Watermelon

The watermelon. Just how beautiful is it? Happy July the 4th yesterday, by the way. "Oh say can you see" some very cool things to do with your watermelon?

1. As is. Just cut it into what, in our house, is known as a watermelon smile. A big slice. Dig in.

2. As before, but cut around the rind, score and then cut perfect little chunks. Serve them in a bowl with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds (even more beautiful this) or a sprinkle of dried ginger and maybe just a few shavings of lemon peel.

3. Keeping the chunks, as before, stash them in in the freezer and have them ready, like lovely pink ice cubes, to slosh into a vodka and tonic or a martini. Experiment and see what you like. You could whizz them in the blender, of course.

4. Make a fine smoothie with watermelon chunks and an orange.

5. Refer to earlier in this blog for a fine watermelon pickle.You use only the rind for this one.

6. Whizz up the chunks with some lemonade and lime zest for a non alcoholic party drink or, sod that, just for you.

7. Try  a few cubes of watermelon with some a little finely ground sea salt and a few grindings of black pepper. You'll either love this, or you won't. Also excellent for dysentery - when you're over the worst!

Thanks to Stephen Depolo at flickr for his watermelon photos!