Happy Memorial Day weekend (at least to my American readers). Since many of you will be BBQ-ing and picnic-ing and eating hotdogs and potato salad, I thought I’d offer you a recipe for a delicious drink that will help wash it all down. The beauty of this Watermelon Lemonade is that it can be enjoyed with or without alcohol, so those of you who don’t/can’t drink can partake as well. It’s a cool, refreshing, yummy cocktail/mocktail that’s easy to make and pretty to look at.
You need:
1/2 cup pureed watermelon (about 1 cup of chopped watermelon)
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1 big lemon)
3 tablespoons of simple syrup (make ahead: 1 part sugar to one part water; simmer on stove until sugar dissolves and then cool in the fridge)
3/4 cup cold water (um, oops, I forgot this part in my video. Don’t forget the water!)
Lemon wedges for garnish (also forgot this part; it had been a long day…)
Vodka (optional; I did not forget this part)
Pour everything into a pitcher, stir, pour evenly into two glasses. Add vodka to taste. (I personally like 1-2 shots for one cocktail, but you may like less or more; I’d start with half a shot and see how you like that before adding). If you want enough lemonade to fill a pitcher, quadruple the recipe. Enjoy, and happy unofficial start to summer!!
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LadyinPurpleNotRed May 23, 2014, 4:02 pm
That sounds AWESOME! Thanks Wendy!
lets_be_honest May 23, 2014, 4:04 pm
YAY! Thanks Wendy!
Have a great weekend.
GatorGirl May 23, 2014, 4:05 pm
Ooooo we just bought some tequila. I bet that would be good in here as well!!
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We’re going camping this weekend for our anniversary! I think we’re crazy because it SO HOT here in FL. But I can’t wait. Have a fabulous weekend all!
katie May 23, 2014, 4:10 pm
i am going to south carolina for the weekend! pulled pork from jakes brothers own pig that they raised and probably country music (which i dont like, but whatev), and chickens and goats and two kids and other fun stuff!
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also, jakes SIL texted me that they got the younger kid to say my name this morning. and then she goes, if jake’s mom finds out she said your name before she said grandma, she might kill you! which is hilarious and maybe accurate?
jlyfsh May 23, 2014, 4:27 pm
where in sc will you be katie?
katie May 23, 2014, 5:23 pm
near greensville! so not by the coast, which would be awesome, but still nice. they have like 20 acres and its so quiet and you can hear the bugs. so relaxing
jlyfsh May 23, 2014, 6:04 pm
it is gorgeous out there! enjoy 🙂 it’s going to be hot out there though! humidity is high already!
iwannatalktosampson May 23, 2014, 4:52 pm
Colin’s parents are in town and his mom and I are going to get pedicures at 6 when I get off work. I’m so excited. I am not excited about the fact that it’s supposed to rain this weekend. I do want to run 13 miles tomorrow. We’ll see. I feel lazy lately. I need some sunshine and sweat in my life.
rachel May 23, 2014, 4:59 pm
Haha, you feel lazy lately *after running a marathon on Sunday*. Right. :p
iwannatalktosampson May 23, 2014, 5:09 pm
Yeah that sounded dumb. I guess I feel bored? That’s a better word. Like marathon training really put a bad taste in my mouth about working out – I miss working out because I want too and it makes me feel good. I hope now that I’m doing it just for fun again I’ll get that happiness from it that got me hooked in the first place.
Jess May 23, 2014, 4:56 pm
Omg the music is awesome at the end. I love the shirt. And I love the copious pour of vodka at the end. “To taste, you know.”
And thanks for the mocktail version!
AliceInDairyland May 23, 2014, 5:23 pm
White polka-dot shirts would not last long on a farm. 🙂 I’m making dandelion jelly this afternoon, and Benjamin is in the process of some dandelion wine. It smells SO MUCH like honey, we will see how both of them taste. Then tomorrow we are hopefully going to go hunting for morel mushrooms because we got some secret insider tips from a neighbor. Then Sunday we have the Farmer’s Market. And Monday I have off! Maybe I will make more canned goods or help Benjamin on the farm. Or knit, I am part of a knit-a-long and I am so far behind.
theattack May 23, 2014, 5:30 pm
Oh hey Alice! Did you say last year that you give out recipes for your produce? How can I get in on that? I just got my first CSA share yesterday, and I don’t know what most of it is, let alone what to do with it.
GatorGirl May 23, 2014, 5:40 pm
Oh oh what did you get?? We have recipes for all kinds of weird veggies! You can send me pictures too, I might be able to identify some of it.
theattack May 23, 2014, 5:45 pm
The only things I know in the box are swiss chard (only because I googled it), peas, and cilantro. There’s something that looks like green onions (I’ve never used those before because gross), plus other leafy stuff I can’t identify.
Last night I made an egg casserole thing with the swiss chard, cheddar, and parmesan. Kind of like a frittata. It was really good.
