Summertime is usually for relaxing by the pool, vacations and trying to stay cool for most kids, but not those that are dedicated to playing sports for Enid High. Those that want to excel participate in “Summer Pride,” Enid High’s summer strength and conditioning program. And this year, there is a new co-leader in town – Lane Hendricks. Coach Hendricks officially started on June 5th, and he was so excited, he said he could barely sleep in the days leading up to the first session. “This is a dream come true for me,” said Coach Hendricks, “I grew up playing football in West Kansas, and ended up on the team at Dodge City Community College and Ft. Hays State. I always loved working out, and really knew that coaching and helping kids was going to be my career path from a young age. I have coached football and track, but really loved the opportunity to be involved without the same kind of pressure that comes from being a direct coach.”
Hendricks said he has always had a love for strength and conditioning, and likes to read and study about the new trends. “It’s not like when we were kids,” he said, “now we know a lot more about how to workout and improve. I want to focus on all aspects of sports performance, and not just throwing weights around. Each movement has a purpose, and will help our athletes perform the best they can.”
Watching the first day of Summer Pride, it was impossible not to be impressed with how many student-athletes showed out (more than 300). “It was way more than the staff and I expected,” said Hendricks, “the numbers were crazy impressive across the board and in almost every sport and I was just glad to get started.”
Every sport’s head coach, and a few assistant coaches, are helping out with all sports and each sport is divided up into one of three start times (7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 am.) and entail both conditioning workouts outside on the track and football field, and weight training, with each sport having a sport-specific workout. Coach Hendricks really likes having the coaches help with everyone, and not just their individual sport. “I think it is really good for the kids to hear voices and opinions from other coaches and maybe a new perspective, instead of just their sport coach. It can definitely be more motivating sometimes,” he said.
Enid has not just limited Summer Pride to the high school, they have encouraged the middle school student-athletes to attend sessions at each of the three middle schools, which each having their own coordinator. Even elementary school kids can get in on the fun this year, and for a small fee, they will teach 2nd through 5th grade kids how to run and stretch and lift with good form, hopefully developing good habits in the future.
While this story focused on the new coach, we don’t want to leave out Coach Jana Robertson, who has been at Enid for almost a year. She has really been a huge help connecting with student-athletes, and has done a great job with sport-specific training while building general athleticism. For every success on the field next school year, remember all the hard work these kids and coaches put in over the summer to give themselves the best chance at winning.
Just look at all these sweet faces. These pets and many more are waiting to be adopted at the ESPCA. If you’ve ever considered adding a family member to your home, there is a pet for you! The ESPCA team would love to help connect you to an adoptable cat or dog that fits your lifestyle and pace.
The ESPCA pulls the majority of its animals from Enid Animal Welfare, and after a health check, spay/neuter, and microchipping, most are ready for adoption right away. Generally, over 100 animals are in the ESPCA’s care on any given day. A small but mighty staff of compassionate individuals, dedicated volunteers, and a lot of community support keep the day-to-day activities rolling at the shelter. However, there is always a need for more help with donations, fostering, and volunteering.
As the shelter turns 25 years strong this month, the ESPCA’s mission is to provide compassionate care to companion animals awaiting adoption. Executive Director Vickie Grantz was one of two ladies who started the ESPCA. She and Gabriella Wilson began with a group of fosters working out of their homes to grow to the current campus that the shelter is on.
The dogs and cats need you; you also get so much from helping them. It’s a great way to feel good and make new friends who love animals. There’s a lot of excitement for new volunteers right now, and you can sign up at enidspca.org/volunteer. There is always a furry face to cuddle, read to, walk, brush, bathe, or pick up after. If pet hair is not your thing, but you would love to help from afar, you can sign up for the event team to help with promotion. There is a large festival in November each year, and help is always needed.
We hope you visit the ESPCA and their furry guests. If you are interested, there are lots of ways to get involved. You can become a Pet Partner (ESPCA’s monthly giving program), foster a pet for a short break from the shelter or until they are adopted, volunteer around the shelter, save aluminum drinking cans to help with the spay/neuter program Cans4Change or walk a dog to get them out of the bustling kennel. There is also a wish list at enidspca.org/wishlist.
Robert Sands, also known as Santa around Enid, was born on December 1st, 1954, in Canyon City, Colorado. Before moving to Oklahoma, Robert and his family moved to San Diego, California. When he was 15, they moved to Oklahoma and settled down.
