watermelon

When it comes to Summer drinks, I love to use watermelon. The juicy fruit is 92 percent water — meaning it's pretty easy to puree, strain, and drink. It tastes wonderful on its own, fresh from the blender, or works well in a cocktail.

This recipe combines watermelon puree with white grape juice, lime juice, and club soda. It's refreshing, fruity, delicious, and can be served to kids. For an adult version, add a splash of vodka or gin. To offer this concoction at your Fourth of July barbecue, get the recipe now.

If I had to caption this picture, I'd say nomnomnom for sure. The cute puppy found himself a sweet snack and dove right in. Hey, maybe he's just that hungry.

In case you were wondering, seedless watermelon is not on the doggie toxicity list and wasn't included in either of my poison fruits or even more poison fruits quizzes. However, the red melon does have an (un)healthy amount of sugar in it, like many fruits, so it can cause runny poo if your pooch eats too much, too often. Ick. See an even more adorable photo of this pooch when you read more

A colossal food fight is one way to use up the season's supply of subpar produce. But scientists have discovered another: convert rejected fruits into biofuel. The study, conducted by USDA researchers and published in the journal Biotechnology For Biofuels, found that the 360,000 tons of fruit rejected by US retailers each year could be converted into roughly two million gallons of biofuel. Research team leader Wayne Fish said that 50 percent of the fruit, which is typically left in the fields and not sold due to cosmetic imperfections, is fermentable into ethanol, which can be used as fuel, “We’ve shown that the juice of these melons is a source of readily fermentable sugars, representing a heretofore untapped feedstock for ethanol biofuel production." I'd never considered that fruit could be a viable source of renewable energy — but I find it refreshing (although perhaps not as refreshing as, say, an In-Sandíary).

Are you surprised to hear that watermelon could have potential past the typical Summer barbecue?

Remember a month ago when I mentioned my latest obsession was with watermelon juice and tequila? Well the compulsion continues with this cocktail! What makes this drink is the spicy salted rim. It adds a fiery punch that enhances the natural bite of tequila. Be sure to strain the watermelon juice before putting it into the cocktail shaker. This ensures that the final drink is smooth and refreshing. If you're looking for a delicious alternative to the classic lime margarita, definitely give this drink a shake before watermelon season ends. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how well the vibrant pink fruit pairs with tequila. Get the recipe when you read more

It wouldn't be the Summer of salads without the most refreshing medley of them all: watermelon, feta, and arugula. I have to admit I'm not too crazy about arugula, feta, or red onion as stand-alone items, but the first time I tried them together with melon, I was blown away. The crisp sweetness of the watermelon is a wonderful counterpoint to the leafy, slightly bitter arugula, and the saltiness of the feta finds itself mellowed by juicy, pungent red onion.

Though this salad only has a handful of ingredients, each one plays an equal part in adding to the complexity of the dish. Arugula wilts quickly when wet, so hold off on the dressing until right before serving. Find a delicate and balanced recipe after the break.

Since today is National Tequila Day (cheers!), I thought I'd share my latest obsession with you. While I'm a huge fan of the classic margarita combination of tequila and fresh-squeezed lime juice, it pales in comparison to the delightful pairing that is watermelon juice and tequila. I'm so crazy about this dynamic duo that I've already made three different cocktails with it. The one seen here — my current fav — is a mixture of watermelon, tequila, mint, blueberries, and lime juice. With its sweet, minty flavor, refreshing thirst-quenching quality, and beautiful blushing color, this cocktail is almost perfect. I say almost because it's far too easy to drink. A problem that's quickly solved with a generous float of tequila. To get the party, or the weekend, started, make this drink tonight

During the Summer, most cities host some sort of outdoor concert series. New York has Summer Stage in Central Park, in San Francisco's there's Stern Grove, and Chicago's home to Ravinia. While these events are about enjoying music in the open air, the food cannot be overlooked: a scrumptious picnic makes an outdoor concert! So this week pack a basket and head to your local amphitheater.

Steak sandwiches are a portable favorite, and Ina Garten's recipe with sautéed onions, arugula, and mustard mayonnaise will impress your friends. Make use of Summer's ripe tomatoes with a fresh tomato salad. When placed on a bed of watercress and drizzled with a blue cheese dressing, potato salad goes glam. Be sure to keep the salad's three components separate until serving. No picnic is complete without fruit, and watermelon cubes are a refreshing treat. To look at these recipes, read more

There's nothing more delicious or refreshing than a big slice of cold watermelon on a hot day. I'm craving some right now, actually, but until I can get to a farmers market, I thought I'd put together some of the juiciest watermelon beauty buys out there. From Sula's perfectly pink Paint & Peel nail polish, which comes off without remover, to Korres's Watermelon SPF Sunscreen (I love this stuff), to Clarins Sunshine Fragrance, which smells like the fruit and promises to put you in a summer vacation state of mind, here's a bumper crop of ideas for you.

I was accused of being unpatriotic when I expressed a distaste for watermelon at an Independence Day barbecue a few years ago. My hostess forced a piece upon me, and I have been eating the melon ever since. Which is a boon to my diet, since there are so many healthful reasons to love this melon.

For starters, this red and juicy melon is one of the few foods high in the cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene, along with tomatoes and pink grapefruit — remember, antioxidants also provide color to fruits and veggies along with phytonutrients. Watermelon is also a low-calorie food and one cup of melon balls contains just under 50 calories. Being 92 percent water, the melon makes for a great post-workout treat on a hot day since it will help replace fluids lost through sweating.

Considered a cooling food, the yellow variety of watermelon might help you heat things up in the bedroom. Research out of Texas (the largest producer of the seedless variety of the melon) indicates that watermelon has an effect on the human body similar to Viagra. Learn more.