Friday, June 19, 2009

Super Fruit! The Watermelon (Part One)


Hi Beauties! I hope all is well =)
Summer is at its prime and what is a better for summer than the classic summer dessert: the scrumptuous and sweet watermelon!

I just wanted to share this great watermelon and arugula salad with you guys. It's a great alternative to serving it the traditional way as a dessert fruit!

This recipe is extra simple but adds a great twist to the serving of a classic summer fruit and is perfect for those hot summer days!

Quick Nutritional Facts:

  • Low calorie and completely edible fruit: 92% of it is water and low in cholesterol, total fat and saturated fats. Perfect hydrator for those hot summer days. 1 diced cup barely has 40 calories! Can eat rinds, seeds and all!
  • Great Heart Health: Studies show that eating watermelon can increase important amino acids such as arginine (for healthy hearts and arteries!). It actually increases citrulline, which synthesizes arginine.
  • -Quick Fact: Arginine is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for erectile dysfunction because it is an immediate precursor to nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels. (hmmm lol).
  • Powerful Punch of Antioxidants:
  • Packed with lycopenes: a carotenoid with antioxidant properties, thereby helps to stop cells from making singlet oxygen, culprit for skin aging.
  • -Studied for links with anti-cancer properties with notable links for prostate, lung and stomach cancer.
  • Filled with Vitamin C, great antioxidant that lessens oxidative stress and also helps make collagen and neurotransmitters.

Helps with prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction?? This seems like a win-win recipe for the guys. lol


Make those men full and healthy by serving this for a side dish on Father's Day! =P



Watermelon and Arugula Salad Appetizer

Satiates: 4 (light lunch sized meals)



Ingredients:

  1. Watermelon (cubed)- 1/4 of whole
  2. Baby arugula- 3-4 cups
  3. Red Onion (paper thin sliced rings)- 1/2
  4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil- about 2-3 tablespoons
  5. Toasted Pine nuts (approx. 40 kernels)- Handful
  6. Lime juice- 1/2 Lime
  7. Salt and Pepper

*Most recipes have this with feta cheese but I really enjoy the lightness of just the watermelon and arugula. But you can add if you want to =).



The Five Stepper:
  1. Mix lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, pinches of salt and pepper together and set aside.

  2. Quick blanche thin onion rings in a small skillet with the bottom rimmed with water until opaque. (half cooked half uncooked) Gets rid of some of the strong onion taste and that undesireable onion breath.

  3. In salad bowl, make a bed with most of the arugula on the bottom of the bowl.

  4. Place diced watermelon over arugula bed and sprinkle arugula sprigs on top; Sprinkle the onions next then the pine nuts.
  5. Drizzle with the lime juice and oil mix.

For better results place saran wrap over the top of the salad bowl and refridgerate the watermelon salad for approximately 30 minutes. This will allow the sweet watermelon juice to settle out and make a great taste as "light dressing".


Divide and enjoy this refreshing delight!


Calories breakdown (per serving):

Watermelon: 46 calories/1 cup diced. + Argula: 2 calories/ .5 cups. + Pine nuts: 10 calories/ 10 kernels + Olive Oil: 62 calories/ .5 tablespoons = 120 calories!

*these are rough estimates with nutritiondata.com. I tried to be as true as possible, although lime was left out because it only has 6 calories for half a lime.


Hope you enjoy! =)
xoxo
RoseiLee

14 comments:

  1. Darn, I cant see any of the pictures :(

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  2. Oh, I could see the pictures not :) lol

    & thanks, you're too nice. I tend to wear heels a lot because it makes me look like I'm a somewhat normal height. lol But I guess I dont' look too short because my mom is like the same height as me and I tend to tippy-toe in pictures with my bf or else I cut the top of his head off when taking pictures. LOL & the bf's not too tall himself.

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  3. Mmm that looks good :D I love onions lol seems like an interesting combo w/ watermelon!

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  4. Thanks for the recipe, i LOOOVE watermelons!!!

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  5. Mmm, yummy watermelon! I think I'd stick to eating it on its own though... Not sure about onion and watermelon!

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  6. I ran the two mile and the mile, and occasionally the 800. I was a distance runner, hence the cross country. I wasn't really fast enough for anything else. I ran the 400 before out of desperation for runners a couple times, and I totally didn't do very well. lol
    What were your events?

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  7. I had noticed that like a few days ago. And if they don't have a bf/husband, they usually have at least one kid. haha, I don't know why. Maybe most single & parentless people don't have time for blogger Or just haven't realized the joys of such a great internet community.

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  8. YaYyyy for asian track girls! lol & it's funny that you said you admired the long distance runners, since I totally admired the sprinters! There's no way I could run that fast. Even if I was being chased by a dog or something, it'd totally get me . LOL

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  9. I LOVE watermelon. its perfect for the the hot weather... i have never had watermelon as a savory dish, except for the honeydew melon with parma ham lol. i might have to try that out. thanks for sharing!!

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  10. wow thats looks so good rite now! lol So refreshing and makes me super happy just staring at the pictures! =P

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  11. i know you last commented me like decades ago lol... but i am sorry to hear about your test.. ugh, we all have those rainy days, i'm sure you'll do great on your next one. But that is one interesting fact about watermelon helping in "erectile dysfunction" lol. You know what! I love watermelon! But it gives me bloody nose!!! UGH! Everytime i eat it... even if it is a mini slice... i have no idea why! maybe it is the arginine hehe lol...

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  12. Yum... the watermelon salad looks delicious and it is healthy too!

    Bloody nose from eating watermelons? Why???

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  13. To Dr. David,
    I am in absolute agreement with your recommendations.

    Oftentimes, individuals rely too much on the intake of certain drugs in order to relieve themselves of undesireable ailments. It is essential to realize that change and healing only occurs when the individual changes destructive lifestyle habits and realizes that a drug only catalyzes a change in the body but it is essential for someone to change his/her lifestyles to maintain homeostasis.

    A doctor can only recommend certain treatments in order to aid their healing process. However, it is also essential for the patient to change their own habits in order to dissipate their problems. Overweight individuals who desire to lose weight cannot maintain the lost weight if they don't change their eating habits or lifestyle habits. They cannot expect to change their circumstances without their own efforts. A man with erectile dysfunction will not correct his problem without reducing their intake of harmful substances that will inhibit the chemicals and hormones essential for male erections.

    I believe that there is never an absolute miracle drug, but we can use certain treatments in order to aid our bodies in healing itself.

    Thank you for commenting =).

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