Cucumber and Watermelon Salad Recipe

Cucumber and Watermelon Salad

Are you looking for a refreshing yet simple recipe to take to your next picnic? Two years ago I do had an abundance of English burpless cucumbers, in fact in one week alone I picked 34 cucumbers with plenty more still growing, therefore, I started searching for recipes and remembered the cucumber and watermelon salad recipe from the previous summer.  Any cucumber will work; however, I prefer the burpless cuke with tender skins and little seeds.

Ingredients for cucumber and watermelon salad recipe:

• 3 cups English cucumber, cubed in bite size pieces  
• 3 cups seedless watermelon, cubed in bite size pieces  
• 3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice 
•  ¾ tsp Himalayan salt 
•  ground pepper; optional

Instructions to make cucumber and watermelon salad recipe:

1.  In a large bowl, toss the cucumber and watermelon cubes with the lime juice. 
2. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and serve immediately.

The cucumber and watermelon salad recipe is so refreshing and great on a hot summer’s day.

Crispy Baked Asparagus Fries

Do you like asparagus and need a new recipe? Crisp baked asparagus fries were great.

Asparagus is loaded with vitamins and cancer fighting abilities.

According to world healthiest foods, “As a result of its very strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrient composition, we would definitely expect to see a food like asparagus showing up as a risk reducer for certain cancers.”

Ingredients needed to make Asparagus Fries:

• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
• ½ -cup flour; all purpose or wheat
• 2 eggs; lightly beaten
• 3/4 -cup cornflakes; crushed
• ¼ -cup grated Parmesan
• Himalayan salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions needed to make Asparagus Fries:

1)    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit

2)    Dredge the asparagus in the flour

3)    Dip the asparagus in the eggs

4)    Roll into the mixture of the cornflakes, Parmesan, salt and pepper.

5)    Place the asparagus on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 7-13 minutes.

Try crispy baked asparagus fries, they are fantastic.

Cheesy Asparagus Potato Soup 

Homemade Fly, Bug and Mosquito Trap: Plastic Bottle Bug Trap

When I read about the mosquito trap on Facebook, I said OH YES; we need that as the mosquitoes have been out in full force. It seems no spray will distract them from biting me. The other problem this garden season is the flies. Where did they all come from and why do they insist on biting me hard enough to draw blood. These bugs have to go.
We do not drink a lot of soda pop so we did not have a 2-liter bottle; however, after the 24-hour period I could see why the larger bottle was necessary as my little water bottles filled up with flies, garden pests, picnic bugs etc. The one thing I could not see was mosquitoes, so I am not sure if that part is true, however, it is getting the flying pests.

 Supplies needed to make bug trap:

• 1 cup of water
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1 gram of yeast/ Equals: 0.32 teaspoons (tsp) in fresh yeast
• 2-liter plastic bottle
• Scissors
• Tape

Instructions to make bug trap:

1. Cut the plastic bottle in half, no matter what size you choose to use.
2. Place the funnel part, upside down, into the other half of the bottle, taping them securely together. The flies here in Indiana, liked it so much, they were forcing themselves in-between the tape and the bottle to get to the mix.
3. Wrap the bottle with something black, leaving the top uncovered, and place it outside in an area away from your normal gathering area. (the color black or white will draw mosquitoes too)
4. Mix brown sugar with hot water and let it cool. When cold, add the yeast to the mix and there is no need to mix. It creates carbon dioxide, which is said to attract mosquitoes, again I cannot testify to the mosquito part but other bugs and slugs like it. Change the solution every 2 weeks or when you bottle is full for continuous control.

Homemade Wet Burrito: Authentic Mexican Enchilada Sauce

Homemade burritos or wet burritos, the kind topped with homemade authentic Mexican enchilada sauce are delicious.

Why go to the local Mexican Restaurant when you can make them at home?

Making homemade burritos and enchilada sauce will fill your kitchen with the scents of chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion. Oh, what a heavenly scent, therefore doesn’t it make sense to save money, eat healthier and learn to make your own?

Making burritos or wet burritos, topped with an authentic enchilada sauce, are not as hard as it might sound. It might take a little longer than going to the local Mexican restaurant and ordering one, but oh how much more rewarding it is to make your own and you can make them to suit your family’s eating styles. Do you need Gluten-Free? Are you a vegetarian, or do you prefer to avoid red meat? Whatever your diet needs may be you can create your burrito designed just for you.

 Ingredients to make a Homemade Wet Burrito:

• 1 lb ground turkey/Boca crumbles/ground beef/chicken cooked and shredded
• 1 can of vegetarian re-fried beans
• 1 can of gluten-free chili beans
• 1 onion
• 1 sweet pepper; red, orange or green
• 1 tomato, fresh or home canned tomatoes
• Lettuce, shredded
• Shredded co-jack cheese, or cheese of choice
• Authentic homemade enchilada sauce
  or sauce of choice for the vegetarians
• Large flour burrito shells
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions to make a Homemade Wet Burrito:

1.  Brown your meat, green pepper and onions and heat your chili beans and refried beans on low.
2. Shred the lettuce and cheese and dice the tomatoes.
3. Using a large flour or corn shell lets start building your burrito. In the center of the shell, place some beans. The amount of beans you use, determines how large you want your burrito will be in the end.
4. Add ground meat, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and a little cheese.
5. Fold the sides of shell towards the middle and turn over on your plate. Top with enchilada sauce, homemade or purchased, and cheese.
6. Place in microwave for approximately 30 seconds to melt your cheese

   

   Homemade Guacamole without Cilantro

Tips:

• For Gluten-free: eat GF corn shells and cheeses.
• You can make your re-fried beans a little healthier by cooking pinto beans with a little olive oil and blending.
• Homemade salsa, guacamole and nacho chips are great with your burrito.

Cinco de Mayo: Homemade Guacamole without Cilantro

Another year has gone by and that means another Cinco de Mayo, May 5th there will be numerous people celebrating in all the Mexican or Tex-Mex Restaurants such as the, Hacienda Restaurants.

If you do not dine out, stores are running avocados on sale this week so you can make your own guacamole. Our local store has them on sale for .69 cents this week. I purchased some yesterday to enjoy fresh, and also made homemade guacamole without cilantro and fried up some nacho chips to go with them.

Of course, if you read the Bubblews review on Anheuser Busch Bud Light Straw-ber-Rita and Mang-o-Rita’s I will also have a couple of them on ice with a little lime.

Homemade Guacamole without Cilantro

I love making my own wet burritos with the homemade Authentic Mexican Enchilada Sauce covering them; for that recipe, you will have to look on Seekyt; therefore, we will be set and have all we need to be satisfied.

How about you, will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, if so how?