Cucumber and lime juice

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Every morning, while in Con Dao, I have been drinking cucumber and lime juice. It is so refreshing and really cools me off! I will continue to make this juice combination on my own for the summer:

- 1 large cucumber - 1/2 or a whole lime peeled (depending how limey you like it)

The weather here has been SO hot. If I am outside for a long period of time I can only stand it if I am in the shade, ocean or the pool.

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Con Dao is a small island off Vietnam. It is very tropical and there are a lot of mosquitos!!! The mosquitos seem to love me as I have had about 20 "kisses" already and my camera man maybe only about 5??  Bahhh

The food is so fresh and delicious! I am really enjoying all the exotic fruit! My favorites are the mangos (sooooo good and meaty here!!!!), drinking fresh coconut juice, and something called mango steen! They are not too sweet and just a little sour. I have never seen or heard of mango steen before coming to Vietnam.

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Can you name all the fruit above???

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Mango steen!

The Vietnamese diet is mainly some form of rice, vegetables and some type of meat or fish. I have never eaten so much rice in my life! Everyday, without fail, I have been eating rice! They also use a lot of lemongrass for things like seasoning dishes, scents for soap, massage oils, candles, insect repellant... pretty much everything. Good thing I like the smell...phew. Actually, check out the picture above of the fresh green coconut. The green straw that is stuck inside is a lemongrass straw!!!

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Lemongrass

I was able to film a short arms and abs video for you. Enjoy!!

We only have a couple more days here until our trip is over! Ok now I am off for some dinner.... (probably rice!)

xin chào!

Homemade Green Juice. NO fancy juicer needed!

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I was on a mission to make myself a green juice. I do not have a juicer, but that did not stop me. And should not stop you either. Here is an easy way to make a green juice. You will need:

• blender
• jelly strainer (I got mine at ACE hardware)

Ingredients:

• 4spinach ice cubes
• 2 carrots chopped
• whole stalk of romaine lettuce
• 4 leafs of kale
• 1/2 a green apple
• 1/2 of lime squeezed
• 1/4 inch of ginger
• 1 Cup water

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Directions:

• add water, spinach ice cubes and blend
• add romaine lettuce and apples and blend
• Squeeze lemon juice and add kale. If you feel you need more water to help you mix ingredients, add more :)
• Lastly add the remainder of your ingredients, carrots, and ginger.

*TIP* Add ingredients in slowly. If you over stuff your blender it will not mix.

Blend until it is a puree.

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Wash your jelly strainer with soap and water. Rinse well. Drape it over a big glass and pour your green mixture. Squeeze the jelly strainer to help reveal your beautiful green juice into your glass.

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The jelly strainer will catch all of the fiber and ruffage from the vegetables and fruit and just give you the straight juices.

*TIP* I found that if i filled the jelly strainer too much it was hard to squeeze and made a mess. In order to prevent this you can squeeze the jelly strainer over a big bowl and then transfer to a glass cup.

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I like my juice COLD. So add some spinach ice cubes, or regular ice cubes to your juice to make it cold. Or stick it in the freezer for a couple of minutes. You want to drink the juice as soon as possible, while the juice is at its maximum nutrient level.

What is your favorite green juice mixture? Let me know if you try this jelly strainer trick!