7 Signs a Watermelon is Bad

How many times have you brought a nice-looking watermelon from your local grocery store, only to discover that the fruit is soft, bitter, or lacking in sweetness? This is something that happens to the best of us, but it sure doesn’t have to! Below are 7 traits that indicate that the watermelon that you’re about to buy is bad:

1. It is Cracking and Has White or Black Spots 

A melon that has white and black dots, or has a lot of cracking, could be afflicted with what is known as belly rot, a condition which is known to speed up the molding process. This rot will obviously affect the taste and can even end up making you sick. 

 

2. It Feels Light 

While carrying a light watermelon back to the car on a hot summer’s day may sound like an advantage to some, the most informed know that this is a sign of trouble. This is because a lightweight watermelon informs you that there’s not enough water inside the rind, which means that you’ll likely be met with a dehydrated fruit once you cut into it.

3. It Doesn’t Sound Right  

When you knock on a watermelon, you’ll want to hear a hollow sound as this is a sure sign that the fruit is juicy and filled with water. On the other hand, if you hear a thud, it’s a dud. 

 

4. The Stem is Green  

When buying a watermelon it’s a good idea to take a close look at the stem. While a parched-looking stem might look like a warning, it’s actually a good thing as it means that the fruit is ready to eat. If it has a rich green stem, the fruit definitely needs some more time to ripen.

5. It’s Too Good Looking 

Watermelons that have flawless rinds are not the ones to go for. If a melon is devoid of webbing, then it means that the fruit didn’t receive enough pollination. Though this won’t necessarily result in an inedible watermelon, it could mean that your fruit won’t be as sugary sweet as it should be. Sometimes, ugly is better!

6. It’s Too Long  

While watermelons with long bodies are not necessarily bad for eating, rounder ones are generally much sweeter. 

 

7. It Has a Big White Spot  

When you turn over your watermelon you should see what is known as a field spot. The sweetest melons have a yellowish color on their underside – the darker, the better. However, keep in mind that a white spot is better than no spot at all.

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Sesame Cucumber Salad

Salads are essentially the best thing to serve during the hot summer months. They are refreshing and healthy at the same time. And almost no salad is as fresh as the sesame cucumber salad. It’s the best cooling side dish to grilled chicken, short rib, or fish, an excellent topping for a rice bowl, but the bold flavor of the sauce makes it great on its own, too!

If you are confused about which type of cucumbers to use, it is strongly recommended to opt for Persian cucumbers. They are seedless, available in almost any supermarket, and their compactness helps them hold more flavor than bigger, more water-logged ones. If you can’t find Persian Cucumbers, this recipe works great with Kirby cucumbers, too. 

 

This summer salad is super easy to make, so don’t hesitate to save it for your next outdoor dinner or weekend lunch!

 

Ingredients

1 lb (4 cups) Persian cucumbers 

 

2 tbsp sesame oil 

 

1 tbsp sesame seeds 

 

1 tbsp soy sauce, preferably low-sodium 

 

½ tbsp lemon juice 

 

1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated 

 

Honey to taste 

 

Salt to taste 

 

⅓ cup cilantro, roughly chopped 

 

Chili oil, for serving

Instructions

1. Halve each cucumber lengthwise, bash it slightly with the side of your knife (like you would smash a garlic clove to remove the skins) then cut each half into 4 or 5 chunks. The smashing helps the cucumber to trap extra dressing and flavors. 

 

2. Transfer the cut cucumbers into a bowl and toss with 2 tsp of salt, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Make sure you don’t leave the cubes for too long, or they’ll become far too salty! 

 

3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together sesame oil, sesame seeds. Soy sauce, lemon juice, ginger, and honey.

 

4. Transfer the cucumber into a strainer and rinse. Try to shake off as much water as possible, to get rid of any excess fluid. 

 

5. Add the cucumbers into the dressing bowl and toss to combine them, then toss with cilantro. Serve drizzled with chili seed oil, if desired.

 

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Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a raw tomato and vegetable soup popular in Spain and Portugal, particularly during the summer. Gazpacho is a very hydrating food thanks to its main ingredient - tomatoes. A one-cup serving of tomatoes consists of 94% water, and it will also provide you with 10% of the required daily value of potassium. Getting enough potassium is important for various reasons, including managing blood pressure and warding off heart disease. 

