I try not to share recipes that require specialized gadgets or unneeded kitchen appliances, but I’ve been loving my juicer so much lately that I’m hoping to inspire you to go out get one of your very own.

Yes, freshly squeezed citrus and vegetable juices can be found in lots of grocery stores, but they are no comparison to the fine stuff you can juice up at home and drink on the spot, which still tastes vibrant, fresh and alive. Another bonus is that you can be much more creative in experimenting with various combinations of your favorite fruits and vegetables.

Most commercial juice is pasteurized, which destroys some vitamins and the other good stuff in the process. There seems to be small chance that the produce we buy – organic, local or otherwise – will have some invisible, bacterial nasties living on their surfaces, so it’s always a good idea to wash the fruit or vegetable you plan to juice if you’re going to throw them in the machine skin-on.

The recipe below is very, very flexible and happens to be what I like to drink right when I’m thirsty, especially after exercising, and depends on what I have on hand. Sometimes I go crazy and add some green leaves to my juice, but I understand if that sounds too hardcore.