Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Cool as a Cucumber

We are having a real heat streak in the west. Record breaking temperatures are making life somewhat miserable at times. Afternoon breaks in the shade (or naps), cool and refreshing beverages, and air conditioning if available are all ways to cope. The weeds in the garden grow, but it's way too hot to work outside for very long! Let them grow! Fortunately the vegetables thrive in the heat too, sometimes growing larger than we really wish they would. Oversized cucumbers are wonderful when used to combat the heat. Simply slice them and put them in a gallon jar. Fill with pure water and allow to sit in the fridge for twenty-four hours. Then, pour some over a glass of ice. So good! Add mint, rosemary, ginger or sweet basil if you'd like. Be creative and have fun!


Here's Jill's recipe for staying as cool as a cucumber! She says:

My fav is cucumbers, a bit of parsley, a dash of salt and pepper, plain yogurt and lots of ice blended together. Heat survival special!

11 comments:

  1. It's 4 am here and still 74 degrees outside. ..and I'm not sleeping.
    The cool cucumber water looks so refreshing. .I would make some now. .but Terry would think I really have heat stroke. .I'll settle for some ice water. .
    Stay cool.

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  2. I was listening to the heat reports for your area. Please do take care and stay cool. Hopefully, no more power outages!

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  3. Sounds lovely. I have to admit it's been a few days since I've felt as cool as a cucumber :0)

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  4. Now I never knew that before!

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  5. Oh yes...love using cucumbers to fight heat. My fav is cucumbers, a bit of parsley, a dash of salt and pepper, plain yogurt and lots of ice blended together. Heat survival special!

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  6. I see that the phrase "cool as a cucumber" was obviously coined with good reason! Thanks for these marvelous hints for keeping cool. Before today I did not know about cucumber water. It sounds quite refreshing.

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  7. Wow - that mint and cuke water sounds very refreshing!

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  8. Sounds good. Still hot here, but about 10 degrees cooler than yesterday.

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  9. The cucumber water looks refreshing. I always imagine living before AC was invented. I have a strong suspicion that we would never have moved South in those days.

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  10. Just looking at your photo is cooling. We're growing cucumbers this year so will have to try that! And we certainly have lots of mint out there.

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  11. Why I have never heard of such thing...My I must give it a try Planting for my cucumber is next week. It will be a few weeks for me yet.

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