NON-ALCOHOLIC REMEDIES

All of these recipes are nutritious and work in different ways to help the body recover.

THE RIGHT STUFF

The non-alcoholic recipes in this section are viewed as energy sources. Jugs of healthy, fruit-, or vegetable-based drinks will give you vitamins, antioxidants, and other beneficial alkalines to help recover your energy. Anyone can prepare and enjoy juices, either as cool, refreshing liquids or as smoothies, using ingredients such as yogurt or soy milk, tofu, and rice milk: all important sources of protein.

Generally, you can combine fruit with fruit, but you can also combine vegetables and fruit, if you like the taste. Experiment to see which vegetables and fruits help you most.

Personally, I prefer to eat good things from the fruit bowl: bananas, pears, oranges, pineapple, melons, papayas, blueberries, blackcurrants, and cranberries. They’re full of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and other nutrients. All antioxidants are your friends. These are a group of nutrients found in fruit and vegetables and include vitamins C, E, and A, and betacarotene. They attack oxygen molecules known as free radicals that damage healthy blood cells and are known to be a cause of hardening of the arteries.

Choose your juicer with care; whichever design you decide on, remember that you’re going to have to clean it. Juicers aren’t that expensive, but be sure to buy one that really does extract juice and has a solid blade that will last more than a few months.

CHOOSING FRUIT

Select only the best quality you can afford—preferably organic. Wash and dry any fruit with a skin. Wash fragile berries such as raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and fresh cranberries in a sieve and leave to drain on a paper towel.

You can prepare many fruits for juicing in advance, which can be a real life-saver the morning after. The following is a short guide to preparing fruit for juicing.

Apples: Peel, core, and halve.

Bananas: Peel.

Canteloupe: Slice off both ends. Place one end on the cutting board. Make a slice from top to bottom and remove the rind. Halve. Remove the seeds. Dice.

Grapes: Choose seedless grapes for juicing. Wash and leave to drain on a paper towel.

Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges: Peel and cut into segments.

Kiwi Fruit: Peel, then dice the flesh.

Mangoes: Peel; slice the fruit away from the central seed.

Papayas: Halve, remove the seeds with a teaspoon. Peel and dice the flesh.

Passion Fruit: Halve and scoop out the fruit. Place in a strainer to remove the hard seeds, or use as is—the seeds are not harmful.

Peaches: Peel, halve, remove the stone, and dice.

Pears: Peel, core, and dice.

Pineapples: Slice off the top and bottom. Cut from top to bottom to remove all of the rough skin. Cut into halves and cut away the hard center core.

Strawberries: Hull with a sharp knife or one of those cute hull-removers. Cut in half.

WHICH VEGETABLES?

Another good thing for a hangover is to eat raw or grated carrots, or drink them juiced. When I hear my wife Sue press the juicer button, I know recovery will be mine once I have tasted whatever combination of vegetable juices she has decided on for me.

She is absolutely right, because vegetables such as carrots support the liver, and are invaluable as a detoxifier. They’re rich in carotene, which is converted to vitamin A by the liver.

If you’re not into carrots, then choose from any of the following: avocados, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, parsley, pumpkin and other squashes, tomatoes, and spinach.

Green and sprout vegetable juices, broccoli, asparagus, and many herbs contain the vitamin B complex, which is good for helping you to recover. In fact, God’s gift to hangovers is vitamin B1 (thiamine). It calms your shaky nervous system, helps your weary body break down any alcohol that’s decided to hang around. Good sources are asparagus, herbs, beans, rice, grains, cereal, and nuts.

The alkaline content in a vegetable such as celery balances the acidity in your troubled stomach. Make lots of celery juice or add celery juice to your favorite juicy drink.

For fatigue, try juicing alfalfa sprouts, artichokes, bean sprouts, and spinach. When you cook spinach, save the water from it and add this to a combination for more health.

Drink pure fresh tomato juice or V8, which comes in a handy-sized can. The latter is full of vitamins B, C, lycopene, plus hints of spinach, beetroot, watercress, lettuce, parsley, celery, carrot, and tomato.

Vitamin E is brilliant because it helps the heart function. It’s found in fresh beetroot, green juices, whole grains, and nuts.

