Let's Take a Walk

The winter months were too cold and icy, the spring too wet, now what is your excuse for not getting more exercise into your lifestyle? Before "too hot" becomes an excuse, take a walk!

Walk during the cool morning hours or late evening. Avoid the heat of mid-day.

Recruit a friend or neighbor who lives close by. Talk while you walk. A good conversation can make a long walk seem like minutes.

Invest in a good pair of comfortable shoes. Not too tight. Make sure socks are loose fitting too. Cotton works to wick moisture away from your feet for added comfort.

Start slowly and for brief amounts of time. Intensify your walk by walking faster and increasing the distance you cover as the summer progresses.

Any amount of exercise can improve your blood flow, digestion and sleep pattern. So, get up and walk. Wear your sunglasses and get into a routine.

Cherries

Cherries have been called the prima donnas of the fruit kingdom. They are very picky about growing conditions, everything must be just right, and, of course, there is the race to harvest them before the birds eat them.

Cherries are generally thought of as sweet and sour, but there are some varieties in between. Sweet Bing cherries are by far the most popular variety for eating out-of-hand. Sour cherries are generally used as canned pie filling and almost impossible to find.

Your local farmers' market has cherries. Ask the farmer if they are sweet or sour. He/she may let you sample one. But, what can you make with them? Well, cherries can be substituted in almost any recipe calling for berries or currants. They are also good in fruit salads and other fruit mixtures. Or try this quick and easy recipe:

Brother Jonathan Cherries

This recipe was adapted from the original apple version.

About 2 cups pitted cherries
1/2 cup water
1 package frozen bread dough, thawed
1/2 cup sugar or honey, more if desired
Whipped cream, optional

1. Put 1-1/2 inches of pitted sweet, sour or semi-sweet cherries in the bottom of a deep pot with a tight fitting lid. Add about 1/2 cup of water or enough to keep cherries from sticking.

2. Shape a piece of frozen bread dough to fit the inside of the pot. Leave about 2 inches of space above the dough so it can rise.

3. Cover the pot, place over medium heat, bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cover with tightly fitting lid. Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Do not lift the lid while it is cooking. Fish a cherry out and check for doneness after 30 minutes cooking time.

4. To serve, place a plate over the pot and invert, so the bread is on the bottom. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar or drizzle with 1/2 cup honey and top with whipped cream if desired. For sour cherries, you may need to increase sugar. Serve warm. So easy and so good!

Sun Tea

To make sun tea: Wash a large gallon-size jar and rinse thoroughly. Add the desired number of tea bags and cover with cool water, distilled water if you have it. Unless you like it extra strong, sixteen tea bags is recommended. Cover the jar with the lid or use plastic wrap to keep insects and dirt out. Place the jar in a sunny spot. Allow the tea to gently steep for 6 to 8 hours or longer. Remove the tea bags. Sweeten with honey, add lemon, mint or other flavorings, serve warm or over ice.

July 1999
Gardening in July | 50 Plants & Flowers You May Not Want to Eat | Butterflies & Caterpillars in Your Garden | Patch Disease in Lawns | Ode to Violet | Lawn Care Calendar | Bug Bites | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Summer Time is Tea Time | Locally Grown: The Farmers' Market | Summertime Food: Eating in the Street | It's a Wash: Gardener's Hands | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know

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