Watermelon Days

Remember how when you were a kid, watermelon flavored bubble gum and candy was the most awesome flavor ever? 

My class of Japanese kids reminded me of that last week... given a bag of Jolly Ranchers, they fought over the few coveted watermelon flavored lollipops!

Recently, I have also had a taste for watermelon, so we stopped at a roadside fruit market and bought one over the weekend.

I love watermelon plain and simple on its own, but feeling a bit creative, I experimented with a few more... ahem... adult adaptations.

First up, Watermelon and Feta Salad 

Arrange watermelon, red onion, feta, and mint leaves on a plate. Drizzle with red wine vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Voila!

Next, Watermelon Mojito Sorbet  

Puree 3 cups of watermelon in a blender and mix with a simple syrup (1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup lemon juice). Put in a freezer safe bowl and chill, stirring vigorously every hour or so until it becomes smooth. Drizzle rum on top before eating. Perfect for a hot afternoon!

What's your favorite summer time fruit? How do you like to eat it?