Watermelon Punch ~ A Perfect Summer Beverage

On Friday, my 3 nieces had off from school for the holiday weekend, so they came over to play with Grace.  My Mom stopped by for a visit later in the day, too.  So, I saw this as an opportunity to have our first picnic lunch on my new-to-me, vintage patio set.  I served up some mac and cheese, hot dogs, and watermelon punch! 




Isn't that tray the cutest?  I found it in the Dollar Spot at Target!
I have a feeling you'll be seeing it a lot this summer! 


I also saw it as an opportunity to try a new recipe that I found online earlier in the week.  The recipe is for a smoothie made with Xigua Melon (you know, those really cute, little watermelons). 

I didn't have a Xigua Melon, but I did have a normal-sized, seedless watermelon cut into chunks in my fridge that I wanted to use up.  Perfect! 

Here's what you need:

• ice
• watermelon
• water
• sugar or sugar substitute

Loosely, following the recipe linked above, I

• crushed some ice and added to my blender. 
• added the watermelon and water.
• blended until combined.
• add sugar or sweetener to taste. 
• stir.   

The original recipe calls this a smoothie.  I thought since it wasn't creamy, it would be more like a slushie.  But, I guess I didn't add enough ice to make it a slushie.  It turned out more like a punch.  It was really tasty!  Served over some ice, this punch is perfect for sipping on a hot summer day.  Mom and I both thought that a couple of drops of coconut extract would be a perfect addition to the punch, giving it a more tropical feel.  Or, some coconut rum if you wanted to make it a cocktail.  (I like to keep it kid-friendly, so I would use the extract instead!)

Now, this uses a lot of watermelon.  Be careful not to munch on too many chunks of watermelon while drinking this punch, while also snacking on cheese curls.  That combination causes a really bad belly ache....just sayin'! 


I'll be linking this recipe to the following blog carnivals and linky parties: 

• The Sunday Showcase
• Sundae Scoop
• Delicious Dishes

Watermelon


hugs,