Robert’s mother was a stay-at-home mom, but she was also an artist. She was a painter, and his father was in the Navy. Robert eventually followed in his father’s footsteps, but he also went on to do other things as well.
On October 5, 1991, Robert married Pamela Sands here in Enid Oklahoma, and they moved to Jet, Oklahoma, in 1996. In addition to being Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Robert and Pam were involved in many things throughout the community. Robert was a manager at the original Pizza Inn for many years, and he worked for the City of Enid, Enid Animal Control, and Jet Animal Control. He now also owns his own Animal Control. In addition to his many professions, he also does volunteer work, which is where you might recognize him from. To some he’s Dad or Grandpa, but to many, he’s Santa.
Robert has been volunteering as Santa for over a decade, and he’s been Santa all over Northwest Oklahoma. He and his late wife, Pam, were Mr. and Mrs. Claus to many children and families. They started their adventure as Mr. and Mrs. Claus in 2003, and it grew from there. In 2011, they started ‘Breakfast with Santa’ at Golden Corral. Since then, they’ve traveled and visited many towns and daycares. Robert partners with his daughter, Jennifer, at Mug Shots Photography to help you and your loved ones bring the Holidays home. Pam may no longer be with us, but she will live on in the picture frames of those whose lives they’ve touched. Stephanie Collins took her son to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus one year, and she said, “He’s the most ‘real’ Santa I have ever met in my 34 years. In looks, spirit, and the heart he has for children.”
Robert is very family oriented and anyone who knows him would tell you just that. His daughter, Amy, said, “He’s got a really kind heart, and he would do anything for anybody.” Robert lives in Kremlin with his family. He has four adult children, Amy, John, Ben, and Jennifer, and he has 29 grandchildren.
Whether you’ve seen him as Santa or he’s helped you with your fur babies, Robert is a true “Local Legend.”
LOCAL LEGENDS IS PROUDLY PRESENTED BY HUMPHREY AND GUARANTEE ABSTRACT CO.!
Hi!! And welcome back to Teen Scene in Enid Monthly. This past June, my dad and I took a vacation to GREECE!! So for July, I will tell you about our journeys each day and let you know a little about Athens’ history. Let’s go!!
To start off on our first full day we traveled all around the mythological areas of Athens. We visited the Parthenon (a temple dedicated to the Greek’s beloved Athena, goddess of war, wisdom, and handicraft), the Acropolis (a huge building used for a fortress and military base that later became a religious center also for Athena), the Theatre of Dionysus (god of drama and wine), which could seat up to 17,000 people, the Temple of Zeus, which we learned that there are only 15 out of 104 standing columns left, and many more incredible buildings. My dad and I were both very surprised by how many of the buildings in Athens were dedicated to Athena. The hotel that we stayed at was very nice but the rooftop view was one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. You could see the whole city of Athens, the sea and a few of the buildings we had seen.
The next day we took a 4 ½ hour train ride to the city of Meteora. We went to the original Monasteries of Meteora and even got to go inside 2 active ones and learn about monks’ and nuns’ ways of life. I even got dress coded by a nun!! Our tour bus stopped at a few places to take pictures of the village and take in the views from the mountains. On the third day, we went on an island tour where we took a boat to 2 different Greek islands. We got to explore the towns, eat local foods, and even got to try locally grown pistachios which led to the tasting of pistachio ice cream, butter, and chocolate crisps!! This was our last day in Athens before we flew out to Santorini so when we got back we enjoyed some delicious food and relaxed on the rooftop of our hotel.
On the fifth day, we flew to Santorini which is an Island southeast of Athens. When we arrived at our hotel me and my dad were just in awe about how beautiful the island was. We again got very lucky with an amazing view. Our day consisted of traveling around the island, seeing the ancient city of Akrotiri, visiting a winery and wine museum, and spending our evening in the beautiful village of Oia. Akrotiri just blew my mind seeing how people lived thousands of years ago. Did you know they had working plumbing in the 16th century BC?! We got to see thousands of years old pottery, houses, trees, and public buildings. When we were driving from the airport through Santorini, I was a little surprised at how it looked. I was expecting what I saw on Google with hundreds of white buildings from the top of the mountains all the way to the beaches of the Aegean Sea but as we arrived in Oia I realized that it is what we think of when you hear Santorini. It was out of this world. We were hoping to see what Santorini is famous for, those beautiful sunsets, but the clouds ruined it for us. The next afternoon we flew back to Athens for our last night in Greece.
