So I had this horned melon that I bought on a whim at Garden of Eden for $3.99 the other day. (Photo of it in my "When My Camera Works" gallery). I just can't resist buying these crazy, exotic fruits that they sometimes have on sale. The thing is about 5 inches long and maybe 3.5 inches high. It has this wonderful alien look to it, with an orange-colored dappled skin and multiple spikes all over it, some of which are actually kind of sharp. It really does look like something out of the "Dune" or "Star Wars" universes. It is another wonderful example of the biodiversity we are blessed with on this planet, some of which we can harvest to our benefit.

Anyway, the thing has been sitting in my fridge for a week as I contemplated what to do with it. I thought I had read somewhere online that the melon makes great smoothies. So that's what I decided to do with it. I cut it in half (not lengthwise). Inside are three sectional compartments (sort of like that inside a pomegranate) containing this greenish slimy sort of goop, with white seeds. I had my food processor bowl, and the only thing that seemed appropriate was to squeeze each half of the melon into the bowl. It worked nicely -- all this alien, greenish slime was squeezed into the bowl. It tastes sort of like a cross between kiwi, strawberry, and something I can't put a finger on. ANyway, I through in a couple of bananas, a pint of blueberries, one cup of passionfruit juice, and pureed away. Served over ice, the end result was really great!! I am guesing this horned melon must be healthy eating.