Watermelon, Cucumber, Spinach Blend for Breakfast

I usually stick to my normal juice and smoothie blends in the morning, but I found myself with an abundance of watermelon (a fantastic problem to have!) and wanted to add it to anything and everything I could.

I noticed that a fellow Nashville blogger mentioned on Instagram that she had been adding watermelon to her morning juice blends, and I was immediately inspired. First I tried the watermelon in my regular green blend: subbing out strawberries for melon, but with the banana and coconut/almond milk it was a little too sweet for me (but delicious! Maybe best for a midday sweet treat). Then I realized how much I would like the watermelon, cucumber combination — so much more than I liked the popular Bath and Body Works scent from middle school. If you love summertime watermelon definitely give it a shot to star in your morning blend.

Watermelon, Cucumber, Spinach Blend

1 1/2 cups of watermelon

2-3, 1-inch pieces of a cucumber

2 cups of spinach (two large handfuls)

1 tsp. chia seeds

1/2 tsp. matcha

1 c. coconut water

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Watermelon, Ginger & Lime – Two Ways – Agua Fresca & Popsicles!

Yesterday I was determined to make homemade popsicles out of ingredients I already had at home. I searched online and was inspired by a recent article by Real Simple.

Part of me decided as much as I love Las Paletas this was so fun, so easy and fast to put together it may be a long while before I buy one again (just saying that out loud I’m sure I will be standing outside of Las Palates with an avocado paleta in the next two weeks). 

 

Watermelon, Ginger and Lime Popsicles

1/2 of a seedless watermelon

Juice and zest of 1-2 limes

1-2 inches of ginger grated

1 Tbs. sugar (taste your watermelon, if it tastes sweet then this is not necessary)

1/3 c. Water (just enough to get it moving in your blender)

Blend together.

Pour into popsicle molds

Pour remaining into a glass over ice with a squeeze of lime. Drink. (Booze optional)

Put in freezer, add Popsicle sticks after 1 hour(ish). Freeze for several more hours.

I am already daydreaming about other popsicle recipes! What are your favorites?

Enjoy!!

Watermelon, Feta, Arugula Salad with Pickled Red Onions

This is one of those dishes that I look forward to all year long. I have made many variations of the watermelon-feta combination and have now decided that this is my very favorite.

I never pickle things. I adore pickled items but I always think that they will take too much time or I will have to deal with boiling, canning, etc. For these pickled red onions that is not at all the case or I would not have made them.

   
 

Pickled Red Onions

1 Tbs Kosher Salt

1 Tbs Sugar

1/2 Cup Red Wine Vinegar (can substitute for white wine vinegar)

1 Cup Water

1 – Large Red Onion, thinly sliced (or improvise, with a small red onion and part of a sweet onion, as I did today)

In a small bowl, whisk top 4 ingredients until sugar and salt are disolved.

Make sure your onions are very thinly sliced. I cut my onions in half and sliced little half moons (I am sure there is a term for this)

Put onions in a jar, add the pickling mixture.

Let sit, room temperature, for at least one hour.

That. Is. It. So simple! They taste great, the pickling takes the bite out of the onion but leaves the best texture and flavor. I have a feeling that I will be using these on everything for the next couple of weeks. They keep in the fridge for up to a month.

   

 

Watermelon Feta Salad

Greens – I love the 50/50 spinach arugula mix

Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper

Watermelon

Pickled Onion

Feta

Balsamic Glaze*

First toss your greens in the smallest amount of olive oil, itty bitty pinch of salt and pepper (if using arugula may want to omit black pepper or if you want to bring the heat add a few red pepper flakes)

Next layer ingredients in order of above list.

Eat. The end. We will be having ours tonight with grilled chicken. This is the perfect healthy, summer side. Great for at home or to take for summer cookouts this weekend!

*Side note, you can make balsamic glaze fairly easily but since I knew I was making pickled onions I bought it. This brand is inexpensive and not loaded with sugar, win, win.

Cheers to May and summer months filled with watermelon!

Enjoy!