8/24 Frozen In Time
One of my most beloved foods of Summer is melon. I love them all…. cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew. Each one has their own distinct and succulent flavor.
Photo By: S. Duquet
Cantaloupe is musky and sensual while watermelon is playful and bright. They are unbelievably juicy and sweet right now so they have become full time residents in our fridge and freezer.
I cut all of the melon and store it in my salad spinner so it never sits in its own juice. This way it wont go bad before you can savor every bite. Give it a try…you will be amazed at how long your cut melon will last.
Photo By: S. Duquet
Another way I preserve the love is to freeze it in one cup portions for smoothies. It is exceptionally convenient to take a baggie out of the freezer and break the melon apart like ice cubes. It will make your smoothie so creamy and sweet, you will absolutely not believe it. I freeze the bags flat so they can be stored on top of each other. This way they do not take up too much room and they are easy to rotate when I make more baggies.
Photo By: S. Duquet
We have been purchasing seasonal fruits from our farmers market and freezing them so we can enjoy them in our smoothies whenever we want. You can certainly purchase frozen fruit at any grocery store, but think of how much more satisfying it can be in January when you are consuming blueberries, honeydew or cantaloupe that were grown, picked and purchased in your community.
Honestly, it never mattered to me before. I bought what I wanted when I wanted it without regard for seasonality or locale. I really did not understand how important it was to the environment, my body and my community to purchase foods that had not traveled from the other side of the country or continent to make it to my table.
Now that I understand…it matters to me very much and you really can taste the difference. Handing a farmer a five dollar bill will always win out over paying the cashier at the mega mart. They have nurtured your food from seed and you will taste it.
So, when you are able…..buy some summer melon and other fruits that are bountiful in your community right now. Freeze them in time for when they are less plentiful and delicious. You will be so glad that you did.
Have a delicious day.
Tags: buy local, compassionate eating, dairy free, farmers market, freezing fruit, frozen fruit, going veg, produce, seasonal melon, smoothies, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan experience, vegan wannabe