AliceInDairyland May 23, 2014, 6:00 pm
I bet one of the leafy green things is napa cabbage…
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=v2FIJx4kKGLAAM&tbnid=K2ZJaALpifroHM:&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gourmetsleuth.com%2Fingredients%2Fdetail%2Fnapa-cabbage&ei=uMR_U4eCJ8GPyAT78IHgCA&psig=AFQjCNF2I7KupAuKJL-jZdNUWHfo2ZpB-A&ust=1400968760749363
…or bok choi/choy
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&docid=kcQozNyPS-gvbM&tbnid=v6TqJLX3sqBT1M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.growingraw.com%2Fhow-to-grow-bok-choy.html&ei=78R_U4_SHsevyAScj4H4Dw&bvm=bv.67720277,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNGF0yV-ezFnK5SAoepNig70S-Ifow&ust=1400968805060309
GatorGirl May 23, 2014, 6:04 pm
bok choy was my other guess! I like bok choy- throw it in a stir fry YUM.
GatorGirl May 23, 2014, 5:52 pm
What does the leafy stuff look like? Dark green? Light green? Is it kale? I love kale.
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Swiss chard isn’t my favorite, but it’s pretty good just sautéed with garlic and balsamic. For peas- http://www.delallo.com/recipes/orecchiette-peas-pancetta-cream For green onion, we just use is to top tacos/nachos/burritos OR you can make taco pizza- Cilantro- make either chimicurri- http://www.food.com/recipe/chimichurri-21151 (just use cilantro rather than the parsley it calls for and marinade chicken/beef/shrimp then grill) or homemade salsa!
AliceInDairyland May 23, 2014, 5:36 pm
The last couple years we sent out recipes with the newsletter that said what was going on on the farm and what all the things in the boxes were. This year I think we are going to include a little video explaining what everything is, if we end up doing that I can grab your email a la FB and get you on the list.
BUT, my new pet-project has been collecting recipes on Pinterest and organizing them by CSA item. It starts with spring veggies and then works its way through to fall recipes. Tried to get a whole variety of ideas (salads, soups, sides, main dishes, pasta) so that people can put in as little/much effort as they want. Look here:
Also we have quite a few recipes that we personally have made/loved here: http://equinoxcommunityfarm.com/farmrecipes/
Lemme know if you need help identifying, TN and WI veggies can’t be that different… right?
theattack May 23, 2014, 5:41 pm
Ooo yay! Thanks for the pinterest link. I’m going to look into all of your pins for sure!
And thanks for the offer to identify them for me! I asked the farmer yesterday what all was in the box, expecting this problem, and she said the list so fast I barely caught any of it. Then I was too embarrassed to ask for clarification because an adult should be able to find her way around a half bushel of veggies, right? ha! But I basically have no shame left on DW because you all know every embarrassing thing about me already. Anyway, thanks for the help! I’d love to get on your emailing list if you do one!
LlamaPajamas May 23, 2014, 8:27 pm
I told Bethany about this in her CSA thread – I love the book “From Asparagus to Zucchini”! It’s a reverse cookbook put together especially for a CSA. You look up recipes when you’re wondering what the hell to do with kohlrabi or whatever and it gives you lots of recipes.
AliceInDairyland May 24, 2014, 10:24 am
Our local CSA organization (FairShare) created that book! I had no idea people from other parts of the country could/would actually buy it…
Weird..
LlamaPajamas May 24, 2014, 11:39 am
That’s so cool! I forget how I first heard about it but I bought it off of Amazon years ago and recommend it to everyone! It’s the best!
theattack May 23, 2014, 5:46 pm
Oh, and your dandelion wine sounds AWESOME! I want to know if it’s anything like mead when you get done with it. Your life is so cool!
AliceInDairyland May 23, 2014, 5:51 pm
Our maple syrup wine we made last spring tastes just like mead. I don’t know if it was supposed to or not. It’s good but strong! Supposedly dandelion wine gets rave reviews… better be worth it because we picked a helluva lot of dandelions…
GatorGirl May 23, 2014, 5:54 pm
GGuy keeps joking/threatening to move to a farm and just grow food and make beer and have all the babies. If he says it again, I might take him up on it.
Lyra May 23, 2014, 6:26 pm
That sounds fantastic. Besides the “have all the babies” part. I would cut it off at 3…
Lyra May 23, 2014, 6:25 pm
And you’re hopefully going to meet Lyra on Sunday for coffee!!! 😀 (I’m ridiculously excited about that.)
AliceInDairyland May 23, 2014, 9:33 pm
OMG yes, see this is why you need to text ME. Because goldfish memory.
AliceInDairyland May 25, 2014, 9:07 am
FARM TOUR. Everyone, Lyra is coming for a farm tour.
Lyra May 25, 2014, 12:37 pm
I’M SO EXCITED!! 🙂 And yes there will be pictures!!!
Dear Wendy May 25, 2014, 12:29 pm
Take pictures!!!