ALLEGRIA

The name means “happiness” in Italian. This drink is refreshing—and it contains only seventy-eight calories.

1/2 RIPE MANGO, PEELED, CUT, AND DICED

2 OZ. (60ML) CARROT JUICE

2 OZ. (60ML) PINEAPPLE JUICE

2 OZ. (60ML) FRESH ORANGE JUICE

ABOUT 2/3 OZ. (20ML) FRESH LEMON JUICE

STILL MINERAL WATER

Put the mango pieces in a blender and add all other ingredients except the water and a scoop of crushed ice. Blend. Pour the mixture into a large glass. Fill to three-quarters full. Add the water to dilute the mixture a little. Stir.

AUNT EMMA’S HANGOVER COCKTAIL

The spices, onion, and celery (a diuretic) are all good for your hungover body.

5 OZ. (150ML) TOMATO JUICE

3 TABLESPOONS VINEGAR

JUICE OF 1 LEMON

4 SLICES OF ONION

3 TABLESPOONS SUGAR

4 CELERY STALKS

2 TEASPOONS RED TABASCO

SALT AND PEPPER, TO TASTE

Juice the lemon and chop the celery into small pieces. Mix all of the ingredients in a container and let stand overnight in the refrigerator. Strain and serve in a glass.

BANANA AND STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE

This is brilliant if you’re planning a night’s drinking. Mix this before you go and you’ll be fine (hopefully). The yogurt will line and protect your stomach from acidic onslaught.

1 LARGE RIPE BANANA

3 TABLESPOONS PLAIN NATURAL YOGURT

6 FRESH STRAWBERRIES

ICE CUBES

Peel the banana and break it into pieces. Wash and hull the strawberries and slice them in half. Put everything in a blender, and blend until smooth. Serve over ice in a tall glass.

BERRY NICE

Blueberries are packed with vitamin A and potassium, as are pears. And the orange juice and blackcurrants give you plenty of vitamin C.

1 CUP BLUEBERRIES, FRESH OR FROZEN

1 CUP BLACKCURRANTS

2 PEARS

JUICE OF 1 ORANGE

Wash the fruit. Squeeze the orange juice and add it to the blender along with the fruit. Blend until smooth. Serve over ice in a tumbler.

BLOOD-SUGAR TONIC

Valuable minerals and a whole range of vitamins are found in the alfalfa sprouts. You’ll love the kick this gives you. Fennel adds an aniseed flavor.

8 OZ. (225G) ALFALFA SPROUTS

8 OZ. (225G). MUNG SPROUTS

8 OZ. (225G) LENTIL SPROUTS

2 KALE LEAVES

8 OZ. (225G) JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES

1 HANDFUL STRING BEANS

1 MEDIUM PARSNIP

4 OZ. (115G) CUP FENNEL

Wash all the vegetables and push them through a juicer or blender. Serve over ice.

BOING-BOING

You’ll get lots of bounce from this energy-giving drink. The honey deals with the alcohol, while the yogurt soothes your stomach. The sugars from the banana help to cheer you up.

1/2 RIPE BANANA

1 TEASPOON CLEAR HONEY

2 TEASPOON YOGURT WATER (THE LIQUID ON TOP OF YOUR YOGURT)

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Add a little water in the blender if you prefer a longer drink. Pour into a highball glass filled with ice.

BREATH ENHANCER

For when your breath just isn’t kissable. Parsley is also good as a blood cleanser. Carrots make this high in vitamin A.

JUICE OF 1 ORANGE

4 MEDIUM CARROTS

1 TEASPOON SUPERFINE (CASTOR) SUGAR

4 LARGE SPRIGS PARSLEY

Cut the orange in half and squeeze. Pour into a glass. Juice the carrots with the sprigs of parsley at the same time. Add to the orange juice with the teaspoon of sugar and stir. Drink quickly.

CLEANSER COCKTAIL

The papaya and melon will get your energy going. It’s good to prepare this the day before you know you’re going to need it—for instance, if you’re going to a party or a wedding.

