Food, Recipe, and Activity of the Week - July 1, 2007
This week's features include:
Food - Watermelon
Recipe - Hot and sweet watermelon
Activity - Fishing
History
Going back 5000 years to the ancient history of Egypt, watermelons played an important role in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife. The watermelon originated from the Kalahari Desert of Africa and then made its way along the Mediterranean Sea and by the 10th century it could be found in China. It is uncertain when the watermelon made its way to the United States, but food historian John Egerton believes it came with the African slaves. Today the U.S. is the fourth ranked country in the world growing watermelons with 44 states growing the fruit, predominantly in Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Arizona.
Watermelon Facts
Watermelons are grown in rows in sand or sandy loams. Bees pollinate the watermelon plant and one month later a vine is produced. A melon is produced and is ready to be harvested within 90 days. The harvest is done by hand due to the watermelon's fragile surface. The peak production occurs in May, June, July, and August, but watermelons can be found from April through November.
There are many varieties of watermelons and 1200 varieties are grown worldwide. In the United States, about 200-300 varieties can be found of which 50 are popular.
How do you choose a watermelon?
- The watermelon should be firm and free from bruises, cuts, and dents.
- Watermelons consist of 92% water. Therefore, the watermelon should weigh from 5-30 lbs.
- A creamy yellow spot indicates the area where the watermelon was sitting on the ground and was ripening in the sun.
Nutrition Facts per 1 cup: calories: 51, carbohydrates: 11.5 g, protein: 1 g, fat: <1 g, cholesterol: 0 mg, fiber: <1 g, sodium: 3 mg, potassium: 186 mg, vitamin A: 59 RE, vitamin C: 15 mg
Makes 4 (1.5 cup) servings
Ingredients:
- 3/4 teaspoon whole peppercorns or coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons very finely chopped mint leaves
- 6 cups of 3/4 inch seedless red watermelon cubes
- Fresh mint leaves
Directions:
- Place peppercorns on chopping block. Using the bottom of a heavy saucepan, press firmly, into a heavy downward motion and crush peppercorns intoa semi-coarse texture.
- Combine ground peppercorns with finely chopped mint. In a large bowl, toss spice mixture gently but thoroughly with watermelon cubes.
- Spoon into 4 individual serving glasses or bowls. Serve chilled, garnished with a fresh mint leaf.
Nutritional Information: (per serving): 73 Calories, 1 g Fat, 16 grams Carbohydrate, 1 gram Protein, 1 grams, Fiber, 15 mg Sodium
Recipe is courtesy of Produce for Better Health Foundation. All PBH endorsed recipes meet the nutrition standards that maintain fruits and vegetables as healthy foods. For more recipes and other information about fruits and vegetables visit: www.5aday.org
Iowa offers many opportunities for fishing. In fact, there are 31 major natural lakes, over 200 man-made lakes, and over 19000 miles of fishable inland rivers and streams in the state. There are 148 varieties of fish in the waters of Iowa including catfish, herring, minnow, perch, pike, suckers, sunfish, temperate bass, trout, and many more. There are concerns about contaminant levels of certain fish. Therefore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) analyze the contaminant levels of the fish to ensure safe consumption. As a rule of thumb, the fish caught in Iowa is edible except for fish taken from Cedar Lake in Cedar Rapids, or channel catfish from Ottumwa Lagoons.
In order to fish you need to buy a fishing license (prices can be found at http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/regulations/licenses.html). There is also a special trout fee for fishing or possessing trout with exceptions for children younger than 16-years-of-age with parents who have paid the trout fee. You also need to pay attention to the closed season, which goes from December 1 each year through March 15 the following year. During this season, fishing is not allowed. There are also rules to how many and the length fish you can catch. This varies with type of fish and from different waters. For more specific information go to: http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/index.html
For specific information on what equipment you need to catch a certain fish, please contact your fishing retail store.
Fishing is a great way to go out and enjoy nature, have fun, and to be physically active. If you weigh 130 to 215 lbs, fishing can make you burn 222 to 366 kcal per hour respectively. In addition, if you row a boat to your fishing destination you will burn even more.
Remember, if you are questioning if the activity is right for you, consult with your physician beforehand. In addition, always wear a lifejacket when boating, bring a first aid kit in case of an accident, and never fish during a thunderstorm.