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Fuzzy melon

Captain's Log, Supplemental

This is, I believe, a “bitter melon” (it’s an Asian vegetable, and it’s actually called that). If it’s not a bitter melon, it’s a winter melon. I can never remember which is which. It’s squash-like.



Someone gave it to my sister-in-law, but it wasn’t used in whatever Chinese soup they made for Christmas dinner. I know it’s a commonly used vegetable, but I’ve certainly never cooked with it.



The problem is that once she got it, my sister-in-law noticed this funny fuzzy sprout growing out of the top. So she stuck it in a glass and watched to see if it would continue to grow.

And it did!



She didn’t water it. She didn’t do anything except stick it in a glass. And it’s looking like some space pod from an alien planet, getting ready to jump out and body-snatch everyone in the house.

We watched the fuzzy sprout grow another couple inches in the two days we were at my sister-in-law’s house. Who knows? Maybe I’ve contracted some extraterrestrial disease it was carrying in its spores.

I fondly called it “Hairy.”

Thoughts from the peanut gallery? At least help me brainstorm a nicer name for the poor guy.

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Comments

Ausjenny said…
ok its time i was in bed so my comment may not be to right
but how about russel as in Russel sprouts. (now i know i spelt that wrong)
Thu Jan 03, 04:11:00 AM 2008
Melissa Markham said…
Camy! Haven't you seen seen Invasion of the Body Snatchers? Smash that thing in the trash compactor quick!
Thu Jan 03, 04:16:00 AM 2008
Helga Marie Bee said…
totally cracking up over here... let's call it Hubert, why because I like the name :)
Thu Jan 03, 01:17:00 PM 2008
Kim W said…
You know I actually like the melon in my soup. It brings back many memories. Just drop an egg and some tofu along with the chopped up melon in some chicken broth and you're set. Simple and delicious. As for the sprout, you might think about separating it from the actual melon and seeing if it still continues to grow.
Sat Jan 05, 08:36:00 PM 2008
Deborah said…
my parents eat this thing all the time! they grow them in the garden in our back yard. they can get pretty huge. i won't touch it lol.
Mon Jan 07, 04:13:00 AM 2008
Elysa said…
What about Spike? Or Spike Lee?

And for what its worth, I've never seen such a thing in my life! But then, we don't have that many Asian veggies in Mississippi, either. :/
Mon Jan 07, 02:23:00 PM 2008
Kathie said…
What you have in the glass is a very common veggie here. They are used in soups and various veggie dishes. And it is from the squash family. Here it is called a chiyote.
Blessings from Costa Rica
Tue Jan 08, 05:34:00 PM 2008
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