained it was of no real use in the kitchen, we never use it, don't know why we still have it, just put it back. Guillaume, second in command (so much like the army!) nodded his head in agreement about the silly machine. 

I was ecstatic.

That day during the break after everyone had left for a sleep, I went back to the kitchen with my bag full of greens, vegetables and fruits. I made two jugs of green juice and cleaned everything up quickly and stealthy. I've been doing this a couple times a week ever since, no ones the wiser!

It might seem silly juicing in secret and I can understand if you think so, because it IS REALLY silly!! Almost ridiculous in fact! BUT, I chose the route as an undercover juicer simply because it's easier for me.

 I stand by what I believe in and why I chose to eat this way. I live the benefits that grow in numbers and more apparent daily. 

I revel in the glorious framers markets and lush produce France has to offer but I'm still in the process of figuring out my place as a uncooked veggie enthusiast in this country.

If I was ever to get 'caught' preparing one of my concoctions I would smile wide reveling my parsley stained teeth, and not even bothering to wipe the spurilina from my upper lip declare "the green stuff makes life better, it's super tasty" and possibly looking like a lawn mower had backfired in my face and down the front of my shirt ( I can get messy ), I'd state " it also makes you look prettier" :)

 Then I'd deal with the what was to follow in stride: criticisms, concerns,bad jokes etc. 

Until that day I'm happy to continue my clandestine meetings with my new found juicy friend. It brings a fun feeling of bad assness into the picture as well!

Green Moustache Juice

1 Head of Parsley

2 Cucumbers

4-5 Stalks of Celery

1 Head of mache (or some other green)

2-3 Apples, your favorite kind

1-2 Lemons

I cut all ingredients, except lemons, into appropriate chunk sizes, depending on the size of the mouth of your juicer. Juices away. I squeeze in the lemons at the end. 

A good juicing tip is when you put something like a bunch of parsley through always follow with something that yields a lot more juice. Something like some apple or cucumber. This will help to push through the greens and you'll reap more juice from the little guys in the end.

Enjoy!