To end I would like to share that the people in Greece were the nicest people I have ever met, not one person was mean. Also, the food was very different from America but it was an experience trying the local meals. Almost every night in Athens we walked streets lined with different restaurants and got to taste many different foods. There are also lots of stray cats that come visit you while eating and they are all so sweet and taken care of. I even met one very special cat on our last night in Greece, that stays at the hotel we stayed at, and her name was Sofia!! I 100% recommend Greece for parents to take their teens.
Thank you so much for reading this month’s article! I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for upcoming articles email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com I would also love to hear from you about your vacations this summer so email me or that too!! I hope you all have an amazing July and a great 4th of July. Bye for now!!
It’s now July, and the second annual Best of Enid Event has come to a conclusion. Without you all, it wouldn’t have been possible. On behalf of us here at Enid Monthly, we want to thank you all for making the event such a success. The event sold out for a second year in a row, and it was a blast! Thank you to those who sponsored, which includes Gold and Silver Sponsors Natural Remedies, Enid C-Star, Unleashed Pet Grooming, Ladusau-Evans, Sandy’s Tacos, and all of our table sponsors and door prize sponsors – you are all very appreciated! The Stride Bank Event Center along with its staff and employees also deserve recognition because this wouldn’t have been possible without them. The food was great, the company was tremendous, and the memories will be forever cherished. Everyone gathered at the event to celebrate the Best of Enid, and there was a lot to celebrate. The event may have recognized businesses from around town, but it’s the community and the people here in Enid that make this city what it is. You are all the Best of Enid!
With over 60,000 votes, this year’s competition was close! Many categories were back and forth, and many of them came down to the literal last minute! In the end, the top 3 finalists of each category were cordially invited to the event, and everyone gathered to celebrate each other’s achievements. If you came out a winner, congratulations! If you ended up a finalist, congratulations as well! And for everyone else who was nominated, take pride in that nomination because the community members here in Enid see you and your business, and they recognize all the greatness that you do and bring to the community, so congratulations to you as well!
Events like these present an opportunity to be present and thankful for the community Enid has, and with so much going on constantly, it’s nice to gather with your peers for a night of enjoyment, recognition, celebration, and good times. Bryce Winters was one of the attendees at the event, and he said, “It was amazing seeing the community come together to celebrate all that Enid has accomplished! I love that we have someone giving recognition for our community’s hard work!” At the end of the night, everyone who came felt celebrated and had a good time because that’s really what the event was about – celebrating Enid and everything and everyone that makes Enid, Enid.
As each category was highlighted and the winners were announced, the audience got to see what makes Enid so special. Whether it was the thank you speeches given by the winners or the applause and celebrations for each winner from the audience, those in attendance got to witness the Enid community as a community. At an event where everyone wants to win, it was refreshing and inspiring to see everyone celebrate one another, even if it meant they didn’t win. The energy in the room was absolutely tremendous! Gold sponsor and Best Pet Groomer winner, Unleashed Pet Grooming, stated, “The evening was really nice. I went up against elite competition, and I’d just opened in August of 2022. So, it was an honor to be recognized, and I really enjoyed the event.”
Abby Grey was the photographer for the event, and she was able to capture so many special moments from the evening. She was there to greet each winner as they walked off the stage, and she was also there to capture moments from the audience and presenters.
As many of the winners said in their thank you speeches, each award and trophy was not an individual achievement – it truly takes a village. From the employees that make local businesses thrive to the community that shops local and voted for their favorites – you made the Best of Enid possible.
The doors opened at 6:00pm on June 1st, but the rain started just a little bit before that. Even through the storms and downpour, the Best of Enid still came out and showed up for one another. As people made their way to their seats, they gathered food and beverages and sat down to start the night. The food was spectacular, and the speaker, Jonathan Wilson, quickly got the ball rolling. Gloria Briley was another attendee, and she said, “As a new resident to Enid, I was very impressed with the strong community support for small businesses at the Best of Enid event. I witnessed that same community togetherness at the Christmas tree lighting, and it was so refreshing to see friends and family gathering to celebrate one another.” As winners were announced, each category had a song specific to that category, from “Who let the Dogs Out” for the Best Pet Groomer category to the “YMCA” for the Best Fitness/Gym category. There was so much thought and effort put into each part of the night, so it was amazing to see everything be executed and received so well.
For dinner, guests were served chicken cordon bleu, diced potatoes, broccoli, and a plethora of desserts! The food was raved about by many, and some were still talking about it a couple of weeks later. Good food paired with great drinks and even better people was a recipe for a great night!
