Simply Varnell

Serving Up Quinoa Burgers and Smith County Watermelon

A little over a year ago I went vegetarian. It happened sort of accidentally but became a permanent lifestyle change nonetheless. It’s odd to think that I’ve had no meat, seafood, fish, etc. for this long.

It’s even odder that I’ve not lost an ounce of weight from eating healthy either. I’m probably the first fat vegetarian known to man, but that’s okay because I like being first.

A Meatless July 4th

This wasn’t the first 4th of July I’ve had as a vegetarian although it’s the first one I thought I’d try some sort of “burger” on the grill for our celebratory meal. I guess the World Cup has added to my patriotism of  all things American and I wasn’t going to be denied grillin’ something on 7/4.

Enter the red quinoa zucchini burger. I subscribe to Vegetarian Times (you should too if you’re vegetarian or vegan) and it’s always full of great recipes and I found the “burger” recipe in the latest edition. I’ll list the ingredients below, but the original recipe can be found here.

As with any recipe I try, I never follow it exactly. For better or worse, I just have to piddle with the ingredients. If you decide to try them and want to know how I altered the recipe, just give me a shout out and I’ll let you know. They actually ended up being really tasty and I’m sure I’ll make them again and make even more changes to the changes of the original recipe.

Red Quinoa Zucchini Burgers

What 4th of July meal would be complete without watermelon. Back in the day, we always used to spike a watermelon but I have reached the age where heat, vodka and watermelon don’t mix. If you’ve never tried one, here’s how we did it.

Spiked Watermelon

• 1 – watermelon
• 1 – 5th vodka

Cut a circular hole in side of the watermelon just large enough for the top of the vodka bottle and deep enough to reach the red portion of the melon. Open the bottle of vodka and turn it upside down pushing the top of the bottle down into the hole you cut. Place the watermelon in a deep cooler of ice or in the refrigerator. Let sit overnight and prepare to get waylaid when you cut into it the next day. Simply tasty and refreshing.

Smith County Watermelons

Now back to our tame version. There is no watermelon better than those that  come out of Smith County, Mississippi.  Ours came from Brenda’s Produce at the ORIGINAL Jackson Farmer’s Market. That’s the one at the corner of West and Woodrow Wilson. Brenda Langham and Doris Berry have had their stands there for as long as I can remember and you can’t go wrong with anything you buy from either one of these fine ladies.

With crazy-ass green bird Lola’s help, we made short work of this delicious melon. On second thought, perhaps I should have spiked it. Would have served that bird right for all the meanness she dishes out.

Hope all of you had a great 4th. Until next time, bon apegreenbird!