 

 

To make gazpacho, follow this simple recipe: 

Ingredients:  

2 cups tomato juice 

4 medium tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped 

1/2 cup chopped, seeded, and peeled cucumber 

1/3 cup finely chopped onions 

1/4 cup olive oil 

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 

1 teaspoon sugar 

1 garlic clove, minced 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon pepper. 

 

Instructions:  

Pulse the tomatoes until they form a puree. Add the cucumber, onions, garlic, vinegar, and half a teaspoon of salt. Process continuously until the ingredients are liquefied. A food processor will make gazpacho with more texture; a blender or immersion blender will make the gazpacho smoother. Cover and refrigerate until chilled for at least 4 hours.

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Tzatziki

This Greek dip is made with yogurt and cucumber, both of which are packed with water. Yogurt alone contains 85% water and has a lot of the same benefits milk and cottage cheese do. It can be eaten as a refreshing condiment for roast veggies or simply as a dip for carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, and other vegetables.  

 

Here’s how to easily prepare homemade tzatziki: 

Ingredients: 

1 cup whole milk Greek yogurt 

1 cucumber, finely grated 

2 cloves garlic, finely minced 

1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill 

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. 

 

Instructions: 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and dill. Season with salt and pepper. Chill. For some extra flavor, you can add some olive oil and coarsely chopped fresh mint. 

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10 Bizarre Ways Spices Can Be Used For Things Other Than Cooking

We all know spices make food taste great and that different cultures use them to make their cuisine special and authentic. You can often quickly identify the origin of a dish you are enjoying by the spices it contains; but do you know spices can be used for things other than cooking? Spices have been a valued commodity throughout history and have played a part in major historical events such as the discovery of new territories, wars, treaties between empires, and have even been used as currency. Our life, as we know it today, would not be the same without the existence of spices. Their use has changed the course of human history, not only by shaping the way we cook and eat, but also by affecting the way we lived and traded. Let’s explore a few ancient and current ways in which spices have been used outside of the kitchen that you probably didn’t know about.

1 Mummification and embalming

Masters in matters of mummification, the ancient Egyptians used a combination of spices, among other things, to preserve the bodies of the deceased. After extracting the brain through the nose and removing the organs (or dissolving them by injecting resin into the abdomen), the bodies were cleansed with a mix of spices. Myrrh was the most crucial component; it was used as an insect repellant on the bodies and the surrounding environment. Cinnamon was used in oil-form for its anti-fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Cumin, also an antibacterial, was used in addition to anise oil’s antiseptic and antimicrobial properties to prevent decay and putrefaction.

9 Alcoholic drink infusions

One of the most aromatic distilled alcoholic drinks is gin. Each distillery uses a different mix of “botanicals” to make their signature drink, but most of them include at least one of the following spices: coriander, cardamom, anise, black pepper, cinnamon, or saffron. Gin connoisseurs can even tell distilleries apart by the predominant spice used in the drink. Another popular alcoholic drink infused with spices is Spiced Rum. You can even make it at home by infusing regular rum with spices such as vanilla, cinnamon, allspice berries, cloves, peppercorns, nutmeg and ginger. Other notable spiced drinks include liqueurs such as Creme de Menthe, Campari, Fernet, and Jaegermeister, which all use spices to obtain their unique taste.

8 Insomnia remedies

Nutmeg and cinnamon have both been studied for their calming and sleep aiding properties. While the efficacy of most natural remedies is difficult to prove, traditional medicine enthusiasts swear by the calming properties of nutmeg and its ability to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. However, beware of consuming too much nutmeg. Over-consumption has been known to cause hallucinations, among other nasty side effects. There is even a state called “Nutmeg psychosis” in which people have been known to experience agitation and even a sense of doom! If you suffer from insomnia but are hesitant to try out nutmeg, cinnamon is your safest bet.

7 Botanical colognes

Before the invention of the modern bath or shower, people couldn’t clean their bodies with soap and water as we do now, so they depended on perfumes and colognes to mask their body odor. Imagine how potent these had to be to mask weeks of body odor and sweat! Some perfumes at the time were even deemed “medicinal” for their use in combating “bad air”, which was thought to cause and spread illness. Before modern hygiene standards, bad smells were synonymous with disease entering our body through the nose, hence the use of perfume to eliminate them. Nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and myrrh were infused with alcohol in ancient practices of perfume and cologne making. Their potent smell, combined with other herbs and flowers, was key in the development of modern fragrances.