Serves 4:

1/2 YELLOW MELON

1/2 PAPAYA

1/2 MANGO

6 STRAWBERRIES

10 OZ. (300ML) PASSION FRUIT JUICE

10 OZ. (300ML) PEACH JUICE

1 OZ. (30ML) GRENADINE

JUICE OF 1 LEMON

JUICE OF 1 ORANGE

Peel the fruit and dice. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour in a jug and leave until you need it. To make it less bulky, add a dash of still mineral water.

DALE DEGROFF’S MACHO GAZPACHO

Dale, legendary bartender of New York City’s famous Rainbow Room for many years, once asked the chef there for a hangover cure. The chef suggested using various vegetables strained through a chinois (a fine-mesh strainer)—which is the reason this cocktail is full of vitamins. This recipe will yield about 3-1/2 quarts, so you can keep it for days in the fridge, for when friends have stayed over after a hard night’s drinking.

6 LARGE CUCUMBERS

4 RED ONIONS

1 JALAPEñO PEPPER, SPLIT

2 BUNCHES SPRING ONIONS

8 GREEN BELL PEPPERS

6 STICKS CELERY, CUT INTO 1-INCH (3 CM) PIECES

BUNCH WATERCRESS

SALT AND PEPPER, TO TASTE

FRESH LEMON AND LIME JUICE, TO TASTE

Combine small batches of vegetables in a food processor and purée. When all have been processed, place the purée in a container and cover with three liters (about three quarts) of water. Place in the refrigerator for about an hour. Stir the mixture and strain using a fine strainer. Adjust the seasoning and add lime and lemon juices to taste. Serve with or without ice.

GINGER ALERT

A drink designed to give your system a wake-up call. A great fusion of juice and ginger flavor.

3 OZ. (90ML) APPLE JUICE

2 OZ. (60ML) PEAR JUICE

JUICE OF HALF A LEMON

SMALL PIECE GINGER ROOT

GINGER ALE

Muddle the ginger in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.

HEALING SMOOTHIE

This drink protects and heals the stomach lining and is especially useful for making you feel better when you have a hangover.

1 KIWI FRUIT

1/4 CANTALOUPE

1 RIPE BANANA

Peel and cut up all of the fruit and place in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a tall glass, over ice if desired.

LIME LIFESAVER

Great for the morning after when you need to build strength. The ginger stimulates your system and the addition of vitamins from the carrots make this an essential day-after cocktail.

Makes 2 small glasses:

2 FRESH LIMES

6 MEDIUM CARROTS

FAIR-SIZED KNOB OF GINGER

2 APPLES

Cut the limes in half and juice them. Juice the carrots. Peel the ginger and juice it. Chop the apples and juice them. Combine all the juices, stir, and pour equally into two small tumblers.

LIVER RECOVERY

Apples are good for cleansing the liver and strawberries are good for the kidneys, so you have a double recovery whammy here.

6 FRESH STRAWBERRIES

2 GREEN APPLES

1 BANANA

Peel and core the apples and dice the strawberries. Peel the banana. Place all ingredients into a blender with a scoop of crushed ice. Blend until smooth. Serve in a highball glass.

MAESTRO’S MANGO MASHER

Mangoes are high in betacarotene and a good source of vitamins E, A, and C. This is a great health-reviving drink.

1/2 RIPE MANGO

JUICE OF 1 ORANGE

JUICE OF 1 LIME

LARGE HANDFUL FRESH RASPBERRIES

De-seed the mango and scoop out the flesh. Cut the citrus fruits in half and juice them. Put everything in the blender with a few ice cubes. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Serve in a large tumbler.

MIGHTY WONDER

I often wonder why I make this drink, but when the flavor hits me, I remember why—it’s rich and delicious!

2 RED PEPPERS

5 TOMATOES

1 SMALL PIECE RED CHILI

DASH WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

2 TEASPOONS HONEY

BLACK PEPPER

Wash the peppers and cut in half, remove the seeds and the stalk, and cut the tomatoes into pieces. Juice the peppers and tomatoes with the chili. Stir the honey into the juice. Add the black pepper and Worcestershire sauce to taste. Serve over ice cubes in a highball glass.

NEAT BEET

Beetroot is a powerful cleanser and a great source of vitamin B6. It also combines well with carrots and most citrus fruits and is very good for your liver.

