Addicted to Lime: Feasting on Scraps: Cantaloupe Seed Water

When I first moved to Mexico, I, of course, was trying to cook delicious and fabulous meals for my new husband. As cooking is my sweet spot (and the one thing I really felt I was contributing to the relationship - as I did not speak Spanish, understand the culture, nor was I making money), I would get rather annoyed when Ismael would come into the kitchen and ask me why I was throwing away parts of the food. I, of course, felt like he was questioning how I was preparing the meal.

The first time this happened, I was trying to make a mock BBQ Loaded Potato that Ismael had fallen in love with in Texas. The cut of meat I had cooked had a lot of chewy bits in it and, as I was not used to eating those parts, I had picked them off to throw into the "Organic Waste" (yes, in Mexico City you need to separate your waste into organic and inorganic items.)

The conversation went like this:
Ismael: "What are you doing with this part of the meat?"
Kim: "I am throwing it away - it is not good."
Ismael: "That is the best part of the meat!"

We ended up adding the nerves back in and I had to agree with my husband - it was delicious.

The second time, I was preparing mashed potatoes for dinner. Ismael came by and asked what I was doing with the potato skins. I told him that I wanted a smooth version of mashed potatoes and so had removed them. He was still staring at the pile of potato skins, asking what I was going to do with them. I told him I was going to throw them away (once again into "Organic Trash.") He just replied that his mom made a really delicious dish with them that he would show me sometime.

Seriously - I thought was were having a communication problem. Potato skins do not really equal delicious meal in my mind.

The third time, I had cut up some cantaloupe as part of our breakfast. Ismael asked me what I had done with the cantaloupe seeds. I looked at him blankly and said I had thrown them away - he said "Oh, my mom makes a really, really, really delicious aqua fresca (fruit drink) from them. It is so delicious - I will show you how to make it sometime."

You would think that by now I would have caught on to the trend, but really - I just could not imagine something delicious made from cantaloupe seeds. Anyone else have any great recipes for Cantaloupe Seeds? (Silence.) That is what I thought.

But eventually my husband did show me how to make the Cantaloupe Seed Agua Fresca (Horchata de Semilla de Melon) and it was really, really, really delicious. So if you happen to love cantaloupe and are looking for something delicious to do with the seeds (after all, I know you do not want to waste any perfectly good food), this recipe is for you.

The first few times I made this drink I figured it would really make a difference in the drink if I added a little bit of the cantaloupe's flesh along with the seeds. I have since realized that it is really just the seeds that are so rich in cantaloupe flavor giving this drink it it's deliciously fresh flavor.

Horchata de Semilla de Melon (Cantaloupe Seed Aqua Fresca)
1 Cantaloupe
4 Cups Water
3 to 6 TB sugar

Assemble your ingredients along with a cutting board, large knife, blender, sieve, and bowl.

Carefully cut the cantaloupe in half.

Scoop out the seeds and any juice into a small bowl. If don't want to make the Aqua Fresca now, it will keep tightly covered in the refrigerator for a few days.