Bottom Line: The Made in the USA Champion Juicer is a quiet powerhouse that will make 2015 a veggie-full year!

I adore ginger in my veggie juice-here I am making sure I get that spicy dose o’ superfood!

A classic like the ubiquitous KitchenAid Stand Mixer, The Champion Juicer was invented in 1954. This American made beauty has been continually refined and enhanced to extract every bit of nutrition and flavor from fruits, vegetables and nuts. The Champion produces ‘living’ foods and juices. Living foods and juices retain the maximum nutrients and fiber so that you get the full benefits from fresh fruits and vegetables.

Unlike centrifugal juicers (Breville), the Champion is high RPM masticating juicer designed to avoid destruction of essential vitamins, proteins and enzymes by using a slow turning auger that prevents friction heat. It uses a crushing and squeezing action instead of blades, ensuring that the tiny fiber-bearing particles in the produce aren’t prematurely oxidized. This is our top pick for a great kitchen ‘all-rounder’ The Champion 2000+ is easy to assemble, with no screws, clamps or small parts and is easy to clean.

The Champion 2000+ is not just a juicer. You can make your own smooth nut butters, healthy baby food, fruit sauces and purees. The homogenizing function is great to make veggie loaves or delicious dairy free, enzyme active banana-based ice creams.

This is a superior machine to the Breville Juicer we previously reviewed a few years back for several reasons: It’s balanced and solid, tested by American workers three times before being packed by hand into a box for retail sale, not a mass-produced plastic (thrown into a box) Made in China machine.  It is also a food processor that can swap out a screen for a “blank” or solid piece that enables you to go from extraction of juices to blending and pureeing of nuts, meats and vegetables.

The Champion Juicer homogenizes (ultra blending and whipping into thick puree) vegetables and fruits into everything from frozen sorbets, vegan ice creams, soups, nut butters and baby foods.

The surprisingly quiet machine also cleans up far quicker than the Breville, and when you purchase this incredible workaholic, you are supporting American workers.  And if you are using it, you will absolutely lose weight and feel full and satisfied from healthy fiber filled delicious treats.

Dessert talk before savory goodies…

I’m having the time of my life making “ice cream” in my Champion Juicer. The fruit flavors are really easy, because all you need is the actual fruit (frozen). So far I have made papaya, mango, coconut, strawberry, blackberry, coffee, and am trying a recipe for mint chocolate chip.

Add some frozen bananas to other berry fruit for a better consistency, as it helps make the mix really creamy yet the flavor is not so noticeable. I’m dreaming up new raw food frozen treats as I type! Also you can easily make nut butters with the Champion, and even nut additions (and cacao nibs) to the frozen treats for a protein and texture punch.

Creamy Soft Serve…Fruit!

Did you know you can turn any fruit into a sorbet? Just wash, peel, and pit as needed, cut into chunks that fit into the feeding tube and freeze. Swap out the screen for the solid blank screen and run the frozen fruit through – voila! Instant delicious, healthy sorbets.

Almond Nut Butter!

This is my weakness. It’s quite expensive already prepared, and I prefer fresh made. I soak the almonds overnight then dehydrate in a slow low heat oven (175 degrees) for about 6 hours (you can also use a dehydrator). Run the almonds through the Champion Juicer with the blank screen on.  Add a pinch of salt if desired.

Hummus

• 1 can Chickpeas
• 2 beets*, roasted and cut into chunks (optional)
• 1 -3 Garlic cloves (depends on preference)
• Juice of 1/2 large lemon
• Olive oil, Tahini
• Optional: fresh herbs (dill or basil) and sumac for topping
  *To make green hummus replace beets with 2 handfuls of fresh spinach

Fit the blank screen (or use homogenizing body) onto the juicer body.
Alternate chickpeas, garlic cloves, and beets/spinach for best flavor melding.
Mix in olive oil or 2-4 Tablesoons of tahini until you have your desired consistency.

Leftovers after any meal? Create a healthy, hearty soup.

Using your blank screen run any of your leftover vegetables (like broccoli, peas, green beans) through your Champion Juice (use that nfty blank screen).  Add even more steamed broccoli florets – about 2 cups. Once cooled, run through juicer with blank screen.
In a large saucepan, cook 1/4 cup diced onions in 2 Tbsp olive oil…
Add in:
Green vegetables mixture from the Champion juicer
1 cup leftover mashed potatoes (or cook one medium potato and run through Champion juicer with blank screen)
2+ cups of chicken or vegetable stock. Use the stock to get the soup to your desired consistency
Salt and pepper to taste
Top with vegan cheese or shredded cheddar cheese-mangia!

Butternut Soup

Make this healthy, hearty and tasty soup:

Peel and de-seed a medium butternut squash.
Cut into chunks and bake at 375° for 40 minutes.
*Timesaver tip: bake it whole, peel after it’s cooked – don’t forget to put in an air vent.*
Run cooked squash chunks through your Champion Juicer with the blank screen (or homogenizing body).
Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a sauce pan
Dice 1 small onion and sauté in oil
Once onions get glassy add 1 small garlic clove pressed or minced
Sauté until onions start to brown
Add:

• 1½ cups of the butternut puree
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/8 tsp. cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Stir until thoroughly heated and serve.

You can use this same idea with other vegetables, such as Pumpkin, zucchini, and peas!

Drink your meal!

Here is a nutrient-packed smoothie that will help you power up for your workout, or afterwards:

• 6 medium kales leaves, chopped or ripped into 3-inch pieces
• 1 banana, peeled
• 1 medium mango* peeled and pitted
• 1 cup whole strawberries, stems removed
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
• ½ to 1 scoop protein powder, plain or vanilla flavored

* can substitute frozen mango with fresh or frozen peach

Fit juicer with small screen attachment; juice kale.
Replace small screen with blank or use homogenizing body to process banana, mango and strawberries.
Stir in kale shot, flax and protein powder until thoroughly blended.

Refrigerate until serving.

If desired, thin with coconut water or almond milk.

Hot-Toddy Cold and Flu

Cold and Flu Season is here, this Champion Original will cure what ails you!

• 1 (4-inch) piece of fresh ginger
• 2 apples…
• 1 lime or lemon, peeled
• Cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• Nutmeg
• 1 cup boiling water
• Honey or agave nectar, to taste

Juice ginger, apples and lime/lemon. Warm juice in microwave or over medium heat. Add cinnamon stick and cloves; let the mixture stand for 2 minutes so the flavors can mingle. Pour about 3/4 cup juice into serving mug; add boiling water to fill mug or to taste. Sprinkle with pinch of nutmeg and add honey to desired sweetness.

Watch as brand ambassador Melissa Halas-Liang, MA, RD, CDE  who really practices what she preaches living a healthy lifestyle daily, demonstrate the features and benefits of the Champion Juicer.  She believes good nutrition plays a vital role in spiritual, physical and mental health. Her videos are fabulous “watch-see-do” tutorials that are short and to the point, making the decision to go American-made “Champion” an easy one:

Original Article