When I was little and before there were Juice Stops, Jamba Juices and smoothies galore...there was Orange Julius :). Every mall had one of these little kiosks or store fronts where the counter display was lined with plastic oranges and they had the most delicious orange, pineapple and tropical flavored....

There is something so special about eating fresh and making mealtimes a daily family gathering. I've found that cooking fresh is definitely nourishing, but when I'm able to cook with my family or friends, it brings out an ample dose of love and creativity that enriches our relationship on a much deeper level. And then when we sit down to share our bounty, there's a comfort in the ritual of breaking bread while sharing the highlights of every one's day, world events and whatever else is on our minds.