Jicama,Cucumber, Watermelon and Orange Salad

The temperatures have been soaring here ( we are talking triple digits here) and I have no inclination to stand in front of the stove. We try to cook early in the morning and if we miss that, then we make do with salads, sandwiches, fruit juices etc.

We love the crispness of Jicama, but have never used it myself. This is a refreshing salad and I love that Jicama does not turn soft or soggy even after you refrigerate the salad and have it after a day or two.


English Cucumber - 1
Jicama- 1 cup
Watermelon- 2 cups, Chopped in large chunks
Orange - 1/2 an orange, cut in segments
Orange Juice- Juice the other half
Orange Zest- 1/4 tsp
Basil- 2 tsp ( I used Daregal)
Sugar- 1/2 tsp
Sea salt - to taste

We used the pampered chef Julienne peeler to peel Jicama and English cucumber. It has perfect texture, size and consistency when you use it and most importantly looks pretty!

• In a bowl, whisk orange juice, orange zest, sugar, basil and salt well.
• Toss all the other ingredients and stir gently.
• Check for seasonings and adjust to your taste.

Serve chilled!

Can a recipe be even simpler?Stay cool!

I missed my early morning mark to cook since I was blogging, so leftovers today:)
Updated with link to what Jicama is for those unfamiliar to this tuberous root.

Dolled Up Dill on TV

When we hear of near and dear ones fighting cancer- the emotions we got through typically is that of fear, sadness and mostly a helpless feeling- wondering what we can do to ease their pain and fears.

We have been experiencing this a lot in the last two years. Close family members, friends and blogger friends trying to fight this disease. We take food over,call them, email jokes to them to put a smile on their face, but still go through this turmoil of what we can do more. I know for a fact that I do NOT have the brains to find a cure for cancer..darn, wish I had paid more attention in class, but what can I do about it now.

So how can I help? Do what I love doing - (drum roll please)- Cooking!! And if that can help me win a contest, God Bless you Daregal Gourmet. I came up with a simple recipe, posted it and all of you kindly voted and ta dah! I won the contest and the money goes to Susan G Komen, Race for the Cure. Thanks to all of you who voted for me. I won $500 and Daregal Gourmet was kind enough to match my donation. So I presented a check of $1000 to the Executive Director of Susan G Komen, Donna Sanderson today.

Giving is not just about money, as John D Rockefeller Jr said "Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege"

It could be a hug, or a meal, or an offer to baby sit, a ride to the hospital. If you are not sure ask them. What might seem tiny or insignificant might make a big difference.

At the end of the segment, Mark was giving away preview tickets to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Thank you Mark Allen!

On another note, again related to cooking, here are a few of my upcoming classes.

Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
July 25th 2009, 10am-12:30pm
Seasonal Indian Recipes

• channa dal with green mango salad—split chick pea, bell peppers and green mango with a hint of spice;
  
• Grilled paneer—paneer marinated in spices and grilled
• Grilled corn with spicy butter
• Pea soup with ginger,
• Fresh squash with ginger.
  

Tuesday, July 28th@ WholeFoods, Sacramento.

Indian Summer Faire,6:00 p.m. $45

Learn to make memorable side dishes that will delight your palate and dazzle your guests. Includes a discussion of Indian spices. Menu: Spiced Chick Pea and Spinach Salad, Eggplant grilled and sautéed with Indian spices - a perfect dip with naan or pita chips, Green Beans sautéed with garlic and a dash of heat, Grilled Corn with spicy butter, and Cracked Wheat Kheer- a chilled healthy dessert with cardamom and ground almonds.

July 30th - 6:00pm - 8:30pm ,Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op

Explore the exotic flavors of African cuisine with Shankari! You’ll learn simple and delicious recipes from various and diverse countries in this vast continent.

Ethiopian Flavors class

• Savory spiced chicken
  
• Ethiopian couscous
  
• Spicy lentil stew.
  
• Ethiopian spiced butter
  
• Berbere, traditional Ethiopian spice mixture.

x All Recurrences Single Recurrence

YEE HAW from Folsom