Author: admin

Tinda/Apple Gourd

This coming week will be sort of busy for me as I will be keeping my friend’s dog. He seems to love it here at my house, but since he’s now elderly and (just like old people) has lost a lot of his hearing and the vision in one eye, requires a little more care than he used to. Luckily, he’s been here often enough that he finds his way around just fine.
This past week, when I was leaving my local HEB, I noticed a different type of melon than I was used to seeing. It was close to the watermelons, but much closer to the decorative gourds. Of course, I had to stop and see what they were! The name of them turned out to be Apple gourd, so after thinking about it for a few days, I decided that they would be good copy for this week’s column. After typing “apple gourd” into my search line, I learned a few facts.
This is a small vegetable that appears to be a cross between a (very) large green apple and a pumpkin. The skin coloration is very similar to the small seedless watermelons that are available practically year ‘round, but the shape is looks as if it is actually an apple. Some of the ones pictured in the article were actually the size of a green apple, but the ones here in the store look to weigh about one to two pounds or maybe more.
According to the article, the taste, texture and seeds mostly resemble squash and it’s also called Tinda, in fact everywhere the name appears in the article it is Tinda/apple gourd. The following information that I gleaned in this article is below. I am quoting it as it appears.
“Tinda has a lot of health benefits to offer – read them below—

  1. Tinda/apple gourd has anti-bacterial properties.
  2. Tinda/apple gourd helps in maintaining digestive health by getting rid of gastric issues and constipation.
  3. Tinda/apple gourd helps in weight loss as it is 94% water.
  4. Antioxident properties of Tinda/apple gourd helps control blood pressure.
  5. Tinda/apple gourd leaves also help in controlling blood pressure.
  6. Tinda/apple gourd prevents cancer as it protects from free radicals which cause cancer.
  7. Tinda/apple gourd makes hair healthy and shiny.”
    They are also called Indian squash, round melon, Indian round gourd, apple gourd or Indian baby pumpkin.
    The recipes are mostly Indian in origin, being a variety of different types of curry dishes. They all seem to be long and involved and the ingredients are not listed separately as is usual with recipes. The apple gourds must not be too difficult to grow as there is lots of information and several places to order seeds listed if you desire to grow them yourselves. There are also lots of pictures of them decorated in various ways to use the gourds for decorating purposes, as well as pictures of them as bird houses, scoops and other items.
    Dee’s Chicken and Ro-tel® tomatoes
    Read instructions before beginning!
    1 whole chicken cut into serving size pieces
    ½ to 1 cup cooking oil (for frying chicken pieces)
    1 onion, chopped
    1 bell pepper, chopped
    1 Tbs. sugar
    Cajun seasoning
    Salt and pepper
    1 can Rotel® tomatoes with green chilies
    ½ to 1 can tomato sauce (8-oz can)
    1 can diced tomatoes, (large can)
    1 can sliced mushrooms
    ½ to 1 cup water
    Skin chicken and season on all sides with Cajun seasoning. Heat oil in heavy skillet and fry chicken until nicely browned; remove from pan and set aside. In same skillet, sauté onions and bell pepper; drain off excess oil and add tomatoes, tomato sauce, water and mushrooms. Add chicken to sauce; stir and add sugar and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; lower heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes or until chicken is done, and serve over white rice.
    The late Mrs. Bess Polk, who was in an Assisted Living home in Victoria at the time, sent me this Chicken and Rice Casserole which had appeared in her daily paper, The Victoria Advocate. About two weeks after she sent hers to me, a similar one appeared in the San Antonio paper, and it uses regular rice. I have made this many times and everyone seems to love it. The cream of onion soup was not available for a very long time, but I was able to find it again at a new Brookshire Brothers that is now in Cuero.
    Fiesta Chicken and Rice Bake
    1 can cream of chicken soup or cream of onion soup
    1 cup chunky salsa or picante sauce
    ½ cup water
    1 cup whole-kernel corn, drained (buffet size can, or I just used a well drained 15 oz can)
    ¾ cup regular long-grained white rice (uncooked)
    4 boneless chicken breast halves*
    Paprika
    ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
    Preheat oven to 375ºF Mix soup, salsa, water, corn and rice in 2-quart shallow casserole or baking dish. Top with the chicken and sprinkle with paprika. Cover with lid or foil. Bake about 45 to 55 minutes, or until the rice has soaked up all the liquid and the chicken is cooked through. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and put back in the oven for a minute or so, until the cheese melts. *I use cut-up chicken or leg/thigh quarters instead of breasts, and I use 6-8 thighs and it works very well.
    If you want to double the recipe, use: 2 cans soup, 2 cups salsa, 1 cup water, 15-oz can corn, 1½ cups rice (uncooked), 12 to 15 pieces chicken, and to do this you will probably need larger pan.

