Vegan Mofo Day 4 - Watermelon

Vegan Mofo Day 4 - Watermelon

I love watermelon. No, really. I don't care if you think you love it or if you know someone you think loves it, no one can compete with my deep and abiding love for watermelon. My parents have this pic of me about age 2 sitting on top of a picnic table in Panama with my face full in a wedge of watermelon larger than my head. I have never looked back.

Even when I was 5 and I believed if you swallowed a watermelon seed that a watermelon would grow in your belly and take over,  I continued to eat as much of it as I could. I relished becoming an adult and buying as many as I wanted and...not always having to share! When I find a good one I will go back to that store and buy 2 or 3 more. I consider a full size seedless watermelon 2 servings. Pro tip - cut it in half and eat it with a grapefruit spoon. Trader Joe's often has the best price and they are usually good. 

This delicious fruit may even help you prevent muscle soreness from working out and could help one spice things up in the bedroom. Watermelon is a good source of Vitamin C and pre-Vitamin A. At a minimum it will get you hydrated - don't eat a lot of it too close to bedtime!

But even without any health benefits, it's delicious and I'm hanging onto the last vestiges of summer by indulging! I say indulging, but the following recipe is super healthy. 

Watermelon Gazpacho - the elixir of life!

This simple and tasty cold soup recipe was shared (I think) in Dr Fuhrman's newsletter several years ago. They served it at one of his retreats which I haven't been able to attend yet. The recipe suggests blending your watermelon and cucumber and then straining it. I hate straining, so I just use my juicer. The watermelon makes a bit of a mess, but I still think it's faster and easier. 

Watermelon Gazpacho

1 seedless watermelon, 1/2 cubed and 1/2 diced

5 cucumbers, 3 chopped, 2 diced

3 limes, juiced and zested

1/2 bunch mint, finely chopped

Instructions:

Puree cubed watermelon and chopped cucumbers in a blender. You will need to work in batches. Strain juice and allow it to chill at least one hour. Add diced watermelon and cucumber to the juice along with lime juice, zest and mint.

I have regular and chocolate mint growing right now. Hmmm, would chocolate mint work or destroy this? 

And now I'm really going to blow your mind. Take a bunch of watermelon and cut it into large chunks. Put it in freezer safe containers in 2 cup amounts and put it in the back of your freezer. Do your best to forget it is there. 

Then when you are in the midst of winter despair, come upon said watermelon and make a watermelon frosty! It may just help you survive until Spring! I got this recipe from a now defunct blog so I can't credit it. Note - I use just a dash of maple syrup or none. The fruit is already so sweet!

Lime Watermelon Frosty

2 cups frozen watermelon

1 large ripe banana

2 Tbsp agave syrup (or maple syrup)

4 Tbsp lime juice (about 2 limes)

1/2 tsp lime zest

1/2 cup+ water as needed to get blender moving

optional: a few dashes of cayenne for a spicy sip

optional: a few ice cubes for an extra frosty sip – perhaps even coconut water ice cubes

Blend. Serve!

Diesel, resident of Wildwood Farm Sanctuary, says he doesn't trust people who don't like watermelon. 

I know it's after Labor Day, but how are you holding onto summer? Any foods that keep summer's spirit alive a little longer?