Mr Ray and Dr. Wayne Pickering “The Mango Man” explain how to pick the perfect Watermelon.
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Cutting into a watermelon and finding out it lacks flavor is disappointing. There’s a trick you can use to pick out a ripe watermelon, either from your farmer’s market or your own melon patch. Look for a pale, buttery-yellow spot (not white or green) on the bottom. This is where the watermelon sits on the ground ripening, and it’s one of the best indicators of ripeness you can use (even commercial watermelon pickers use this as a gauge). Other tricks for picking a ripe watermelon include:
- Should be heavy for its size
- Smooth rind with a dull top (the top is the side opposite the ground spot)
- The thump test (this is controversial, but ripe watermelon is said to have a hollow bass sound)
Store your watermelon in a cool area (50-60 degrees F) until it’s cut. Cut watermelon should be refrigerated (and be sure to wipe off your watermelon with a damp cloth prior to cutting it). Remember, try the rind blended with some lime juice rather than simply tossing it in the trash (choose an organic watermelon especially if you’ll be eating the rind). Finally, watermelon should be enjoyed in moderation due to its fructose content. One-sixteenth of a medium watermelon contains 11.3 grams of fructose (it’s recommended keeping your total fructose intake below 25 grams of fructose per day if you’re in good health, and below 15 grams a day if you’re overweight or have high blood pressure or diabetes).
Fantasy artist Dan Reeder made a video on how to make an astonishingly cool paper mache dragon. The video is time-compressed so that you can watch the entire process in a little over three minutes. The results are amazing!
Enjoy!
My latest paper and cloth mache dragon. If you like, please subscribe. Visit me at http://www.GourmetPaperMache.com or http://www.PaperMacheBlog.com. Thank you for watching!
Dan (the monster-man) Reeder
Supersize your ice cream sandwich!
Enjoy!
Giant Ice Cream Sandwich
POPSUGARINGREDIENTS
1 package Devil’s Food Cake Mix
4 eggs
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 rectangular ice cream boxesDIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350ºF and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Make Devil’s food cake batter according to the directions on the box but add 1 extra egg. Pour half of the batter onto one baking sheet and spread it out until it covers the baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until cake is cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Use a ruler and toothpicks to cut each cake into 7-by-13 inch rectangles. Round the edges using a paring knife. On one cake use a straw to punch holes 5 across and 15 down on the cake.
- Lay out plastic wrap large enough to wrap the entire cake. Place the bottom of the cake down on the plastic wrap. Use food-safe scissors to cut open the rectangular ice cream cartons and lay the ice cream down on the bottom of the cake. Cover with more plastic wrap and smooth down the sides until you form a block. Remove the plastic wrap and top with the second cake. Wrap the entire cake in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.
Cook Time: 8 hours
Serves: 8 to 10 people
Nick Gavin shows you how to make a perfect looking fried egg with this simple technique.
Enjoy!
There are a lot of approaches to cooking a good fried egg, but this method will make your egg look so good, you’ll think it came right out of a cartoon.
This video from the ChefSteps YouTube channel demonstrates how to cook an egg with no runny egg white or yolk, no crunchy edges, and the visual appeal of an egg right out of a Pixar movie. The trick is using a non-stick pan, a little butter, and cooking it on the lowest heat possible. You should be able to touch the pan quickly without it hurting you. Frying eggs this way is great for any meal where you’re using an egg to top something off or garnish a meal. Of course, not only will your fried egg look good, but it will taste delicious too.
Perfect Fried Egg
