Summery Watermelon Sparklers for July 4th

---

You know that it’s summer when trailers piled high and long with watermelons start showing up along the highway accompanied by weather farmers and hand-lettered cardboard signs.  These giant heralds of summer, watermelons are kin to cucumbers, squash, and their fall brother, the pumpkin, and can be classified correctly as either a fruit or a vegetable (watermelon.org).  Huh, who knew?

And while there are plenty of ways to eat it- sliced into lovely wedges. With salt. Without.  In salad with spicy arugula and feta.  Scooped into those little balls at a shower-  at my house watermelon is mostly consumed outside on a hot day in ice-cold slices that take two hands to hold and result in sticky chins.  It’s tradition.

But sometimes tradition needs a kick in the pants. 

 So this year, after an untold number of watermelons had already been consumed, watermelon sparklers were born.  These ruby beauties are a great idea for July 4th celebrations. With bright lime, a little fizz, and a hint of mint, these watermelon fruit slushes are surprisingly easy to make.  And with simple garnishes that make them just a little special and a whole lot of fun, they just might steal the show this Independence Day.

---

Ingredients:

• 8 C cubed seedless watermelon, chilled
• 5 C ice
• 1 can frozen lime concentrate
• ¼ C sugar
• Ginger Ale
• Lime slices, thinly sliced
• 2-3 tablespoon lime juice
• red and white sugar crystals
• Blueberries
• Mint leaves
• extra watermelon wedges

Process:

Put watermelon (little white seeds and all) in a blender and puree. My blender only holds 5 C, so I had to do two rounds.  Pour pureed melon into a pitcher.  Don’t worry about straining the pulp.  This is a fruit drink after all, not just a juice.

Add your ice to the blender and puree until your ice is like snow.  Add to the pitcher of watermelon.

Add the frozen lime concentrate and ¼ C sugar.  Stir well.  If you don’t want to garnish, then you can serve up your watermelon sparklers now!  To make it sparkling, fill glass ¾ with frozen watermelon drink and top off with ginger ale.

If you want to garnish, use long toothpicks to skewer  lime slices, 2 blueberries, and a small watermelon wedge and set aside.

Sugar the rim of your class by dipping it first into the lime juice and then into the sugar crystals.  I usually just use two bread plates for this process.  I put the juice in one plate and the sugar in the other.  Sometimes, I dip back into the lime and then back to the sugar for a nice heavy rim.

Carefully pour in your frozen watermelon drink, top with ginger ale, add your garnish and mint leaves.  Voila!  A perfect 4th of July drink to sip while you watch the fireworks! A sparkler for your sparkler… or something like that.  Happy 4th!

***

---

Need other great 4th of July ideas?  Try these!

Check out this and other great recipes on Meal Plan Monday, Foodie Friday, and Weekend Potluck.

Save

Save

Save