Behold, Carrot Man!

Mike G wrote:

Cherry Jell-O made in a plaster mold from an art supply store.

creepy.

electric mullet wrote:Behold, Carrot Man!

creepy x2, but whimsically so!

Melon Truck (3000 block of W Lawrence))



Melons were from Kankakee

More of a deep brown than black but I don't dig carbon...

G Wiv wrote:Melon Truck (3000 block of W Lawrence))



Melons were from Kankakee

On his blog, Vital Information links to a very helpful article about how to choose a watermelon. As the article notes, a creamy yellow spot on the underside indicates that it has not been ripened on the vine. Unfortunately, the truck's melons appear to be guilty of sitting on the ground, in the sun to ripen.

Kennyz wrote:On his blog, Vital Information links to a very helpful article about how to choose a watermelon. As the article notes, a creamy yellow spot on the underside indicates that it has not been ripened on the vine. Unfortunately, the truck's melons appear to be guilty of sitting on the ground, in the sun to ripen.

I don't really understand this. Is this saying that if it has a yellow spot, then it was improperly ripened? Do vine-ripened watermelons hang from vines without sitting on the ground?

My understanding, from listening to a recent NPR food podcast, that the yellow spot means that it HAS been ripened on the vine, because it was sitting outside with one side in the dirt. Like this:

http://www.desertrootsfarm.com/pictures/watermelon.jpg

If it doesn't have a spot at all then it wasn't sitting out in the field and was probably picked early and ripened through gasses, like tomatoes.

eatchicago wrote:My understanding, from listening to a recent NPR food podcast, that the yellow spot means that it HAS been ripened on the vine, because it was sitting outside with one side in the dirt.

That has been my understanding as well.

stevez wrote:That has been my understanding as well.

Right, I thought a yellow spot from ripening on the ground was a positive.

Kennyz wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Melon Truck (3000 block of W Lawrence))



Melons were from Kankakee

On his blog, Vital Information links to a very helpful article about how to choose a watermelon. As the article notes, a creamy yellow spot on the underside indicates that it has not been ripened on the vine. Unfortunately, the truck's melons appear to be guilty of sitting on the ground, in the sun to ripen.

Chicago Tribune, via Vital Information wrote:How do you know a watermelon ripened on the vine? Easy: Turn the melon over and check for a creamy yellow spot. That's a sign that the watermelon sat on the ground and in the sun to ripen.

Kenny, did you misread?

gleam wrote:

Kennyz wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Melon Truck (3000 block of W Lawrence))



Melons were from Kankakee

On his blog, Vital Information links to a very helpful article about how to choose a watermelon. As the article notes, a creamy yellow spot on the underside indicates that it has not been ripened on the vine. Unfortunately, the truck's melons appear to be guilty of sitting on the ground, in the sun to ripen.

Chicago Tribune, via Vital Information wrote:How do you know a watermelon ripened on the vine? Easy: Turn the melon over and check for a creamy yellow spot. That's a sign that the watermelon sat on the ground and in the sun to ripen.

Kenny, did you misread?

misread? no. misunderstand? appears so.
apologies to the Truck/melon proprietor, and thanks to LTHers for educating me.

I'm not picking on Kenny, but just for the record, note that the article I excerptedtalked about looking for the yellow spot:

Grower Chris Sutton, owner of Sutton Fruit and Vegetable in Kaufman County, Texas, says that your best bet is to buy local and in season. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, you should look for "a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free of bruises, cuts or dents. When you see a nice-looking watermelon, pick it up and feel its heft; then pick up a few others of similar size to compare. At 92 percent water, a good melon should feel heavy for its size. Seeded varieties tend to be sweeter, Sutton said, "because the seed cavities cause it to be riper." How do you know a watermelon ripened on the vine? Easy: Turn the melon over and check for a creamy yellow spot. That's a sign that the watermelon sat on the ground and in the sun to ripen.[emphasis added]

I think the confusion is pretty easy to spot in that bolded sentence. The first part references "on the vine", the second part references "on the ground". It doesn't say that growing on the vine is congruous to laying on the ground in the sun, or if they're opposites. I can see how someone would get confused.

Best,
Michael

OK, but as a person whose backyard is over ridden with ivy, who sez vines cannot be on the ground?

Vital Information wrote:I'm not picking on Kenny, but just for the record, note that the article I excerptedtalked about looking for the yellow spot:

And look for the yellow spot I did. Unfotunately, as eatchicago pointed out, it was not clear to me from the article that the yellow spot was a positive. I think it shows what an ignorant city boy I really am when it comes to understanding how things grow. I will try to assuage my guilt by finding that truck and buying a melon.

G Wiv wrote:Melon Truck (3000 block of W Lawrence))

Melons were from Kankakee

Did you buy one? How did it taste?

The yellow spot -- the yellower the better -- is one indication of vine-ripened fruit, although some small varieties won't have it because they're raised on trellises.

Other indications of good, ripe melons are the stripes -- the more spread out toward each other, the riper. Also, the rind should be hard, rough to the touch and dull; if you can pierce it easily with your thumbnail or it's smooth and shiny, it’s not ripe. Also, look at the stem end. If there's a piece of stem attached, it should be dry and brown, not green.

Monday after the Illinois State Fair, I-55 toward St. Louis.

a Jamaican lunch in Hyde Park...beef patty and a ting from Uncle Joe's jerk Shack.

LAZ wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Melon Truck (3000 block of W Lawrence))

Melons were from Kankakee

Did you buy one? How did it taste?

Subtly sweet, earthy. A very nice watermelon.

Attempts to get funding 102
drying Malbec


Malbec and Orange-Passion fruit juice

Had to be done.

One of the main reasons I love the summer:






(from Stover's Farms)

Best,
Michael

Waiting for Ceviche: Fish in the Galapagos

Mhays: Props on your mad photoshopping skillz!

mhill: That is the single best photograph of tomatoes ever taken.

GAF: I love the emotions on those fish's faces. They show the full range of feelings any of us might have if we were about to be ceviche.

mhill95149 wrote:

Mind sending me a full size image, I'd like to print out and frame.

check your PM.....

Mother-load of Chanterelles



Bill/SFNM