Watermelon Link Love!

It's summer and one fun summertime treat is watermelon.  I bought a watermelon this week and wanted to find some creative recipes to try.  Avoid those pesticides if you can and try to grow your own or buy one organic.

Photo Credit: knowledgebase-script.com

I was thrilled to find this recipe from Melanie at PickleMeToo, fellow Nourishing Living Network, contributor:  Fermented Watermelon Rind.  This is a great way to get even more yumminess out of your watermelon!

Here are a few other great ideas for using the watermelon.  I can't wait to try some of these out...

* Watermelon Muffins (I would leave out the food coloring and cut the sugar in half, using sucanat instead)

* Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

* Sweet, Salty, Spicy Watermelon Refresher Recipe

* Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad 

* Beet Watermelon Soup

* Watermelon Pudding

Do you have any fun ways that you like to use watermelon?

(Featured on The Nourishing Gourmet)

Whole Foods Friday - Homemade Cherry Vanilla Pops

*3 cups pitted cherries (fresh or frozen)

*2 cups whole milk yogurt

*1-2 T raw honey

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Pour into popsicle molds.  This should make more than one batch, depending on the size of your molds.

Stainless Steel Popsicle Mold

It's summer!!!  And, time to introduce my 2 year old son to some homemade popsicles.  I found this popsicle maker on amazon and am fairly please with it.  The one draw back is that you still have to use wooden popsicle sticks, as it does not come with it's own sticks (as the picture on amazon makes it appear to).

But, it's a better option than using plastic molds and I am hoping to get lots of enjoyment out of the set.  Be sure to check back tomorrow for my cherry vanilla popsicle recipe!

What kind of popsicle molds do you use in your home?

Fruit Flavored Water - Make Your Own Vitamin Water; Part 2

I found this idea at The Yummy Life.  You can make your own vitamin water using fresh fruits and herbs.  The Yummy Life has a number of different recipes, or you can create your own (like I did!), with what you have on hand.   According to Monica, at The Yummy Life, the fruit will last for three days.  This water seems to get better the long it sits.  I just keep refilling the jars as we drink the water, and I leave them in the fridge so they stay nice and cold.

I chose not to put ice in my water because we filter our water before we drink it and I cannot make filtered water ice cubes fast enough to fill these jars.  I simply use this stainless steel funnel strainer when I pour out the water.  (I love this strainer by the way; great for filtering tea, too!)

When the three days is up, try adding the fruit to a smoothie (except of course things like citrus, that have the peel - remove that before consuming).

No more boring water around here!  And talk about pretty!  I love opening the fridge and seeing all those colors; I just can't get enough water these days...

For more combinations, check out the post at The Yummy Life.

The combinations I used in these jars from left to right:  orange and lemon with lemon verbena, strawberries, blueberries, and cucumber with mint and sage, white peach with lemon verbena.

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Fruit Flavored Water - Make Your Own Vitamin Water Part One

I could not resist a sneak peak for making Fruit Flavored Water.  My entire post goes up on Tuesday with some delightful combination ideas.  I was inspired by this idea at The Yummy Life.  Be sure to come back on Tuesday to see what other delicious combinations I came up with...no boring water around this house this summer!

(Above is my watermelon, mint and sage water...just gets better with age!  According to the Yummy Life, the fruit should last 3 days.)

(Featured on Natural Mother's Network, Healthy Home Economist, The Homestead Revival, Real Food Forager, Traditional Tuesdays)

Health Benefits of Strawberries and Strawberry Leaves

Strawberry season has started out here in San Diego and we received our first pint in our organic co-op this week.  Because of the heavy use of pesticides on commercial strawberries, this is definitely a fruit that you want to buy organic.

Strawberries pack a healthy punch!  According to the World's Healthiest Foods, they ranked 27th as a best food in the US, due to their high antioxidant level and ranked 4th among fruits.  They ranked 3rd for the highest antioxidant levels per serving size!

Strawberries are high in Vit. C, phytonutrients, and a good source of manganese.  They are anti-inflammatory in nature, have blood sugar regulating qualities, fight cancer, and benefit the cardiovascular system.  You can read more about them HERE.

Strawberries are a fragile food, so if you cannot consume them within a day or two of picking or buying at the grocery store, then freeze them right away.  You want to look for berries that look plump and are bright red.

Photo Credit: grit.com

Strawberry leaves are also of value!  These can be taken as a tea or in capsule form (do not take if you have a strawberry allergy).  The leaves can be used to help balance the acids in your digestive tract and are a good digestive tonic.  Strawberry leaves can also help to prevent anemia and help with aches and pains of arthritis.  They are rich in vitamins and minerals, and is one of the best natural sources of vit. C.  The leaves can be made into an infusion tea the same way you would use red raspberry leaves.

Pomegranates

It's fall, which means, time for pomegranates!  These beautiful fruits are a powerful superfood.  They are full of vitamin C, potassium, vit. B 6, and polyphenols (help prevent cellular damage in the body).  Some studies show that they may have 2-3 times the antioxidant power of green tea and red wine.

Though delicious, the seeds can be a challenge to harvest for those who have never cut a fresh pomegranate.  I find that the easiest way to obtain the seeds is to cut the fruit in half and then gently break each half into half.  Then submerge in water, and separate the seeds from the pulp.  That way if seeds are broken, you will not get sprayed by the juice, which can stain.  Make sure you wear old clothes or a large apron.

This year I am going to try to buy 25 pounds from my local co-op.  The seeds can be made into juice or simply frozen for later use.  It may be a lot of work, but the nutritional value and delicious taste is worth the effort.