It may have been pouring outside, but that didn’t dampen the evening. Almost everyone who purchased a sponsorship, table, and ticket was in attendance, so the seats were full, and the tables were packed. Gold sponsor, Enid C-Star, said “We had a wonderful time. We want to give a special thank you to Enid Monthly and the Stride staff for a wonderful evening. We look forward to next year’s event.”
The keywords for this year’s event were community, appreciation, acknowledgment, and engrossed. There are many other words applicable to the Best of Enid event, like joy, kindness, celebration, anticipation, and so on, but those four words were key at this year’s event.
Community
One of the things that stood out the most was the community at the event. Each one of the nominees celebrated the success of the other nominees, even if that meant they didn’t win. Everyone in attendance seemed to be genuinely happy for their neighbors and competitors, and that spoke volumes to the community here in Enid. In a small town where everyone knows everyone, it’s easy to be overly competitive, but that wasn’t the case. Everyone came together as a community, and everyone celebrated with one another as a community. With the outside world having so many controversies and lots of division, it was truly inspiring to see people of opposition and similarities come together and just enjoy themselves. The community here in Enid is second to none, and that’s why Enid is so special.
Appreciation
Another thing that was evident throughout the whole event was the appreciation. To begin with, we here at Enid Monthly appreciate you all for coming out again and making the night so special. Everyone who came out and everyone who was nominated is very appreciated. Without you all, there wouldn’t be anything to celebrate, acknowledge, or appreciate. So, thank you again for making Enid what it is. Appreciation was also evident in all of the attendees and businesses who were present. Silver sponsor and Best Funeral Home winner, Ladusau-Evans, said, “It is truly an honor to be able to help the families in the Enid community that have entrusted their loved ones with the Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory. It is not a job for us, it’s a passion. We have been serving the Enid area for over 50 years. Thank you to the Enid community for trusting Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory.” Whether you appreciated the opportunity to be acknowledged, the event, the food, or even just the fact that there was a bar, the appreciation could be felt throughout the room, and the feelings were mutual.
Acknowledgement
As the winners were announced, they made their way to the stage to accept their award. However, many didn’t accept their awards alone. A majority of the winners brought up their teams with them, and many of them even acknowledged their team individually. As a member of the audience, it was so lovely to see business owners and managers acknowledge and thank their teams. And as employees, we all know how nice it is to be acknowledged and celebrated by higher ups, and that was a big part of what made the night so special. Each winner knew that they couldn’t have done it alone, and that’s why so many of them thanked their phenomenal teams. Everyone there deserved every bit of recognition they got, and being able to have an event that does acknowledge and celebrate people for their hard work is so fulfilling.
Engrossed
To be engrossed means you’re giving someone or something all of your attention or interest, and everyone at the event was absolutely engrossed by the speaker. Eager with anticipation, everyone watched and listened as he went through each category announcing the winners of this year’s event. Often times people can get consumed by the technological world that they hold in their hands, but that wasn’t the case at the event. It was so rejuvenating to see people engaging in conversation and interacting with those around them. Many people were totally present and living in the moment, and that was phenomenal to witness. Gold sponsor and CBD/Cannabis winner, Natural Remedies, said, “We had a great time at the event! We enjoyed having the opportunity to attend, and we loved being able to socialize and hang out with our peers from around Enid. It was a great night, and we look forward to next year’s event!”
As things come to an end for this year’s Best of Enid Event, we want to thank you all again. You make Enid what it is today, and that alone is reason enough to celebrate! Thank you all for coming out to the event and supporting one another, and thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible. Until next year, stay safe, spread kindness, and always take a moment to celebrate those around you – we all deserve it. Thank you, Enid!
Get to know the simple ways that you can stay a step ahead of this dangerous cancer. Dr. Casey Cochran, DO, provides some useful information.
What purpose does the prostate serve?
It’s out of sight and usually out of mind, but the prostate – the walnut-sized gland that sits between the bladder and the penis, in front of the rectum, in men – cannot be ignored. It produces a fluid that is important in male fertility, as well as another fluid that lubricates the spinal cord. In addition, urine passes through the urethra, which goes through the prostate. If there is an issue with the prostate, such as prostate cancer, it can affect a man’s health, self-image and lifestyle.
How common is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 out of every 100 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, and on average three of those men will die because of it.
How do you get screened for prostate cancer?
Even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms, all men 55 to 69 years old should talk to their doctor about getting routinely screened. Men who are 70 and older generally can skip routine screenings.
