Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Tropical watermelon crush

Did you know that Monday was Australia's hottest day on record, since weather recording began? Across the country as a whole, the maximum average temperature was 40.3'C (104.6'F).

The weather records don't end there, either. Six of the hottest 20 days on record have occurred since the start of 2013. It is only the ninth day of the year. Perth is averaging its hottest summer yet.


This recipe is for days like Monday.

It is for days when you think the temperature forecast can't possibly come true, but then it does.

It is for days when you return from work so hot and sticky that you need a shower straight away, immediately, because the air conditioning system at your workplace couldn't cope with humid 40'C conditions.

It is for days when fires blaze across multiple states, destroying land and homes and even lives, with terrible ferocity.

It is for days when the Prime Minister tells you to expect more heat waves in coming years, due to the ongoing effects of global warming. Frankly, I would have preferred some practical promises for alternative energy solutions, rather than foreboding dismal times ahead, but that is a different topic.


This is also a recipe for summer days that bring welcome relief, when you open every window and door in your house in the novelty of fresh, non-scorching air.

And it is even a recipe for those of you who are not in Australia, and who perhaps are in the middle of winter. If you eat it in front of a heater and shut your eyes - the tropical flavours may transport you here in spirit if not in temperature.



Tropical watermelon crush
Easy, refreshing, and almost entirely fruit-based
Serves 2, but could quite easily be eaten by 1
Vegan and low fat; food processor required


Ingredients
1 cup frozen watermelon pieces (if your watermelon has seeds, you will need to remove them pre-freezing or eat around the seeds at the end)
1/2 cup frozen raspberries (or other berries)
1/2 cup pineapple pieces, fresh or frozen
1/2 tsp coconut essence (optional, but recommended)
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)

Method
Combine the fruit and coconut essence in a food processor or high speed blender and process until well combined and icey.

With the food processor running, add the milk gradually.

Serve.


I enjoyed this even more than the lemon, lime and bitters Frosty Fruits, and they are pretty good!

I am submitting this to Ricki's Wellness Weekend 10th to 14th January 2013.

If you're in Australia, how have you been keeping cool? 

41 comments:

  1. This sounds perfect for a scorching day! I've been watching your local forecast with interest and wondering if our decision to travel to WA in Feb/Mar is a little crazy after all!

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    1. I am insisting that we're getting all our heat over with early this summer, so by February and March it should be nice and cool! How exciting that your trip is nearly here - are you seeing much of WA?

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  2. YUM!!! When I'm done juice fasting this is mineeeee!
    I feel you- the heat kills me. I've been waking up early, getting something productive done early then hiding inside until sunset when I hit the beach and cool off... then since we have no air con cover myself in wet towels and try to sleep.

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    1. You could almost incorporate this in your juice fast, if you took out the almond milk and coconut essence? It would be icier but still enjoyable - basically just frozen crushed juice :-)

      I am grateful that we have air conditioning in our bedroom, and that does help me keep a lid on my complaining because at least we can stand in front of it to cool down! Most people in WA have air conditioning whereas I think in the Eastern states it's still less common? It does struggle when it's really hot though.

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  3. What a perfect recipe for this heat. We in Sydney are just not used to it having just had our two coldest summers on record. I've heard we have another heatwave heading towards us this weekend so this recipe is very timely xx

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    1. I have been thinking of you in NSW - your heat is so different to your last few summers and having the fires as well is terrible. I hope you keep cool on the weekend.

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  4. Great idea to make the heat more bearable!

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  5. Holy moly- that is HOT!!! I can send you some snow. :-)

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    1. Thanks Tasha - if only we could share climates we'd both be happier I think!

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  6. "practical promises for alternative energy solutions, rather than foreboding dismal times ahead, but that is a different topic."
    I couldn't agree more!!!!

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  7. This heat is crazy. Yesterday felt so cool and refreshing - because it was only 29 degrees!!! I love the recipe, I will have to give it a go soon.

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    1. It's 29'C here today (or perhaps a degree less!) and I feel exactly the same - it's like it's autumn or something :)

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  8. This recipe looks pretty amazing. Luckily in Townsville it never really gets above 34 because of the humidity, I suppose, so we're just having our normal summer hot.

    Interesting that you mention practical solutions to climate change. I don't know if this was news outside of QLD, but the Newman government cut back the solar feed-in tarriff from $.44 per kwh to $.08 per kwh. It's such a disincentive to renewables. Andy's job involves working with various types of polluters (to use waste streams to grow seaweed), and he was told that one key reason for this policy change was because it was too successful - coal fired power stations were only operating at half- or less-capacity, and the private companies who owned them were thinking of closing up shop. To keep them in business, the government has effectively discouraged any new residential solar panels. Blergh.

