Friday, July 1, 2016

watermelon, cantaloupe, and others......

Enjoying everything seasonal during summer is something we should all take part in.



Stopping by the fruit stands and the farmer's markets during summer is something that I like...It is just not Summer season unless you take part in purchasing fresh seasonal vegetables/fruits from these places and/or growing your own garden and gathering up what you have grown there...

ALWAYS wash any fruit or vegetable before you prepare it, and I like to keep my produce cooled off...wash with water thoroughly at all times! Before you peel, half, or prepare in any way...WASH IT.....This will help rinse off any contaminants on the outer layer before you half it...Bacteria is everywhere on many fruits/vegetables....Listeria/Salmonella are terrible bacteria that will make you become very ill, so ALWAYS wash everything....



Watermelon is a summer tradition and a favorite sweet of mine, and it is healthier than many other things during summertime....Locally Watermelon is grown very easily in the sand/soil....they grow well in sand...When purchasing a melon, you should flink it on the top with your finger...listen for a hollow sound coming from the watermelon....it should be most times, ripe...or purchase during the month of July to find riper ones in stores, markets, fruit stands....

There are several varieties of watermelon:
Black Diamond
Yellow
Orange
Seedless
Red

Probably others i have forgot, anyway, I enjoy them all.

I always wash the watermelons, cantaloupe, honey dews and place in the refrigerator to keep cool before I prepare them...nothing better to enjoy on a hot day than an icy cool slice of these sweets...If you have room in your refrigerator that is...

You can half the watermelon with preparing knife, and then make many slices, place on plates and enjoy with friends/family....I like to shake a little salt on mine.....OR you can just half long ways and use forks/preparing knife to remove slices from the halves and store in refrigerator in plastic tupperwares, or enjoy as soon as you place them on the plates....

 
Cantaloupe is also another summer sweet I like.....It is often very sweet and there are a few varieties of these....You prepare them the same way as the watermelon and honeydews.....I use a little salt on these also....Refrigerate these properly just like the watermelon and prepare the same as them....I enjoy these every summer when I can find a ripe on...IF the outer layer of them cantaloupe looks greenish, it is NOT ripe yet, you may look for one that is riper and no green on the outside....You can purchase them green and let the ripen a few days until the green layer is gone...then enjoy.
 
 
Honey Dew is another summer sweet and it so very pretty in color...a golden color....it is often very sweet and you will know when you try them that they are as sweet as sugar often....I just prepare them as the other two I just talked about, and remember to always wash!
 
REMEMBER if you are diabetic, you probably cannot enjoy these and there are other seasonal summer produce greens you can purchase and enjoy during summer....
 
julie
 


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