Happy National Watermelon Day!! This happens to be my favorite melon of all time, as well as my daughter’s. Fewer things scream sweet summer time than a sweet, juicy, beautiful watermelon. It is one of those fruits that can enhance any table, dish and drink. Not only can you consume it, but you can create art with it. If you’re really skilled with the knife, you can create beautiful baskets and use them to display fruit and other foods on your table.
Personally, I created a basket and decorated it for a baby shower before, as well as served watermelon balls in it; if I can do it, anyone can do it.
If you like kitchen gadgets, there are so many made specifically for watermelons, including the windmill watermelon slicer to easily get watermelon rectangle pieces with some quick swipes. Another great watermelon cutting tool is a melon ball, which is such a fun way to serve watermelon.
Picking the best, and when I say best, I mean juiciest, watermelon is something I’m constantly working on. There seem to be so many different ways people choose a great watermelon. What I look for are yellow spots to show that the watermelon was probably sitting there for a while, ripening, and when I pick it up, I knock on it to see how hollow it is; the more hollow the sound, the better. Here are my top five favorite ways to enjoy watermelon!
Watermelon Arugula Salad
This is my favorite summer salad. Even those who don’t like fruit on their salad (ahem, Kristy), love this salad. All you need is: watermelon, arugula, sea salt, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, red onion and crumbled feta cheese. Sometimes, I leave the red onion out of it and it’s still amazing, so edit to your taste, but I recommend all of these ingredients.
First, combine the arugula, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic to taste, sprinkle the sea salt on the red onion and feta and mix it until it is evenly distributed. Then, add the watermelon, mix and serve. You don’t want it to be weighed down with the balsamic and olive oil, so find the consistency and taste that works best for you. Remember, you can always add, but you can’t take away.
Watermelon Juice
This is Laila’s favorite. The summer she was three, I went through about 2-3 watermelons each week; she loved it that much.
Cut your watermelon up into small pieces and blend it until it is nice and smooth with as little chunk in it as possible. Then, take a strainer over a bowl and pour the juice into a strainer. Using a spoon, press the juice out of the pulp on top of the strainer. You want to keep the flavor, but you don’t want the pulp and seeds in your smooth watermelon juice. Chill, and stir before serving; the best parts settle at the bottom and you can see the separation, so be sure to stir it well before serving. You may need to rinse out your strainer in between to unclog it.
I love serving everything in glass, but there is something extra special about serving chilled watermelon juice in a chilled glass. Add some garnish for extra flare, like a stirring stick with balled watermelon or add a sprig of mint, some tajin around the rim or whatever you like with your watermelon.
Watermelon Mint Infused Water
This is my most recent “thing” that I love to put in a big craft at parties because it looks bright, fun and perfect for any summer gathering. It is also great to keep in your fridge and serve yourself. Depending on how much you want to make, you can use half to a whole watermelon. Cut your watermelon in whichever nearly bite size shape you like, rinse off your mint and take the leaves off the stem, combine them and add water. I usually put mine in a gallon jug to add to my larger craft the following day, then add more water and ice to keep it chilled if serving at a party. Be sure to stir before serving to get the best flavor and enjoy!
Watermelon Sprinkled with Tajin
My friend, Martha, put me on the tajin. You can put it on so much! Again, I’m a little extra, so I like to make watermelon balls, serve them in glass and sprinkle tajin on it. Simple and delicioso! This is also a great treat when you’re by the pool!
Watermelon
That’s it. Cut it how you want. Enjoy.
There are so many more recipes and ways to enjoy watermelon in cocktails, desserts, candies and more, so find what you enjoy the most!
Now, to my expert watermelon eater and watermelon juice drinker who has me pick out every single seed, including the white ones, when I send it with her to school in her lunch box and at home. I asked my six and a half year old daughter, Laila, some questions about watermelon, and here is how the conversation went:
Me: What is your favorite thing about watermelon?
Laila: My favorite thing is that it’s juicy when it juices up to become watermelon juice and because it’s so red and red is my second favorite color, because it’s my cousin’s favorite color.
Me: What is your favorite way to eat watermelon?
Laila: My favorite is when you cut it in the shape of a pizza slice so I can hold the outside and eat the inside.
Me: If you could give anyone advice on picking the best watermelon, what would it be?
Laila: Look at all of them to see which one is the biggest so it can last longer.
So, there you have it. Every August 3, be sure to post your watermelon pictures and posts with #NationalWatermelonDay, and every day, be sure to post your “Momming” pictures and posts with #MomsAroundLouisville! Enjoy this extra special day with your extra special watermelon!
