Watermelon Recipes, Stories, History & More

My childhood memories of summer days are filled with thoughts of watermelons. Whether we sat down right in the garden to eat our fill or served it up cold, nothing better than a slice of watermelon with a tall glass of iced Sweetea to cool you on a hot day.

Maybe you'll find a new way to beat the heat with watermelon with the info on this page.

*Why Watermelon is good for you

*Facts about choosing and storing Watermelon

*Recipes

Watermelon is beneficial to the skin and aids in the regenerative process. This fruit contains lots of Vitamin C and Potassium which help to regulate the balance of water and nutrients in cells. Hydration is one secret to vibrant, healthy, youthful looking skin. Watermelon also protects skin against sunburn helping to prevent sun-related skin damage.

Watermelon is grown in over 96 countries with over 1,200 varieties worldwide.

Grow your own watermelon! Get seeds here

Demand watermelon with seeds and help fight the control of corporations.

You can hardly find a watermelon that hasn't been genetically altered to be seedless in the US. Do you think this is a good idea? The seed companies do this so that growers are forced to buy their seeds every year. But is this healthy or does it take the life-force out of the food? Or worse? Europeans do not allow genetically altered foods.

Are seedless watermelons a good thing or a bad idea?

There's an art to choosing the best watermelon. The National Watermelon Promotion Board offers these three easy tips for choosing a great watermelon.

Choose a firm, symmetrical fruit that is free of bruises, cuts and dents.

Before you buy, pick up your melon. The heavier it feels, the better -- a good watermelon is 92% water, which makes up most of its weight.

On the underside of the watermelon there should be a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

Store watermelon on the warm side

Store uncut watermelons at room temperature. They continue to develop nutrients after picking and refrigeration halts the process.

"U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers found watermelons stored at room temperature have significantly more antioxidants and other nutrients than watermelons kept in the refrigerator." ~cbsnews.com

"Researchers say the average shelf life of watermelons after harvest is 14-21 days if stored at 55 degrees. But decay occurs after as little as a week when stored at refrigerator temperatures of around 41 degrees." The study appears in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.Aug. 9, 2006; vol 54.Perkins-Veazie, P.

Whole melons will keep for 7 to 10 days at room temperature. Place the melon in the refrigerator to cool it down before eating. It tastes most refreshing cool.

Store melons too long, and they'll lose flavor and texture. Once a melon is cut, it should be wrapped and stored at 37° - 39° F.

Unless prepared properly, lower temperatures cause chill injury. After two days at 32° F, watermelons can develop an off-flavor, become pitted and lose color. Freezing causes rind to break down and produces a mealy, mushy texture. But The right procedures will help protect their taste and nutritional value.

First cut the watermelon in half, then remove seeds and rind. Cut the melon into slices, wedges or cubes. Spread pieces single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm. Covering the cookie sheet with waxed paper helps. Transfer firm pieces to freezer containers or bags, ;Leaving a half inch of headroom for expansion during freezing. Thaw frozen melons in the refrigerator before use. Use within four days.

Resounces:

Watermelon.org

eHow.com

This healthy food is very low in calories, cholesterol and sodium. It is a good source of Phosphorus, Zinc and Manganese, and a very good source of Magnesium and lycopene. Lycopene is a phytochemical that protects your heart, prostate and skin health. Curcubocitrin, another ingredient in watermelon, may help to reduce blood pressure.

Watermelon quenches thirst and relieves irritability. It contains vitamin C and a phytonutrient called lycopene (sounds like "LIKE-oh-peen"). Lycopene is the substance, or pigment, that gives tomatoes and watermelon their red color. Watermelons and tomatoes both have lots of lycopene. It seems that your body can use the lycopene from watermelon more easily than the lycopene from raw tomatoes because the lycopene from tomatoes is more easily absorbed by the body once the tomatoes have been cooked.

Chinese Medicine says watermelon dispels summer heat problems, promotes diuresis, and detoxifies the body. Watermelon is considered sweet and cold, and is associated with the Spleen and Stomach meridians. All parts of the watermelon, including the fruit, rind and seeds, are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Click the link to read more about Chinese Medicine and Summer

CAYCE QUOTE ON REMEDY 1695-2

"But at least once a day, three days a week, do take watermelon seed tea as a part of the water. This would be prepared by pouring a pint of boiling water over a tablespoonful of watermelon seed (ground or cut) and allowing it to steep. Let it cool, then strain and drink. This will clarify those conditions that cause reactions in the kidneys and bladder, for, the lack of eliminations and the slowing up of the circulation causes a greater quantity of drosses to be held in the system, and these need to be eliminated from the body.

More will be eliminated through using this stimuli for the kidney activity than in most any way."

WGNT: Recipe Of The Day From

Green Tea: 50 Hot Drinks, Cool Quenchers, And Sweet And Savory Treats (50 Series)

3 cups chopped watermelon without seeds

1 cup green tea chilled

1 cup cream soda chilled

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon light brown sugar

Two to four 5-inch-long cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Put all of the ingredients except the cinnamon sticks into a blender and blend on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour the tea into old-fashioned glasses filled with ice. Stand a cinnamon stick up in each glass. Serve immediately. Serves 2 to 4

Watermelon Salad

Photo by foodiesathome.com

This refreshing Watermelon Mint smoothie, so luscious and good for you, makes a great breakfast, or a super pick-me-up snack anytime. Get the easy Watermelon Mint Smoothie Recipe here

CC photo by Maroon Michelle

An article from RealAge.com called 6 Healthy Reasons to Eat Watermelon provides a recipe for Watermelon Slushies . With this recipe, which serves 4, all ingredients are combined in a blender or food processor and mixed into a frosty slush. See the Watermelon Slushie Recipe here.

Hey - Watermelon Man

Hey - Watermelon Man

Bring me one that rattles when you lug it

One that's erd and juicy when you plug it

Do you understand - Watermelon Man

Hey - Watermelon Man

Hey - Watermelon Man

Hot and bothered need a little cooling

When I hear your call I start to drooling

Do you understand - Watermelon Man

Squidoo Official Lens of the Day: Friday, August 17th, 2007

Thanks, Team Squidoo, for honoring

my "Watermelon" Lens!

August 17th, 2007

Read what Team Squid had to say here: