June Recipe- Watermelon

This month we’re focusing on watermelon.  It’s not just a fruit suitable for slicing and mixing in a fruit salad or eating plain on a hot day.  There are a variety of applications in recipes.  Just like strawberries, watermelon is a sweet addition to a savory salad.  You can also make this very easy watermelon salad and bring it to your next BBQ pot luck; Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves.  Or try this unique appetizer, Watermelon Feta Bruschetta. 

Another tip- Make about a cup of pureed watermelon and add it to your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce and use it over chicken or pork. 

One cup of cut watermelon contains no fat and about 50 calories.  It’s also a source of some great nutrients such as potassium, vitamins B6 and C as well as the antioxidant lycopene.  When buying a watermelon, tap it and if it sounds hollow, it’s ripe.  The outside may have a yellowish spot where it sat on the ground while growing, and that’s fine but the rind should be green striped and smooth.

And lastly, here’s a drink recipe using watermelon; Watermelon Lemonade.  Sometimes it seems like a great idea to buy a huge watermelon.  But when you cut it up, it’s A LOT of fruit to eat.  Which is great, but if you want a way to use up some of it, try making this refreshing drink.  You can easily use agave to sweeten this instead of sugar or simply omit the sugar since the watermelon and the lemonade may be sweet enough.