As we head into summer and backyard BBQ’s, there’s a good chance we’ll find ourselves with half a watermelon taking up way too much space in the Frigidaire. 

I did.  Water-melon.  Water.  Flavored water. 

Do you see where I’m headed?

I took an average sized watermelon and cut half of it into glorious wedges.  Wedges are always a favorite with my family.

The other watermelon half sat in my fridge for a few days. Until eventually a decision was made.  We’re turning you into juice. 

The rosemary idea came from Shelby.  Her new issue of Vegetarian Times had an article about pairing Watermelon & Rosemary.  I was sold.

This juice is super easy to make.  Blend watermelon chunks until smooth.  Strain through a medium mesh sieve to remove some of the pulp.  Pour into a pitcher, add a sprig of fresh rosemary and allow to hang out in the fridge for a couple hours. 

Two words – delicious and refreshing!

I infused the Watermelon Rosemary Juice with strawberries and kiwi (think sangria). The result was a second batch with a completely different flavor profile! I took a jug full to the office to {Share the Love}. 

They loved it. 

I will never look at leftover watermelon as a burden again.  Just juice it up.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Rosemary Watermelon Juice

Course Beverage

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1/2 a watermelon cubed (about 8 cups of large cubes)
• 1 fresh rosemary sprig
• 6 strawberries hulled and quartered, optional
• 2 kiwi fruit peeled and sliced, optional

Instructions

• Working in batches, blend the watermelon cubes until pureed. Pour liquid through a medium mesh strainer to remove some of the pulp.
• Pour the juice over the rosemary sprig and refrigerate for several hours.
• Add the strawberries and kiwi fruit for an additional flavor boost.
• Yields about 2 quarts of juice.

The post Rosemary Watermelon Juice {Share the Love} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita.

One of my friends posted pictures on facebook yesterday of the margaritas she and her significant other were enjoying at a local cantina.  Robin had a sweet looking Watermelon Margarita and Tim had a fiery Jalapeño Margarita.  Instantly I craved a margarita.  A blended margarita.

I know from making Rosemary Watermelon Juice, that a single watermelon, even a baby like this one, will yield a good bit of juice.  So find a friend and get ready to enjoy a refreshing take on a classic cocktail.

I also know from making Jalapeño Infused Margaritas, that it doesn’t take long to infuse a nice peppery flavor into tequila.  For this recipe I simply sliced a jalapeño and dropped it into a jar with about 4 ounces of tequila.  Within an hour you’ll have nicely infused jalapeño flavor.

First sip reaction.  Wow, surprisingly good.  Sweet.  Heat.  Salty rim.  Jalapeño & Watermelon Margaritas I like you.

Shout out to Robin for the inspiration, on this day and each day.  I think this cocktail is a lot like her.  She’s definitely a sweetheart, with great positive energy.  Yet she also has an addicting ‘weird’ sense of humor that I totally get (and look forward to daily).  And lastly, she knows how to make you feel special, in a kind of warm & fuzzy way…much like a well crafted cocktail.  xo Robin.  Keep the inspiration alive.

Recipe Note: you can make a ‘simple’ simple syrup in the microwave.  Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water.  Microwave for 2 minutes until sugar is dissolved.  Chill.

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Jalapeño & Watermelon Margarita

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 2

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 4 ounces tequila
• 1 jalapeno thinly sliced
• 5 cups watermelon chunks
• 2 limes
• 2-3 Tbl. simple syrup to taste
• 2 ounces Grand Marnier
• watermelon wedges lime slices, jalapeno slices for garnish
• coarse kosher salt for rim optional

Instructions

• Combine tequila with sliced jalapeno in a jar. Refrigerate for an hour or so.
• In a blender combine watermelon chunks, lime juice and simple syrup. Blend until liquefied.
• In a shaker of ice, add 2 ounces jalapeno infused tequila, 1 ounce Grand Marnier, 1 cup watermelon juice. Shake until well chilled.
• Spread 2-3 Tablespoons salt on plate. Rub lime wedge on rim of glass, then dip into salt. Pour chilled margarita into ice filled glass. Garnish with watermelon wedge, lime & jalapeno slice. Enjoy!

The post Jalapeño & Watermelon Margarita appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Summer Thyme Sangria {with Watermelon & Rosemary}

We recently attended a “Stock the Bar” Wedding Shower for the daughter of our good friends.  One of the libations being served was a beautiful batch of Sangria, loaded with fresh berries and fruits.  I eat (in this case drink) with my eyes first and that Sangria called me, by name.

Flash forward a week and I’ve got my hands on a beautiful watermelon that’s ready to be eaten.  As much as we love watermelon it’s often hard to eat a whole one, even over the course of a few days.  So as half of this baby sat in the fridge the wheels began to spin.  Last year my office celebrated National Watermelon Day.  Click this link to see some of the creative ways we used this glorious fruit.

I decided to first make Rosemary Watermelon Juice.  Half a watermelon pureed in the blender yielded over 2 quarts of watermelon juice.  That was a great start to our refreshing Summer Thyme Sangria.  Just add diced fruit, like strawberries and kiwi, pour in some chilled white wine or sparkling water and you’ve got a wonderful summer cocktail (or mocktail).

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Summer Thyme Sangria {with Watermelon & Rosemary}

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 2 quarts chilled Rosemary Watermelon Juice see recipe link in post
• 8 fresh strawberries hulled and quartered
• 2 kiwi fruit peeled and sliced
• chilled white wine or sparkling water
• fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions

• To make a batch of sangria, add the fresh fruit to a pitcher, cover with watermelon juice. Serve beside chilled white wine or sparkling water with rosemary sprigs to garnish.

The post Summer Thyme Sangria {with Watermelon & Rosemary} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Watermelon Salad.  Simple, yet so refreshing.  A perfect bite-sized summer appetizer.

Chilled seedless watermelon cubes, crumbled feta cheese, sprinkling of fine diced red onion, drizzle of balsamic glaze, garnished with mint leaves.

The post Watermelon Salad {with Feta & Mint} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Passion.  Someone once said to me “I’ve been trying to put my finger on it when people ask me to describe you.  And the word that comes to mind is passion.”  And so we will credit that very ‘passion’ with turning the discovery of National Watermelon Day into a full out watermelon event at work today.

I have the pleasure of working with the greatest group of people.  Over the years we have learned how to work hard while incorporating play into our days.  Today we played with watermelon.  That oh so lovely fruit, no wait vegetable, was the featured ingredient on our buffet.  We had Watermelon Black Bean and Corn Salsa, Watermelon Caprese Salad, Watermelon Infused Lemonade, Watermelon Cookies & Cupcakes, our mascot Turtlicious (hand carved by one of my many creative teammates), Watermelon Gazpacho & Tropical Watermelon Soup with Peach Purée.

One large seedless watermelon (not huge) yielded enough watermelon flesh to make two soups and 1 1/2 quarts of watermelon water for the lemonade infusion.  The Watermelon Gazpacho was savory and so fresh.  The layers of flavors kept us coming back for more.

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Tropical Watermelon Soup with Peach Purée

This soup could have easily been served in a glass and called a smoothie. It was cool, sweet and very refreshing.

Course Soup

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For the soup…

• flesh of one mango
• 2 cups pineapple chunks
• 6 strawberries
• 6 cups watermelon purée
• 2 Tbl. of honey or agave nectar

For the peach purée…

• 2 sweet Georgia peaches
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish.

Instructions

For the tropical watermelon soup…

• Combine the followng in a blender: flesh of one mango, 2 cups pineapple chunks, 6 strawberries, and enough watermelon purée to blend. Once smooth combine blender contents with 6 cups watermelon purée and 2 Tbl. of honey or agave nectar. Chill completely.

For the peach purée…

• Blend 2 sweet Georgia peaches until smooth, then strain through a medium mesh sieve.
• Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

I’d say we could be described as a passionate bunch.  Ah Watermelon, who knew you could be so much fun.

The post Watermelon Gazpacho & Tropical Watermelon Soup with Peach Purée {Share the Love} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

In honor of National Watermelon Day, my work family and I threw a little party.  I brought along my Watermelon Gazpacho to Share the Love.  Cool, refreshing flavors, just perfect for a hot summer day.  Click here to enjoy some of our other fabulous Watermelon creations.

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Watermelon Gazpacho {Share the Love}

This savory soup was so fresh. The layers of flavors kept us coming back for more.

Course Soup

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For soup...

• One small-medium seedless watermelon
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 1/2 peeled cucumber
• 1/2 zucchini
• 1/4 red onion
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 medium jalapeño seeded
• 2 Tbl. olive oil
• 1 Tbl. lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly cracked pepper

For garnish...

• fine diced fresh veggies like zucchini red onion, red & yellow tomatoes, jalapeño, and avocado.
• fresh cilantro leaves.

Instructions

For soup...

• To begin, scoop out all the watermelon and purée it in batches in a blender, reserve.
• Purée the following ingredients in a blender until smooth: 2 cups tomato juice, 1/2 peeled cucumber, 1/2 zucchini, 1/4 red onion, 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 medium jalapeño seeded, 2 Tbl. olive oil, 1 Tbl. lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. ground cumin, 1/2 tsp. sea salt & 1/2 tsp. fresh cracked pepper. Combine the vegetable mixture with about 6 cups watermelon purée and chill completely.

To serve...

• Top chilled soup with fine diced fresh veggies like zucchini, red onion, red & yellow tomatoes, jalapeño, and avocado. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro leaves.

The post Watermelon Gazpacho {Share the Love} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.