Have you ever seen one of those spa ads showing some lucky person relaxing with cucumbers on their eyes? Ever wonder: “Why cucumbers?”

Well, here’s the answer…

Cucumbers are 95% water so they have a hydrating effect. They help get rid of the bags and puffiness beneath and around the eyes and flush out toxins.

Cukes contain vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C, which strengthen the immune system. They add bulk and fiber to whatever you’re eating, so you fill up, but don’t pile up the calories. When I’m cooking, I keep cucumber sticks nearby to snack on (especially if I’m preparing a dessert recipe).

Cucumbers are available all year. But they’re in season now, so if you buy locally grown produce, the cucumbers you’ll find in the market will be crisp and amazingly refreshing.

Lemon Cucumber

If you’re lucky enough to visit a farmers’ market, you’ll probably see a lot of heirloom varieties. You need to try these cucumbers. This is what a cucumber tasted like “back in the day.” These are real cucumbers. FoodNobs (food+snobs) would say these cucumbers are “honest,” but I don’t know if cucumbers can be “dishonest.”

In the farmers’ market, you might come across yellow cucumbers. Cucumbers that are yellow are usually a bad thing… unless you’ve stumbled upon a lemon cucumber. These cukes are about the size and color of a lemon (no… really?), the skin is thin and the flesh is juicy and bright green with large seeds. They can be eaten just like any other cucumber.

Most cucumbers that we find in supermarkets have been coated in an edible FDA-approved wax to protect the skin and prolong the vegetable’s life. You’ll know the cucumber has been waxed if you run your thumbnail lightly down the side and you see a bit of waxy residue. You can eat the cucumber with the peel on, but scrub it first!

Hothouse-grown English cucumbers are long and skinny, and they usually come wrapped in plastic because they have not been treated with wax. No need to peel or remove the seeds with these cukes!

I’ve pulled together 5 tips for picking perfect cucumbers, to help you pick the best of the season!

Here are a few other creative cucumber recipe ideas:

• Makes cucumber ribbons by peeling a whole cucumber, then peeling the flesh lengthwise off the cucumber.
• Peel and cut a cucumber lengthwise. Remove seeds and fill each half with flavored cream cheese. Put the halves back together, chill, and slice into rounds.
• Peel a cucumber then cut into ½-inch pieces. “Dry” on a paper towel for 10-mintes and then use a “chip” for hummus or guacamole.

Yep, been on a bit of broccoli binge lately… and this Crunchy Broccoli & Bacon Salad is my latest crave.

(Sure were a lot of “Bs” in that last sentence.)

Obviously, I love broccoli.

• Not just because it provides more disease-fighting nutrients than almost any other vegetable.
• Not just because it’s loaded with both soluble and insoluble fiber… good for the heart and digestive system.
• Not just because it’s crazy low in calories.

Broccoli is my veg of choice because it pumps up the nutrition, flavor and color of almost any dish… and because there are SO MANY ways to prepare it;

• Eat it raw.
• Steam it.
• Sauté it.
• Soup it.
• Use it to dip or turn it into a dip.

Or make it into a easy-Louisey Crunchy Broccoli & Bacon Salad like I did. Keep the lemony dressing very light… you don’t want to drown the florets. I added red peppers for color, but you can throw in cucumbers or some other equally crunchy vegetable. So… have at it! This is one binge-worthy food that’s actually healthy!

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