Fortunately, prostate cancer can be detected early with simple testing, including a rectal exam by the physician or a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This simple blood test is commonly used to measure the blood level of a protein (called PSA) that is created in the prostate. The test can be performed in the office by a primary care doctor or urologist. It’s recommended to get tested annually.
Blue ribbon symbolic for prostate cancer awareness campaign and men’s health in doctor’s hand
Is there a genetic component to prostate cancer?
African American men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it. Prostate cancer can also be triggered by genetic factors such as family health history. If one or more immediate family members have had prostate cancer, you should mention it to your doctor.
What are some symptoms of prostate cancer?
• Difficulty urinating
• Frequent urination
• Blood in urine or semen
• Painful or burning urination
• Trouble emptying bladder
• Painful ejaculation
• Pain in back, hips and/or pelvis
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician immediately.
Are there ways to lower your risk of developing prostate cancer?
There are proven strategies and behaviors to lessen your risk of cancer in general. They include:
Lower alcohol consumption (or stop altogether). Drinking alcohol increases your risk of several types of cancer. It also impacts your sleep, mental health, skin, energy levels and weight. Men are recommended to keep consumption to two drinks daily (one for women).
Get moving. Around 40% of all cancers can be associated with being overweight or obese. Regular physical activity can improve your brain health, strengthen bones and muscles, improve your sleep, lower stress and even lower blood pressure, to name a few benefits.
Protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can be extremely harmful to your skin. Wear SPF, protective clothing/gear (hat, sleeves, sunglasses) and stay out of the direct sun when you can.
Eat colorfully. In general, eating healthily allows your body to function at its best potential. Limiting sugar intake has a number of benefits. It reduces the risk of disease, lowers risk of depression and aids in weight management, and more. Fill your plate with brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and steer clear from overly processed snacks.
“Early detection of prostate cancer can lead to successful treatment,” added Dr. Cochran. “It’s best to detect prostate cancer through screening when there are no symptoms or when they are at an early stage, when it is highly treatable.”
You can take steps to stay healthy and live a long life for yourself and your family. We’re here to help!
Contact your doctor for a consultation or, for assistance finding a doctor who’s right for you, call 580-599-6391.
For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website
Summer is coming, and I really dislike heating up the house with my oven and other appliances, so I have decided to make some lighter fare this year. So I told the Hubs to be prepared for lots of salads and sandwiches for the warmer months. And I started with one of my favorites...Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad. This salad pulls in the fresh green Romaine lettuce with cooked pasta and chicken with the distinct flavor of a good Caesar dressing. It is a fantastic entrée, but could easily be served as a side dish as well.
Now, I made this salad the other evening for our dinner, and we had leftovers FOR DAYS!! I mean, this salad makes ALOT! So be prepared....or you may want to cut the recipe in half. However, it would be the perfect salad to take along to a picnic or get together where there will be many to feed.
I will say to make sure you use a Caesar dressing that would be a good stand-alone dressing. My favorite is Brianna's Caesar Dressing. (not advertising at all, but if anyone has the contact....) I fell in love with this dressing when the bakery was open and it was the dressing for The Nook's Caesar Salad. It's got a fantastic balance of garlic and parmesan flavor with black pepper. I highly recommend it! But, any creamy Caesar dressing will work, but it does need to be creamy so it will "hang on" to the different pieces of the salad. If you use an oil-based Caesar, the oil and seasoning will simply sink to the bottom of the bowl, removing the opportunity for that garlicy-parmesan flavor in every bite.
This salad is also very versatile as well. I have a cousin who made the same salad with chopped up breaded chicken tenders and cooked mini cheese tortellini. You could also add 1/2 cup or so of real bacon bits, or 1/2 cup of a vegetable like sliced cucumber moons, sliced fresh mushrooms or fully cooked and cooled peas. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination!
So try it and see what you think. Happy cooking!!!
CHICKEN CEASAR PASTA SALAD
Ingredients
• 8 ounces bow tie pasta
• 3 hearts of Romaine, chopped (I used pre-chopped hearts of Romaine)
• 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded*
• 5 ounce bag Caesar croutons
• 12 ounces creamy Caesar dressing (my favorite is Brianna's)
• 6 ounces parmesan cheese, shredded
*I purchased pre-shredded rotisserie chicken from my local grocery store.
Instructions
1)Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain pasta, rinse with cold water, and set aside in a large bowl and chill.
