Food for Thought : July is National Watermelon Month

Watermelon is what most of us consider the official fruit of summer . No summer gathering is complete without one of these juicy and tasty fruits .
Watermelon is quite healthy food . It is a good source of vitamins A and C . They also cohntain lycopene , fiber and potassium . They also mostly water , about 90 percent , so they can help you stay hydrated on hot summer days . Here are a few tips to help you enjoy watermelon this month .

1 .  Start with a good one :
Pick it up . It should feel heavy  for it's size . They should have a creamy yellow spot from where they rested on the ground . When it is ripe it will be creamy yellow . Also , give it a thump . It sould have a deep hollow sound ,

2 .  Think outside the box when preparing watermelonn :
Use watermelon in fruit salads or pair with shrimp on a skewer. Use watermelon juice for glaze for meats .

3 .  Cook watermelons in different ways :
Caramelize watermelon slices on the grill .Then drizzle with honey ,lemon ,lime and a pinch of salt . Blend up watermelon with some ice for a drink after summer exercise.

Watermelon-Strawberry Agua Fresca 

TOTAL TIME: 25 MINUTES     SERVINGS: Makes 8 drinks 

make-ahead

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 mint sprigs, plus more for garnish
One 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
Pinch of salt
2 cups seedless watermelon cubes
2 cups hulled strawberries
Ice and chilled sparkling water, for serving

1 .  In a small saucepan, combine the water with the sugar. Simmer over moderate heat until the sugar has dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Add the 2 mint sprigs, ginger and salt and let stand for 10 minutes. 
2 .  Strain the syrup into a blender. Add the watermelon and strawberries and puree until smooth. 
3 .  Fill 8 glasses with ice. Pour the agua fresca into the glasses and top off with sparkling water. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve. 

Words of Wisdom

We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.

The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.

A home with a loving and loyal husband and wife is the supreme setting in which children can be reared in love and righteousness and in which the spiritual and physical needs of children can be met.

A proud grand-poppa        G.