Makes 2 glasses:

2 LARGE CARROTS

1 SMALL BEETROOT

2 ORANGES (PREFERABLY BLOOD ORANGES)

Scrub the carrots and the beetroot. Cut off any stems, and slice into pieces. Cut the oranges in half and squeeze them. Pour the juice equally into two glasses. Juice the beet and carrots and add this mixture to the orange juice already in the glasses. Stir and drink quickly to prevent oxidation.

PAPA’S PAPAYA

This is one of my favorite fresh juices to wake up the body’s system in the morning, especially if you’ve overindulged. It’s full of vitamins and flavor.

Makes 2 large glasses:

1 PAPAYA

1 SMALL RIPE BANANA

6 MANDARIN ORANGES

Peel the papaya and scoop out the seeds. Discard. Chop the flesh roughly and place in the blender. Peel the banana, break into chunks, and add to the blender. Cut the mandarins in half and juice them. Add juice to the blender. Add a few ice cubes. Blend everything until smooth. Serve in large tumblers.

PEACH, RASPBERRY, AND REDCURRANT DELIGHT

Redcurrants can be tricky to find in the U.S., but usually show up in summer. These tiny red berries help make this drink sweet, full of flavor, and rich in vitamins A and C.

Makes 2 glasses:

1 RIPE PEACH

A HANDFUL RASPBERRIES

BERRIES FROM 20 REDCURRANT SPRIGS

Halve the peach, pull out the pit, and slice the peach flesh into a blender. Then add everything else. Add a splash of still water to help the blending process. Blend and serve in a highball glass.

PIŃA COPAYA

Papaya juice is rich in vitamins A and C, but its nutritional highlight is its enzymes, specifically papain, a protein digester. It’s also a cleanser of the kidneys, liver, and intestines.

1 SMALL WEDGE PEELED PINEAPPLE (PEELED AND CORED)

1/2 PAPAYA, PEELED AND PITTED

ABOUT 6 OZ. (180 GRAMS) FRESH COCONUT, GRATED (OR DRIED FLAKED COCONUT IF YOU CAN’T FIND FRESH)

ABOUT 4 OZ. (120ML) WATER

Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Serve in a tumbler with ice.

PINEMINT SMOOTHIE

This will wake up your digestive system gently first thing in the morning. I think it is one of the best hangover cures—easy on the stomach and great for when you have a headache.

Makes 2 highball glasses:

1/2 MEDIUM-SIZED PINEAPPLE

3/4 CUP OF NATURAL YOGURT

8 LARGE MINT LEAVES

DASH OF STILL MINERAL WATER

Peel the pineapple and dice the flesh. Place into a blender with the other ingredients. Add a dash of still water to help the blending process along. Blend until smooth. Serve, sip, and sigh.

PINK GRAPEFRUIT AND RASPBERRY WAKE-ME-UP

A light but powerful drink for breakfast, giving you energy (from the banana) and fizz from the fruits. Add ice if you like it long and smooth.

Makes 2 glasses:

2 LARGE HANDFULS RASPBERRIES

1 LARGE RIPE BANANA

JUICE OF 1 PINK GRAPEFRUIT

Rinse the raspberries and place them in a blender. Add the peeled banana and the grapefruit juice. Blend until smooth serve in a small glass.

PINO SMOOTHIE

A brilliant, red-colored drink that will make you drool with pleasure, and is good for you, too. It’s a wonderful balance of sweet and sharp tastes.

1/4 LARGE FRESH PINEAPPLE

JUICE OF 1 ORANGE

2 HANDFULS RASPBERRIES

Peel the pineapple and dice the flesh. Blend with the orange juice and the berries. Add a few ice cubes and blend for a few seconds. Serve and enjoy.

PRAIRIE HEN

I’ll admit, this is not pleasant to taste unless you like bitter drinks. It will, however, make you wary of having another hangover!

2 DASHES VINEGAR

2 TEASPOONS WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

1 FREE-RANGE EGG (DON’T BREAK THE YOLK!)

2 DASHES TABASCO SAUCE

SALT AND PEPPER, TO TASTE

Place the egg into a small wine glass. Add the remaining ingredients then drink it down in one gulp.

