Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Cucumber juice with a touch of lime

Funny looking cucumber :P
Summer gardening for me means lots of cucumbers! I love to grow Armenian cucumbers and give them to friends and neighbors. They look so interesting, and taste so good!

I have been giving away cucumbers to friends and neighbors, and I still have a growing stash in the fridge. I have been trying to come up with ways to use up the abundance of cucumbers that isn't pickles and cucumber salad; which I like, but have not been mood to make. Then I remembered how much I love cucumber juice! This juice is so good. Everytime I make it for a party it is a huge hit! It is so yummy! <3

I tried to fit it all in one go...haha
I do not own a fancy juicer, but a strainer and cheesecloth work just as well for removing the pulp. Pretty much all the ratios can be adjusted to personal taste, but the process is the same. The recipe uses organic cane sugar, but you could substitute honey; although, it will affect the flavor.


Cucumber Juice with a touch of lime


  • 3 12in long armenian cucumbers (or about 4.5 cups of diced cucumber, peeled and seeded)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup of organic cane sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • filtered water


  1. Chop your cucumbers into smaller pieces. These are seedless, but if you are using a seeded variety you will need to peel and seed them first.
  2. Add cucumbers to blender and enough water to blend them into a fine pulp. You don't want any chunks left. Add sugar* to taste and salt.
  3. Refrigerate for about an hour. This step is important to allow the pulp to render it's cucumberness. :-)
  4. Line a strainer with cheesecloth over a pitcher. Strain pulp into large pitcher. Feed pulp to worms or compost.
  5. Add about 8 cups of water** and the juice of half a lime to the pitcher. Serve with lime garnish. Enjoy!

Might need a bigger cup! 


Notes:
*I find that a little sugar goes a long way! start out small and add more later if needed.
**you may want to adjust the amount of water depending on how strong you want your juice. This would also effect the sweetness. 

Monday, July 11, 2016

Taming the Jungle

So I don't get super freaked out by weeds. Actually I like to watch them grow. I think they are pretty interesting, so as long as they are not super invasive, or blocking something, I let them do their thing.Well after a few months of that, I decided I wanted to start cleaning up for my fall garden, and I realized how scary things had become.

Before...This is super embarrissing!

I decided to get up early to tackle the wildflower patch and path because this Texas heat is no joke! I was able get get most of everything cleaned up and my daughter helped me plant sunflowers and beans.

Looking way better! Still needs work, but the garden always does. 

Enjoy your garden! 😁