Northern Mermaid May 24, 2014, 10:19 pm
Alice, we are twinsies! I’m making dandelion jelly and syrup today. No wine, because it takes so long, and I am impatient, so syurp, plus vodka, plus soda. 😀
Fabelle May 23, 2014, 5:52 pm
Soooo I’m WORKING tomorrow because we’re so busy during this time of year, & I’m still new-ish so I was like, “did someone say overtime? Of course I’ll do it! #dedicatedasfuck”
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But yeah, I’m actually happy about it because I was SO busy & technically (before I’m hired permanently) not allowed to go over my 40 hours. But they approved me to work overtime, so yay. And the office will be empty & everyone else will be off, so I can actually get shit done.
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After that, I don’t know? Family stuff? Which will be weird because of all the things? So we’ll see how that goes!
Lyra May 23, 2014, 6:31 pm
I’m headed out to Wisconsin to help my brother buy furniture. He just recently bought a new house and has like, no furniture. He doesn’t even have a full couch because he has a little part of an L couch. So I’m helping with that. I love it because I will be able to help buy furniture without having to pay for it. I think we may do Craigslist stuff. If that’s the case the bro is renting a U Haul and we are trucking all around Madison picking up furniture hah. Navy Guy is coming with so I’m excited about that. 🙂
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I’m also hoping to meet up with Alice in Madison on Sunday!!!! I’m suuuuuuper excited. I’ll probably leave the boys to their own devices. 🙂
Lyra May 23, 2014, 6:32 pm
Also tonight will be a bonfire at my parents’ house. Sooo excited.
Ella_ May 23, 2014, 10:06 pm
That cocktail recipe sounds great! I love watermelon lemonade and it is FINALLY starting to warm up here, maybe? Lots of cloudy days and cool nights still. And my boyfriend is working 12 hour days, 7 days a week for the next month, so I have lots of free time!
thewriteway May 23, 2014, 9:27 pm
I am working on Memorial Day so I never really get to do anything fun. One day I will though.
I e-mailed the hiring managers about the internal position I am going for, and one of them responded and said he’ll be in touch next week about setting up an interview and that he pulled my resume out of the system as soon as he saw it. Of course, as I said in the forums, there are a lot of internal candidates (on top of whoever is applying externally) so I know nothing is a guarantee, but it’s hard not to be excited. My boss proofed the initial e-mail for me and made some edits, which helped.
I’m going to my first baseball game of the season on Sunday and it’s supposed to be a nice day. Yay for that!
d2 May 23, 2014, 11:21 pm
Ooh, it’s supposed to be nice and sunny much of this weekend! I will work out in the yard, and prep the snowblower for summer storage, and clean the deck, and wash and wax my truck … and probably get my first sunburn of the season – even with sunblock. I don’t tan, I pink.
Classic May 23, 2014, 11:42 pm
hahaaha dear Wendy! Video is so freakin’ awesome. Great top! Farmers are the best.
CatsMeow May 24, 2014, 10:55 am
I’ve been roadtripping all week with my dad and brother. I’m currently in Williams, AZ – going to the Grand Canyon today – and heading into Vegas tomorrow!
theattack May 24, 2014, 11:51 am
I’m in Asheville for the day. Everyone who loves Asheville, where should I eat?!
Christy May 24, 2014, 4:52 pm
Gf and I are in Charlottesville for the day. Where should we get dinner? We’re basically going to bookstores all day.
And thanks @kerrycontrary for suggesting we detour to Skyline Drive! It was amazing.
Painted_lady May 24, 2014, 8:16 pm
Y’all. It’s Memorial Day. I’m sick, so I’m missing the derby lake house drink-a-thon because I’m pretty sure I can’t keep up with those girls the way I’m feeling. But I did venture out to the wedding I was all conflicted about. And naturally, it’s dry. No beer. No wine. No vodka. Ye gods, what other torment have you planned for me? And the bride has begged me to stay at least for the father/daughter dance. Because they’re doing the Macarena. Yup. The Macarena. Directly following the suuuuper traditional wedding sermon about how wives submit to their husbands. And the ceremony which started an hour late. On the beach. In May. In Texas.
*
The favors should be cyanide capsules.
Fabelle May 25, 2014, 11:30 am
Aw Wendy, I just watched the video–you are cute as always (“I got a new shirt!”) I also approve of not actually measuring the vodka in shots, & just pouring 😉
CatsMeow May 25, 2014, 11:40 pm
GUYZ. I had planned on staying in Vegas for a while on our roadtrip, but I guess my dad planned it differently, so I only got to visit for a few hours. I MISS VEGAS. Seriously, I cried on the plane leaving. I mean, I was (am) drunk, but I cried cried cried. I need to go back for a proper visit PRONTO.
AliceInDairyland May 26, 2014, 4:24 pm
I was in Vegas for a little less than 48 hours and I hated absolutely everything about it, haha. It like made me feel really on edge the whole time because always so much noise and people and lights and noise!
Lyra May 26, 2014, 4:27 pm
I would be the same way. I’ve never been to Vegas, but I’m sure I would get overwhelmed with all of that. (And this is why we get along haha.)
CatsMeow May 26, 2014, 7:23 pm
Oh gosh, living there is just like anywhere else. I just wanted to see my friends and go to all my favorite old hangouts but didn’t have time.