The grocery store produce section is a crazy quilt of colors, shapes, and textures. There are fruits from all over the world within our reach throughout the year. Each of these natural treats has its own unique composition of vitamins and minerals, not to mention antioxidants and other health-boosting properties.

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Many of us don't take advantage of all the fruits and vegetables available, mainly because some of them aren't familiar to us. We're not sure how they'll taste or if it will be difficult to prepare them. Sometimes, we don't realize the full potential of fruits we eat all the time.

Rinds are among the most frequently overlooked food resources. The rind is the skin and pulp of the fruit. Most people like to remove the rinds from fruits, because they usually don't offer much in the way of flavor, and they're not very pretty for presentation.

It might be surprising to learn that while rinds may take away from the presentation of your fruit or vegetable, they contain lots of nutrients and can be used for cooking as well as other uses.

Rinds can be dried, placed in sachets, and used as a refreshing potpourri. They can also be used as part of natural, at-home beauty treatments.

The real value of rinds is in the kitchen, where they can be used to enhance both the flavor and the nutritional value of your food.
Removing rinds is generally not a very difficult task as long as you have the correct tool. A small, sharp knife and vegetable peeler work just fine for removing rinds for most fruits. For lemons, you can use a lemon zester.

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Removing and using rinds may be a small part of the cooking experience, but it can be a useful skill to add to your kitchen repertoire.

This classic diner favorite relies on lemon zest for its invigorating aroma and flavor. The pie is topped by a sweet, mild meringue that complements the lemon custard perfectly.

Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe

(Recipe adapted from CookingNook.com)

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• dash salt
• 1 1/2 cups hot water
• 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 9-inch baked pie pastry
• 3 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
• 6 tablespoons granulated sugar

Add together the 1 1/2 cups of sugar, the cornstarch, flour, and salt in a medium saucepan; whisk until well blended. Add hot water, slowly stirring to blend. Heat saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, constantly stirring ingredients. Reduce heat to low; continue cooking, stirring, for 8 minutes. Stir about 1/3 cup of the hot mixture into the slightly beaten egg yolks, then return to hot mixture in saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook for 4 minutes. Add butter and lemon peel and slowly stir in 1/3 cup lemon juice. Pour into baked and cooled pie shell.

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Watermelon rinds, those whitish, mostly flavorless parts of the bright summer fruit, usually end up in the trash can after the family barbecue is over. Few people know that these rinds are packed with vitamins and minerals, even more so than the fruit itself.

To remove watermelon rinds, use a sharp knife to slowly separate the green-skinned white rind from the pink seeded fruit.

Watermelon rinds can be used in tasty ways. For instance; pickled watermelon rind is a popular food in the southern United States.

Pickling is a long process that most of us don't have the time or tools to do, but that doesn't mean we have to waste watermelon rinds. A blender is all you need to whip up this luscious, cooling summer drink.
Watermelon Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

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• 2 cups seeded watermelon chunks, including the rind
• 1 cup cracked ice
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
2. Blend until smooth.

Orange Rinds

Oranges are chock-full of vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Orange peels in particular have powerful health benefits. Health studies have shown that naturally occurring chemical compounds in orange peel may be beneficial in lowering cholesterol.

Orange rinds are usually easy to remove using your fingers, but you can use a knife if you like. A lemon zester works to grate the skin.

There are many uses for orange peels. They can be grated and used as flavoring in salads, soups, and desserts, or used to freshen your garbage disposal and other kitchen spaces.

Candied orange peel is a sophisticated treat. It's made by boiling the peels in sugar and drying them in a dehydrator. It's a long process, but the result tastes great and makes a beautiful, colorful gift.

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Eating (or otherwise using) fruits in their entirety is a great idea. It's not only good for you; it benefits the planet as well by helping produce less trash.

In addition to using fruit rinds in recipes, the oil in citrus rinds and peels can also be utilized to make homemade cleaning products and deodorizers. This is becoming a popular trend thanks to the increasing focus on green living.

Not everyone has the time or inclination to make their own natural cleaning products, but you can help the earth easily by composting all your unwanted rinds.

It's a small way to make a big difference.