PRAIRIE OYSTER

An ancient hangover cure, it tastes vile but gives your body a shock and that can’t be bad. This has eggs to bind it all together, tomatoes for vitamins, and olive oil to let it slip down easily.

VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

1 TABLESPOON KETCHUP

DASH WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

1 FREE-RANGE EGG YOLK

DASH WHITE WINE VINEGAR

DASH FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

Lightly coat a small wine glass with olive oil and discard any excess. Add the ketchup and the egg yolk (don’t break the yolk), season with the Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and salt and pepper. Close your eyes and drink it down in one gulp.

RASPBERRY AND ORANGE SMOOTHIE

A deliciously smooth cocktail with a deep raspberry color.

5 HANDFULS RASPBERRIES

JUICE OF 1 ORANGE

3/4 CUP OF NATURAL YOGURT

6 MINT LEAVES

Rinse the raspberries and add them to a blender. Add the orange juice, yogurt, and mint leaves. Blend until smooth. Serve with ice in a highball glass.

RED EYE

So-called because when you’re making it, it appears like a red eye in a pool of juice!

1 FREE-RANGE EGG YOLK

SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

DASH OF LEMON JUICE

ABOUT 4 OZ. (120ML) CHILLED TOMATO JUICE

HALF A BOTTLE OF LAGER*

Pour the tomato juice and lemon juice into a beer glass and add the seasonings. Top up with lager and stir. Separate the egg and add the yolk only without breaking it. Drink up, and hope that your eyes clear! (*not quite nonalcoholic)

SANGRITA

A traditional Mexican drink that wakes up your taste buds.

4 OZ. (120ML) TOMATO JUICE

1-1/2 OZ. (45ML) FRESH ORANGE JUICE

1 TEASPOON CLEAR HONEY

1 OZ. (30ML) FRESH LIME JUICE

PINCH SALT

2 THIN SLICES CHILI PEPPER

1 TEASPOON FINELY CHOPPED WHITE ONION

FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER, TO TASTE

DASH WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

Pour all the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Then strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

SENSATION

The perfect combination of sharp, sweet, and spicy flavors. Every ingredient will contribute to making you feel better.

3 OZ. (90ML) TOMATO JUICE

2 OZ. (60ML) PASSION FRUIT JUICE

2 OZ. (60ML) CARROT JUICE

JUICE OF HALF A LEMON

1 TEASPOON CLEAR HONEY

3–4 DASHES WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

Put all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake. Strain into a tumbler.

THREE-BERRY DELIGHT

A drink of the deepest red color, this is a cleansing drink full of vitamin C.

1/2 CUP BLACKBERRIES

1/2 CUP RASPBERRIES

1/2 CUP REDCURRANTS

Rinse all the berries and place into a blender with ice. Blend until smooth. Serve in a wine glass.

TOMATO WONDER

Yes, despite its dubious beige color, this is definitely good for a hangover! The tomato gives it a clean, refreshing taste, and the radishes do what radishes do—which is wake up your palate.

4 FRESH TOMATOES

3 STALKS OF CELERY

4 RADISHES

1 HANDFUL PARSLEY

Place all the ingredients into a blender, along with some ice cubes, and blend until smooth. Drink the result!

VIRGIN LEA

My award-winning cocktail that’s a perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and sharp flavors in one sip.

ABOUT 4 OZ. (120ML) TOMATO JUICE

2 OZ. (60ML) PASSION-FRUIT JUICE

1/4 YELLOW BELL PEPPER, DE-SEEDED AND SLICED

1 TEASPOON CLEAR HONEY

2 DASHES WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

Place the pepper slices in a blender and add the juices. Blend for ten seconds at low speed. Add the honey, Worcestershire sauce, and ice cubes. Blend at high speed for ten seconds. Pour through a strainer into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Garnish with a cherry tomato and a basil leaf.

VIRGIN MARY

A truly spicy pick-me-up you can drink as a tonic whenever you feel the need.

5 OZ. (150ML) TOMATO JUICE

1 OZ. (30ML) FRESH LEMON JUICE

2 DASHES WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

SALT AND FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER

DASH TABASCO SAUCE

1 STICK CELERY

Pour the tomato juice into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Season to taste with the spices. Stir well. Add the celery stick to use as a stirrer.