Cantaloupe is everywhere! Whether you go to your local grocery store, farmers market, or stop by a fruit stand, this delicious fruit begs to be brought home. Fortunately, we still have July and August to make this a part of a meal, snack, fruit drink, or fruit salad.

According to Dr. Weil, cantaloupe is good for you because it is:

• An excellent source of beta-carotene
• A good source of vitamin C
• A relatively low-calorie food

This is a great way to get vitamins into our family! Diabetics should be aware that cantaloupe "falls in the medium range of the glycemic index", so eat in moderation.

Need to know how to pick a fresh, ripe cantaloupe? Press your finger into the stem end. If it goes in with a gentle press, you have a ripe one. I also smell the stem end after pressing. You should smell a sweet, cantaloupe aroma.

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Cantaloupe Salsa

Makes 4 Servings

1/2 cantaloupe (large, ripe)
3/4 cup red bell pepper, finely diced
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
3 Tbsp scallions, finely chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Pinch of salt and hot pepper flakes

Remove seeds and rind from cantaloupe. (You should have approximately 1/2 pound cantaloupe flesh.) Chop cantaloupe into very small dice. Put in bowl. Add diced red pepper, cilantro, scallions and lime juice. Stir. Add pinch of salt and pepper flakes. Chill. Serve with grilled chicken, fish or steaks.

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Chicken Salad in Cantaloupe

Dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 cantaloupes, halved and seeded

1. Make the dressing by whisking the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, ginger, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken, blueberries, celery, grapes, and almonds; stir gently until evenly mixed. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Spoon into cantaloupe halves to serve.

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Refreshing Cantaloupe Drink

1 Cantaloupe
6 Tbls lime juice
1/4 cup fresh orange juice

Start with a chilled cantaloupe. Peel away rind and remove seeds from the melon and cut it into small chunks.
Put ice cubes into blender and chop until it is well crushed and smooth. Big hunks of ice will spoil the smoothness of the drink.
Add the chunks of melon, lime juice, and orange juice to the ice. Puree in the blender until smooth. It should only take about 20 seconds.
Pour mixture into chilled glasses and serve immediately. Garnish the side of each glass with small slices of melon, lime, or orange.

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