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    1. We don't usually have humid heat in Perth, but the last two summers we've kept our dry heat temperatures (hot!) and had humidity thrown in. It is not a combination I'm fond of!

      The cuts to solar panel rebates really disappointed me when they ahppened. We don't have them because our roof would need additions to make them work, but Mr B's mother does and she has found them to be wonderful; ditto one of my friends who scraped in before the rebates were cut. The fact that they're cutting the feed-in tariff as well is awful. The fact that it was to keep coal stations going is even worse!

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  9. Yum! I love anything with raspberries in it, add watermelon, and I may just fall in love. I'm back in Florida, and the weather is hot here too. It's not nearly as hot as Australia though! (about 80 degrees Fahrenheit/ 26.7 degrees Celsius). It's strange to think that just yesterday, I was all bundled up in warm clothes while visiting my family up north, and today, I'm dressed in a t-shirt and flip flops with my car windows rolled down. Life is strange.

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    1. Those sorts of weather shifts are always a bit bizarre, aren't they? Definitely strange. We have a temperature in the high 20's (celsius) here today and it almost feels cold :P Lovely!

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  10. This definitely sounds like something I need RIGHT NOW.... so sticky here!

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    1. I think of Queensland as perpetually sticky, but imagine that even your stickiness has gradations, and I'm pretty sure now must be high on the scale :-) I hope you like it if you make it!

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  11. I am feeling cooler already just reading this post!

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  12. One word...yum! Crackers it's now hot over here - it's humid though rather than a dry heat!

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    1. It's humid here too, to my dismay! Perth was once known for dry heat, but it's all gone a bit odd these last few years. It has been cooler the last 2 days though - hope you get a cool change too as well :-)

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  13. 104! Eeek! That's exactly how hot it gets here in Arkansas... Well, it did this past summer and some farmers are still feeling the effects of the drought we had.

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    1. That's the worst, isn't it? The heat isn't just hot at the time but then so many people are affected for long periods afterwards!

      I hope you are having a moderate winter at least :-)

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  14. We haven't had so much hot weather here the last few days but tomorrow is set to be 37 C and I am not looking forward to getting to work without our car - am sure I would welcome a bowl of your crush when I get home - if I was more organised I might put something in the freezer but at least we have iceblocks after the last 40 day reminded me there were none in our freezer :-)

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    1. Oh dear, your car issues did come at a bad time :-( I am glad that I don't have any bus travel these days...it means I have walking instead but I did hate sticky, crowded buses in summer!

      I hope you keep cool today and enjoy those iceblocks when you get home :-)

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  15. That is crazy hot! And such a strange thing to imagine, it being so cold here! But that looks so delicious and refreshing, I'll have to freeze while trying some!

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    1. I find ice cream in front of the heater a nice mix in winter myself ;)

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  16. This looks fabulous. And, with the sun shining outside today, I can almost believe it's weather appropriate here too ;)

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    1. You're Australian at heart, so chilled desserts will always be appropriate :-)

      Is it nearly moving day? Exciting times!

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  17. "practical promises for alternative energy solutions"... it still perplexes me as to why oh why we aren't doing better on this front.
    Those stats on your first paragraph Kari are concerning.

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    1. I actually have to push them out of my mind or I get a bit panicky. We'll all be living in New Zealand in 10 years at this rate!

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  18. We have the opposite problem here in the UK. It never gets any sun! I haven't seen much for over a year so would really like to move somewhere sunnier! Sounds like you've got it a bit too hot though so not sure if I could go from one extreme to the other!

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    1. Both extremes definitely bring problems! I wish there was a way of averaging things out :)

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  19. This looks so delicious and refreshing - perfect for the hot days we've been having.

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  20. It hit 45C in Cronulla. So damn hot! We were lucky though, our double brick apartment stayed cool through the whole day and was only mid 20s when we got home. Flatpac spent the day with her bottom propped up on a frozen water bottle :)

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    1. Teehee, Flatpac had the right idea I think!

      Your house sounds fantastic for heat. Our ground floor is similar, but the upstairs (with bedroom) gets hot! Luckily we do have air conditioning in that room...

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  21. Here in South Florida our highest highs are usually in the mid 90's, we like to say in FLA "It's not the heat, it's the humidity."
    Tropical Watermelon Crush is such a pretty vibrant color, and looks totally refreshing.

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    1. Humidity is definitely tough! I hope this helps if you do try it :)

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