Fundraiser for Rangel

Family and friends are hosting fundraisers for Natalia resident, Noah Rangel, 20, who is suffering from an eye condition that can cause blindness if it is not treated.
“He has been dealing with an eye condition called Kerataconus for over two years, and it’s gotten worse. His right eye is shaped differently than his left eye which is over compensating for his right eye,” said his mother Mrs. Savanna Rangel. “He’s seen a few cornea specialists who have told him that if he doesn’t have this surgery which is not covered by his insurance he will eventually need a cornea transplant and because he’s young he may need more than one. If he doesn’t do anything about it he will go blind. The surgery itself will not cure or reshape his eye but it can stop the progression of the disease in hopes of him not losing his eyesight. After surgery he will needs special custom corrective lenses that are also not covered by his insurance. Our family greatly appreciates any donation big or small. His address is P.O. Box 120 Natalia 78059 or cash app $vanna0723.”
Rangel has a one year old daughter Emmy, and Noah works full time. He works as a maintenance technician at Love’s, and hopes to become a pharmacist someday.
Noah graduated in 2021 from Academy of Achievements in San Antonio. He loves computers, music and most of all the Greenbay Packers.
“I am so proud of the man/father he has become. He adores Emmy and would move mountains for her as I would do for him. He has overcome so many challenges in life. He’s smart, funny and caring and giving,” Mrs. Rangel adds.

Medina County burn ban remains in effect

By Anton Riecher
A burn ban in place in Medina County since June 24 remains in effect after county commissioners tabled further action this month.
The ban was scheduled to expire on Sept. 21. However, permission to burn under exceptions to the ban can be obtained from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office dispatch.
A decision on whether permission is granted depends on changing conditions day-to-day, Medina County Emergency Management Coordinator Keith Lutz told county commissioners this month.
The ban allow exceptions to burn for activities related to public health and safety approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Those exceptions include firefighter training, public utility operations involving natural gas pipeline or mining or harvesting of agricultural crops.
Also exempted are burns conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048 of the Natural Resources Code. Finally, ceremonial fires are exempted provided that advance notice is given to the sheriff’s office and appropriate fire officials of time and location.
Burning of brush on property cleared by a landowner is permissible granted that permission is obtained from the sheriff’s dispatch and the county fire marshal. The landowner or the contractor must remain on scene to supervise and appropriate fire containment equipment must be on hand.
Breaking the burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 per violation.

MAJOR ROAD CLOSURE:


Northbound ramp in Lytle at IH-35 to be closed for weeks starting today
TXDOT will be closing the NB entrance ramp to IH-35 (the one by Lytle State Bank) from Sept. 21 thru Oct. 4. They will be doing construction / road work. While that ramp is closed you will need to use Main St to access the NB entrance ramp just inside Bexar County (once you cross the overpass).

Area Veterans, Devine Wants You… For Grand Marshall

The Devine Fall Festival Parade this year will feature area veterans as Grand Marshalls of the parade. Veterans from all branches of service are asked to participate. They will occupy the lead cars and floats and will be recognized at the grandstand at the parade finally.
The Fall Festival Parade is on November 5, 2022. Judging of parade entrants is at 9:00 AM and step off is at 10:00 AM.
Veterans who wish to participate are asked to contact Gary Saathoff, call or text him at 210-289-6204.
You can also email him at gsaathoff7@yahoo.com.

MAJOR ROAD CLOSURE:

Northbound ramp in Lytle at IH-35 to be closed for weeks starting today
TXDOT will be closing the NB entrance ramp to IH-35 (the one by Lytle State Bank) from Sept. 21 thru Oct. 4. They will be doing construction / road work. While that ramp is closed you will need to use Main St to access the NB entrance ramp just inside Bexar County (once you cross the overpass)

Public hearing on Medina County tax increase on Thursday, September 22

While the tax rate has gone down some, higher appraisals have skyrocketed, and will bring in substantially more tax revenue.
The proposed tax rate, which is the highest allowed without holding an election will be .4743. Total property tax revenues under this rate will raise $23.7 Million, about 7% or $1.5 million more than the previous fiscal year.
The average taxable value of a home in Medina County increasd from $190K to $215K, an increase of about $25,444 or 13.38% increase.
The local Pct. 4 county commisioner urges residents to voice their opinions.
“You are going to hear how low the Tax Rate is and how it has gone down each year for the past several years. But remember that our Property Appraisals are higher than they have ever been,” said Comissioner Jerry Beck. “Our taxes have never gone down or even leveled off.”