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!