A Morning's Pickings

Many thank yous to my husband’s daughter who shared this Vita-Mix smoothie recipe with me. I  lived on these smoothies last Summer. For two reasons: 1) they are amazingly refreshing, healthful and delicious, and 2) I had a small garden with a bounty of cucumbers!

As I was checking out cucumber plants in Spring, I was intrigued by the one named “Boothbys Blonde”.

Territorial Seed Company lists it as: ” 60-65 days. This small and uniquely attractive cucumber is an heirloom variety from the Boothby family in Livermore, Maine. Expect large yields of 3–5 inch, creamy-yellow fruits with black spines. Sweet and crunchy, these cukes can be eaten fresh or used to make wonderful sweet pickles. Add a bit of history and uniqueness to your cucumber patch this year.“  I couldn’t pick them fast enough!

The skin was tender and light,  which meant I never had to peel them.  Remember the timeline:  In Winter, order your seeds!  In Spring, plant your cucumbers. And in Summer, enjoy this smoothie recipe again and again. (It’s addictive.)

Vita-Mix Cucumber-Melon Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1/4 c soy milk  (I use Silk Organic Unsweetened; any nut or plant-milk will do)

• 1 cup green or red grapes

• 1 1/2  cups cantaloupe chunks

• 1/2 cup cucumber, peeled and cubed (no need to peel a Boothby’s Blonde cuke)

• 1 cup honeydew chunks (substitute more cantaloupe if you don’t have honeydew)

• 1 small lime, peeled, seeded, and halved

• 1 cup ice cubes

Directions:

• Blend for 45 secs or until desired consistency. Turn Vita-Mix dial quickly from 1-10, then from “variable” to “high” until smooth.