Nice 'n' Smooth

While banging out the final revisions to my last dissertation chapter, the one about lesbian and "apparitional lesbian" cinema, I had an inexplicable, utterly atypical urge to visit a local organic health-foods store. You do the math. I am now a happy little FlickPicker, having discovered the easiest drink in the world that is also totally delicious:

1 C. carrot juice
1 C. Lemon Ginger Echinacea juice
2 small, ripe bananas, chopped up

Blend all that together, which is enough to make 3 or 4 glasses of this juice. It's best, of course, if the juices are already chilled before you blend them. (As for Lemon Ginger Echinacea juice, I didn't remotely believe my recipe book that this is a totally customary, off-the-shelf juice buy, but there it was, literally as described. Go figger.)

Here's the best part, though: grate 1 Tbs. bittersweet chocolate shavings on top of the juice, after you've poured it. If you're a kitchen type, even at the minor-league level, you need a $12 MicroPlane zester. Among the best buys I ever made: grate your own fresh cheese, fresh lemon & citrus zest, your own chocolate shavings, perfect for baking, drink flavoring, or making dinner look pretty on your plate.

This is about the best you can do for non-alcoholic summer drinking by the side of the glittering pool laptop. If you're really good to me and come help me pack my apartment and move, or you visit me in Hartford after I've arrived, I might let you in on my Bourbon Slush and white chocolate martini recipes.

And by the way, speaking of nice 'n' smooth (and, well, speaking of apparitional lesbians), the blog entry on Missy Elliott's The Cookbook has been delayed, because the album is too hot to minimize with a dashed-off capsule entry. Suffice it to say that "Irresistible Delicious," Missy's duet with Slick Rick (!!!) is an instant classic of the Missy canon, and my new Summer '05 theme song. But more on this to follow.