A summer picnic or BBQ is just not the same without watermelon. It’s refreshing and it keeps you hydrated since it’s mostly water, which is perfect for a hot summer day. As I was planning for our Fourth of July BBQ, I was thinking of fun ways to have watermelon themed drinks and treats. Here are a few simple and easy recipes that I thought I’d share with you.

Watermelon Mango Peach Mint Sweet Tea Recipe

I got the idea of making watermelon flavored iced tea from this recipe. I decided to incorporate the watermelon into my favorite sweet tea recipe. The result was delicious. I used mango peach white tea bags with a couple of green tea bags this time since that’s what I had available, but you could easily substitute with your favorite fruit flavored tea. My other favorite is passion fruit white tea.

Ingredients
For sweet tea:
4 cups (1 quart) water
4 tea bags (your choice of flavors)
1 bunch fresh mint
3/4 cup superfine or granulated sugar

For watermelon sweet tea:
2 cups watermelon cubed
2 cups of brewed sweet tea

Directions
For the tea:
1. Place the water in a medium pot and bring to a simmer over high heat. Remove from heat, add the tea bags and mint, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes.
2. Once the tea has steeped, discard the tea bags, add the sugar, and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Let cool to room temperature, then place in the refrigerator to cool completely, about 2 hours.
This will make approximately 4 cups of tea.

To incorporate watermelon:
In a blender, combine watermelon and 2 cups of the brewed sweet tea and puree until combined. Pour mixture through a fine mesh sieve. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Lemonade with Watermelon Ice Cubes

This is just a fun and easy way to incorporate watermelon into your homemade lemonade or any drink for that matter.

Lemonade Recipe

Ingredients
1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
1 cup lemon juice (about 3-4 lemons)
3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)

Directions
1. Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.
2. While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from the lemons, enough for one cup of juice.
3. Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength.
4. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it. Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Makes 6 servings.

Watermelon Ice Cubes
Puree about a cup of cubed watermelon in a blender. Pour into ice tray and place in freezer until ready to use. ( I added a squeeze of honey since the watermelon I had was not very sweet.)

Watermelon Strawberry Banana Smoothie

I found this recipe for Watermelon Strawberry Smoothies and, as I always do, I had to modify it to my liking. My girls loved this smoothie.

Ingredients
2.5 cups watermelon, cut into small 1 inch cubes
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1 banana peeled
1 cup Greek yogurt (I used honey flavored yogurt.)
1 tablespoon lime juice

Directions
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until completely blended. Pour into glass of choice.
Makes 2-3 servings.

Watermelon Popsicles

This is one of my favorite pinspirations. What a fun way to eat watermelon, especially for the kids! Great way to cool off on a hot summer day.

Ingredients
8 watermelon wedges
8 popsicle sticks

Directions
1. Insert popsicle sticks through the rind and into the flesh of the watermelon (it helps to make the initial incision with a knife).
2. Arrange on a baking sheet and freeze.
3. Once frozen, remove from the freezer and serve like popsicles.

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