We have been through a period of high heat and now I am confident that it is over. We know that fall is coming soon because the corn on the cob season is upon us. Today, I started to husk fresh cobs to freeze for great corn all winter, plus one for dinner.
About two weeks ago my wife took three days to visit a friend at a cottage just north of Kincardine. Before she left, she stocked our fridge with enough food to last me while she was away. There was egg salad sandwiches; egg and pea salad; sliced, cooked ham; rhubarb to go with my vanilla ice cream; and are you ready for this – lots of watermelon.
Bet you didn’t know that one of my favourite fruits is watermelon. All the above lasted while she was away. The sandwiches just made it, but I was careful to not finish this watermelon before Leah returned.
Both watermelon and corn are seasonal in our house. I will explain the appeal of watermelon. It is 90 per cent water but full of vitamins A, B6, C and lycopene (more on this below), oxidants and minerals.
Lycopene is an antioxidant. One clinical trial suggests that preventative use of lycopene supplements may reduce the spread of localized prostate cancer. It also is used to treat asthma, heart disease, and macular degeneration. Hard to believe that something so tasty and beneficial to me is so good for me. Watermelon also is full of electrolytes and potassium, which helps in rehydration.
Believe it or not, all of the watermelon fruit is edible and beneficial to our health. The red portion is great to eat for taste and health, the white portion is full of antioxidants and vitamin C, and the rind is full of chlorophyl. Even the black seeds are beneficial for health. An added benefit is that the white and the rind, if blended with freshly squeezed lime juice, make a great slushy. Watermelon does contain sugar, as fructose, but consumption will have to be very high in order to get meaningful fructose.
I had finished all the watermelon, except for the slushy, by the time that Leah had returned home. I cannot convince her to buy more (package of three pieces is $3.06 at the store) whereas the whole watermelon is $6. She says that I don’t eat enough watermelon to buy a whole one, but after this column I hope that I can convince her to buy only whole watermelon. I love the taste and have no trouble cutting it up into edible pieces and eating all of it. One watermelon lasts about 2-3 days.
Buying watermelon is simple. One of the signs of a ripe watermelon is a yellow spot on one side (the bottom) – that indicates full ripeness. The hollow, base sound on thumping is another ripe sign.
Sweet corn is just on the market today. I am in the process of chucking a dozen cobs of corn so that we can freeze it for winter consumption. It takes a bit of work but the results are well worth it. We did this last winter and our frozen corn only lasted until February. Freezing more this year.
We usually buy corn by the dozen. Of the 12 cobs we buy per week, we eat six cobs and husk six cobs for freezing. By husking, as new sweet corn, and freezing right away we retain the benefits of newly-picked corn. The corn we eat during the winter tastes 90 per cent as good as the newly-picked corn.
What are some healthy ways to eat corn? I microwave the cobs in their husks for one minute after soaking them briefly. It takes about one minute per cob in the microwave, and the about five minutes to remove the husk and cool to where I can eat it. I use butter and pepper to season. My wife cannot eat corn for health reasons – diverticulitis.
Corn has its benefits, including providing healthy nutrients like B vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. But it also has its downsides, like being high in carbohydrates and having the potential to create harmful blood sugar swings. Ultimately, corn can be included in a healthy diet, but you’ll want to be sure to eat it responsibly. I have researched corn and find it quite safe for me. I only eat one cob per day.
The rule “‘nothing in excess” is stronger for corn than for watermelon but both are beneficial for my health, even with my chronic diseases. I will have a steady diet of corn and watermelon for the rest of the summer. It is the taste for both that is so great.
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Bob Murray is retired from the graphic communication (printing) industry and has been living in Seaforth since 2015. Murray was diagnosed with Dementia in 2013 and works hard to stop the progress of the disease. Follow him on his blog entitled Voyage with Dementia – https://myvoyage553264702.wordpress.com.
