Watermelon Shake

Spring came and went in a blink, and the muggy summer days are here to stay. Nothing beats summer like a tall glass of ice-cold drink bursting with flavors. Yes, a hot summer’s day is the best time to plop your favorite fruit into the blender, work it overtime, and—sip, sip, sip those scorching hours away. Ahhh…bliss. Fancy more? Then pep up the mood with some good music, hug on to the coolness of the glass, close your eyes pretending to be on some exotic destination and savor every bit. Ha!

No other fruit shouts summer like this sweet, delectable, thirst-quencher—watermelon. My family loves snacking on the delicately crunchy and juicy flesh of this pretty pink fruit. With 92 % water, it does pack its share of nutritional punch too. Did you know this budget friendly fruit is loaded with antioxidants like Vitamin C, A, and the photonutrient lycopene? Not to mention energy producing nutrients like Vitamin B6, B1, magnesium and potassium. That’s not all. It helps lower blood pressure and…ahem, “Scientists say watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels and may even increase libido!” Oh my! So what are you waiting for? Go grab a melon that’s heavy for its size and jump-start this summer in style.

Whether you are hosting a summer party or just planning some fun times with your loved ones, this refreshing and fast-to-fix recipe is the ideal drink to chill out and cool down on a sweltering day. It’s fabulously light, and an absolute favorite with my kids. We enjoy it so much that it has become a Ramadan time tradition in our home—a delicious part of the iftar-party menu every year.

This is barely even a recipe. All you need to do is put the ingredients in a blender, push the pulse button, pour—and swill. Unlike certain fruits and veggies that lose some vitamins when exposed to air, no significant loss happens with watermelon. This means you can prepare your drink and chill it in the fridge while receiving all the nutrient benefits of a freshly prepared juice. With two boys who keep raiding the kitchen for snacks after school hours, specially after their outdoor games, this is exactly what I do. I often make pitchers of this drink and keep it in the fridge for them to gulp. It gives them an instant energy boost, and keeps them hydrated, too. It saves me some time and energy from slogging away in the kitchen.

Now, for a wee digression from the keynote: you see, my absolute favorite role as a food blogger is the photography bit. In just four months, I find myself a complete addict. Whenever I am in a good mood I put my heart and soul into the shots. In fact, my only regret is not having a DSLR camera. Why a DSLR? Well, for one, it gives sharper images with more details. And then, I’ll have the option to manipulate the focus and use lens apt for each subject. Don’t get me wrong, I love my point and shoot. But, alas, the perfectionist in me wants to finger the culprit for not having any WOW shots, yet....and the coward in me is going to blame the camera…! How bad, huh? I know!

Seriously, I’ve set my mind on getting a DSLR, even a basic one. Soon—I hope. Yet, such shortcomings don’t stop me from taking tons of pictures whenever I find an interesting subject. Like this simple drink recipe.

  

In the meantime, as my audience, feel free to let me know if I’m testing your patience with too many pictures. Yes, you get to vote too! 

Watermelon Shake

Ingredients

4 cups seedless watermelon chunks

1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

2 tablespoon sugar, or to taste

Decoration

Melon balls on cocktail sticks

Directions

Plop the watermelon chunks, sugar and condensed milk into a blender or food processor, and pulse until smooth. Strain if desired--I do this just for my fussy eater son.  

Pour into chilled glasses and serve decorated with melon balls on cocktail sticks. Add paper umbrellas if you want to get fancy—enjoy!