2) Cut hearts of Romaine into 1 inch pieces and shred rotisserie chicken then add to the large bowl with pasta.
3) Pour dressing over salad and toss to fully coat noodles and lettuce.
4) Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bacon and top with croutons. Toss to combine.
The theme for Enid monthly articles for this year was “The OBA Commitment.” And throughout the past year, we’ve had several articles to try and convey people’s expressions of commitment to the OBA mission. As the new Communications Director, who stepped into the year halfway through, I can say that this year’s Class of 2023 embodies our theme well.
Now we want to take a moment to recognize this senior class’s achievements. We will have five Valedictorians, two Salutatorians, eight students graduating with honors and a National Merit Scholar. That’s over half the class. One student passed all nine of their AP exams. We have three students attending college as athletes after successfully leading their teams this year. This year’s seniors have one of the highest collective ACT scores in OBA history and already acquired hundreds of hours of college credits. We had three students win the Oklahoma Arts Excellence Award and one write and direct their own play. They’ve excelled as members of Gaslight teens, church youth group leaders, travel sports team members, and one already sworn into the Air National Guard.
While these students are standouts in terms of academic excellence, they shine in other ways. When I asked some of OBA’s faculty how they would describe this year’s senior class, they said things like: relational, loyal, and unified. These are all traits that they can take with them into their future endeavors. The one trait that stood out among the rest was that they are “zealous in their choice to serve.” These seniors have learned ‘to do hard better’ because of overcoming challenges like emergency online learning as freshmen and an irregular learning environment of social distancing and quarantines as sophomores. They will continue to serve others upon the completion of their time at OBA.
We’ve highlighted a few individual class members here and there over the past year, but this entire class deserves to be celebrated. They are not only smart, high achieving, and excellent in academics, but they are also kind and wonderful leaders. We look forward to seeing the Class of 2023 grow into great contributors and become ambassadors for OBA and our kingdom mission. Congratulations, Class of 2023! We are so proud of you.
Low in fat, cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrates, high in potassium, protein, vitamin A (seven times more beta carotene than carrots!), vitamin C, and Omega-3 fatty acids, and containing eight essential amino acids and antioxidant flavonoids and polysaccharides used in therapy for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and type 2 diabetes, this superfood has it all. Additionally, lab tests show that a compound of this plant helps kill liver cancer cells and plant seed extracts are active against brain and lung cancer cells. Best of all, this plant tastes yummy with a slightly citrusy, salty, with a peppery kick and a juicy crunchy texture. You can eat the leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds, either raw or cooked.
Common Purslane has been consumed for thousands of years in the Mediterranean, Mid East, Asia, and by the indigenous North Americans both fresh, cooked, and juiced or decocted as medicines. In spite of all the beneficial health uses and time-worn testing, common purslane has been called “a noxious weed” by the USDA.
Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) also known as hogweed, pigweed and pusley, is an annual succulent that looks like a tiny jade plant with alternating leaf clusters at stem joints. Each fleshy, flat green leaf is oval to spoon-shaped and broadest near the rounded tip. The half-inch wide small yellow flowers that bloom midsummer through early fall, have five notched petals. The flowers blossom at the stem joints, with just a single bloom opening at a time.
Purslane is propagated from seed, stem cuttings, divisions of root systems, and transplanting them. One plant can produce over 50,000 seeds. Seeds remain viable in the soil for several decades. Decades!! Purslane seeds can be sown outside after the last frost by sprinkling them onto moist soil and pressing them in lightly. As a cutting, each piece of stem can create a new plant. To propagate a stem cutting, cut a six-inch long stem and remove the leaves from the bottom half. Plant the stem in soil with half the stem underground in an area with bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist.
Purslane loves full sun and our Oklahoma heat. A good place to plant them is next to walls or fences which reflect heat. Plus, they are not picky about soil. As a weed, these plants can be found easily growing in sidewalk cracks and on the side of the road. But if you are growing purslane for food, these will grow larger, juicier plants in loamy, porous soil without much water.
Harvest mature leaves about 50 days after you plant the seeds. Cut a single stem at a time or most of the plant. Leave about 2 inches above the soil and it will regrow. Oddly enough, the time of day that you harvest makes a difference in the flavor. Plants harvested in the morning taste tart and the evening cuttings have a sweeter flavor. Stems can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week in a plastic bag.
Purslane can be dried and used as a dried herb or like cornstarch thickener. Some cooks serve purslane steamed like spinach. A refreshing way to enjoy purslane is in a salad.
