Three Fun Ways to Keep Cool with Cukes

Lady Moon Farms is excited to be the first produce grower to sponsor Whole Kids Foundation and support schools and inspire families to improve children’s nutrition and wellness.

Lady Moon Farms logo

Lady Moon Farms is the newest sponsor of Whole Kids Foundation®. This September during the “Growing Healthy Kids” campaign, Lady Moon Farms will make a donation to Whole Kids Foundation of $0.15 of each pint of grape tomatoes sold at Whole Foods Market® stores in Kentucky; Maryland; Marlton, New Jersey; Princeton, New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Ohio; Virginia; and Washington D.C.. Lady Moon Farms is a USDA Certified Organic vegetable grower providing year-round produce with farms in Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia.Lady Moon Farms opens in a new tab is excited to be the first produce grower to sponsor Whole Kids Foundation® opens in a new tab and support schools and inspire families to improve children’s nutrition and wellness.

Founder and farmer Tom Beddard always wanted to grow organic produce that he could feed to his children and would make America’s future healthy and strong. And what better way to do it than with fresh and delicious organic veggies!

Tom and Christine’s  children spent their summers running around vegetable fields and helping out the family business. With all that activity, cooling summer snacks were a must-have. And even though they had endless options of organic peppers and grape tomatoes at their fingertips, they’d always reach for refreshing cucumbers.

To this day, the Beddard kids — who are now all grown-up — still love snacking on cucumbers in the summertime. Here are three of  the Beddard family’s favorite ways to enjoy summer’s coolest vegetable.

Cuke, Melon & Mint Smoothie | Image by Lady Moon Farms

Cuke, Melon & Mint Smoothie Yields: 4 cups

  • 1/2 cucumber (peeled and seeded)

  • 1/2 cantaloupe melon (seeded and cut into chunks)

  • 1 sprig of mint

  • Several ice cubes

Combine all ingredients and 1 cup water in a blender, blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.

Cuke Lemon Fizz | Image by Lady Moon Farms

Cuke Lemon Fizz Yields: 1 1/2 quarts

  • 1 cup cucumber juice (see note)

  • 1 cup lemon juice

  • 1/4 cup agave nectar (or more to taste)

  • 4 cups sparkling water

  • Lemon and cucumber slices for garnish.

  • Optional: fresh mint or rosemary or peel fresh ginger

Combine cucumber juice, lemon juice, sparkling water and agave nectar in a large pitcher. Add cucumber and lemon slices to the mixture. For added flavor you can experiment with adding mint, basil, rosemary or ginger. Add ice and let chill for an hour before serving.
Note: If you do not have a juicer, you can peel and blend the cucumber with 1 to 2 cups sparkling water. Strain the juice into a liquid measuring cup. This yields more than 1 cup but you can save the juice for later or use more in the fizz if you’d like a stronger cucumber flavor.

Cucumber Raisin Bites | Image by Lady Moon Farms

Cucumber Raisin Bites
Yield: Varies on size of cucumber and thickness of slices

  • 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced

  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon agave nectar

  • Raisins (or dried cranberries)

Arrange cucumber slices on a serving platter. Mix yogurt with agave in a small bowl. Place a dollop of yogurt mixture on top of each cucumber slice. Add a few raisins on top of each cucumber slice and serve.
What is your favorite summertime vegetable and how do you serve it? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Explore More