Ah, watermelon…the perfect summer treat…thirst quenching, low calorie, full of lycopene and Vitamin A….and citrulline. Haven’t heard of it? Let’s just say that according to a Web Md article, it has some interesting benefits for the man in your life (wink, wink). I recently cut into a watermelon which had great flavor but it was lacking in texture (not firm and juicy, more mealy-not-worth-eating). But because of my resistance to wasting food, I decided to seed it and stick it in the Vita Mix to make watermelon juice. I used some for popsicles for the kids, froze some into ice cubes, and made cocktails with the rest. Here are a few creative ways to incorporate watermelon (and watermelon juice) into your Labor Day menu:
Watermelon Mojitos (Serves 4)
8 oz (1 cup) Rum
2 oz Simple Syrup (water, sugar warm till dissolved)
4 oz Lime juice
About 6 oz Watermelon juice
About 10 mint leaves
12 oz seltzer
Mix all ingredients other than seltzer, muddle mint leaves into liquid. Pour over ice, add seltzer and stir. Mint garnish.
Watermelon Basil Lemonade (serves 4)
2 cups lemonade
1 cup Watermelon juice
1 cup vodka or rum
1 cup seltzer
10 basil leaves
As above, mix all ingredients except seltzer, muddle basil, pour over ice, add seltzer and basil to garnish
Watermelon Feta Salad
Cube watermelon, about 6 cups
1/4 of a sweet onion, sliced thinly
Crumble in about 1/4 cup feta
Chiffonade Mint leaves, a handful
Sprinkle with red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper
Watermelon Lemonades Popsicles
Equal parts watermelon juice and lemonade, pour in pops and freeze
Happy Labor Day!
One thought on “Labor (Day) of Love?”