6 Homemade scent sachets

If you want to go all natural and avoid the use of chemicals in your laundry routine, try using sachets containing spices. These are not meant to replace your fabric softeners, but instead are meant to add a pleasant scent to your washed clothes. You can also store them in your drawers between your clothes or on hangers in your closet to perpetuate a clean, earthy scent. It’s very easy to make one—in a cloth pouch, add cloves, cinnamon or nutmeg (whole, not ground) and mix with lavender, rose petals or your favorite dried flower and throw the sachet in the drier and voila, homemade scent sachets! These sachets can also prevent bacteria from building up in your closets or drawers, depending on the antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of the spices chosen.

5 Herbal tinctures

Herbal tinctures are concentrated liquid forms of one or more herbs or spices. Generally, they are made from parts of plants soaked for a few weeks in vinegar or alcohol. Tinctures are used as natural remedies and generally taken orally by placing a few drops underneath the tongue. Please do not try to make them at home—some plants, or parts of them, can be poisonous if not used properly. One of the most popular spice tinctures is made of turmeric. It is widely used as an anti-inflammatory to reduce inflammation and as an antioxidant compound. Before consuming anything, always consult with a doctor or nutritionist—you want to make sure you’re consuming the right amount of spices for your unique situation.

4 Homemade paint

There are two popular ways you can make your own paint. The easiest is to mix a tablespoon of any brightly-colored spice with a bit of water to create a paste. The spice will not dissolve entirely, but the water will become stained with its color and it can then be used it to make Easter eggs or a soft, watercolor-effect painting. This is very similar to a technique used by humans thousands of years ago to create cave paintings and colorful pottery. They used everything from spices to blood, berries, roots, and minerals.

The second way to make paint is to mix the spice with white tempera paint to make a more permanent color. This is a great way to keep children entertained and to teach them about color theory and the distinct smell of each spice. Paprika makes a great reddish paint, turmeric a lovely yellow, and cinnamon is perfect for brown. It is a great sensory experience for both children and adults and can be a fun way of experimenting on a budget!

3 Keeping animals away from your garden

Wild animals can be very cute, especially bunnies! We all love them, but if you are trying to grow your own veggies, they will become your sworn enemy. While we do not want to harm cute wild animals, we do want to keep them out of our gardens and away from our delicious vegetables. The best way to achieve this is by sprinkling the ground around your vegetable patch with strong spices like cayenne pepper, chili powder or red pepper. This will not only keep pests away, but will also enrich your soil and protect it from bacteria. Just be careful when watering your garden—try to avoid these areas or you will have to sprinkle spices on the ground more frequently.

2 Improve overall health

While they are not a replacement for medicine, spices can improve your overall health when they are incorporated into your diet. Numerous studies have been conducted on the health benefits of different spices. For instance, cinnamon has shown to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and to reduce high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Turmeric is widely known to fight inflammation- curcumin, one of its key components, may reduce inflammation in the brain and studies have shown that its consumption improves memory in adults over 50. Curcumin can also reduce pain and swelling in people with arthritis. Another incredible spice to add to your daily routine is Ginger. It is great at preventing nausea, upset stomach, and has been used to prevent motion sickness and chemotherapy induced nausea. If you’re prone to nausea on flights or boat rides, don’t forget to pack a ginger tea or soda!

1 Insect repellant

Ants hate cinnamon, so if you have an ant problem, just sprinkle some cinnamon powder near them and they will go away! Better yet, you can mix cinnamon oil with water and spray it where you see an ant trail. Bed bugs hate cinnamon too! If you’re living in a dorm and are in need for a quick bed-bug fix, drop a few (5-7) drops of cinnamon oil with water and spray your bed-sheets and covers a few hours before bedtime. It will not kill the bugs, but will diminish their activities until you can contact a professional for help. Cinnamon can not only be used for ants and bed bugs—in fact many critters despise cinnamon. It can be a useful repellent against spiders, mosquitoes, fruit flies, wasps and even mice.

It is now apparent why spices were so important throughout human history. It is not surprising that wars were fought over them and that they were valued as currency. Their versatility and deliciousness altered the course of history and created effective and nutritious ways for people of the past and present to deal with every-day ailments and chores. If our ancestors could see how easy it is for us to obtain spices now, they would roll on their graves! Spices have truly impressive properties and are now easily accessible to us. They are typically not expensive and can be found in grocery stores around the world, so start incorporating more spices into your dishes and around your home for a more natural way to live a healthier and better life. Or better yet, get crafty like our ancestors and find a new, bizarre way to use those spices in your cabinet!

 

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