Watermelon – I can’t even say the word or even think it without a flood of images and memories shooting through my mind.  It’s funny because as a child I wouldn’t eat it because I hated the laborious task of having to take out the seeds.  Then came along the genius seedless watermelon.  Since then I’m all over it, and have had a mad amour with the fleshy red fruit.  I have many watermelon recipes here on my blog t0 prove it!  To tell you the truth, in my opinion,  it makes for the perfect Summer after-dinner dessert, or drink / agua, or salad, or eat while you watch t.v., or anything else you might fancy it in.  I must mention  I use to sing in a band many moons ago called “Boca De Sandía” ( which means “Watermelon Mouth” in spanish), and I only have glorious memories as the front person of a band with such a cool name.  Yes, I’m consistent with what I like.  I have always incorporated food into my art or music.  Who nows, maybe it was the influence of Frida Kahlo’s piece “Viva La Vida” (pictured below) that got me so into watermelon and in turn inspired me to name my band that.  All I know is I’m here today and I love me some sandía.

I decided as a way to welcome in Summer, I was going to make myself a nice Watermelon margarita and revisit some of the other sandía recipes I have here on my blog.  Heck, I’m even going to showcase a few ideas from my friends.  Get the recipe for my Watermelon margarita below and/or check out a handful of other wonderful watermelon recipes.  Stick around for tips on how to pick the perfect watermelon video.  We are all ready for watermelon and Walmart is the place to buy them.  That’s where I got mine and they’re super sweet, seedless, and 100% fresh guaranteed or your money back!

Ingredients for watermelon margaritas: 

• 1 – small lemon
• 1 – small lime
• 1/3 – cup sugar
• 1 – small seedless watermelon
• 1/2 – cup tequila
• 7 – cups ice
• optional: sugar, or salt, or tajin
• 2 – strawberries
• mint

Directions:

1. Cut the peeling off both the lemon and lime, and place the peelings in a glass. Pour the sugar over the peelings. Then squeeze the inner flesh of the lime over the sugar. Set to the side for 1 hour. This will make a citrus syrup.
2. Cut watermelon in half. With a large spoon, scoop out the inside of the watermelon. You will now have two watermelon shells, that can be used as cups.
3. Place all the insides of the watermelon into a blender.
4. Place a strainer on top of the blender then pour the citrus syrup through the strainer, catching all the citrus peel.
5. Now pour the tequila through the strainer on top of the citrus peel. This will remove any sugar left on the peel.
6. Remove the strainer from the top of the blender and place lid on top. Blend watermelon mixture till smooth.
7. Then add ice to blender and blend again till frosty smooth.
8. Dip watermelon shell in either sugar, salt or tajin to rim the edges. I used tajin.
9. Pour margarita into the center.
10. Garnish with strawberries, lemon slices, and mint. 
11. Enjoy!

MORE WATERMELON RECIPES:

Beet Watermelon Cucumber Salad In A Honey Lime Dressing : Presley’s Pantry

Bionico (Mexican Fruit Salad): Presley’s Pantry

Watermelon Jicama Salad: At The Fire Hydrant 

Minty Melon Salad: Nibbles and Feasts 

Paletas De Sandia Y Pepino: Sassy Mama In LA

 Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie: Mommy’s Kitchen

Watermelon Granita: MomAdvice

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW ON HOW TO PICK A GREAT WATERMELON!!!!!

Spicy is one of the preferred flavors in my library of taste, I reach for it and crave it more often than not. This is not a trait I was born with, but a preference I developed. Spice comes to me in an assortment of ways, and pickling happens to be a tradition both sides of my family have enjoyed for years. My Great Grandma Presley use to make her own pickles, and my Grandfather Sandoval always ate a pickled guero chile with his sandwich. My pickling recipe is a mish mash of many flavors pulled from my upbringing and travels rolled into one.  I used onions and veggies for this pickling and added a Red Savina Habanero Pepper from Melissa’s Produce to bring on the heat. Now my sandwiches, and veggie burgers…. will be complete.

Ingredients for Spicy Pickled Onions and Veggies:

1 – Red Savina Habanero Pepper (even a half of one will bring heat)

2 – cloves of garlic (smashed)

3 – 1 inch cubes of watermelon

2 – radish (sliced)

1 – carrot (sliced)

1 – red onion (sliced)

1/2 – teaspoon coriander seeds

1/4 – teaspoon cumin seeds

1/4 – teaspoon oregano

1/4 – teaspoon black pepper

1/2 – teaspoon salt

1 – 8.5 oz bottle of Red Wine Vinegar

a large jar.

See video for instruction.

Store in fridge for 2 days minimum before eating.

Video shot with my iPhone by: Mando Lopez

Summertime goes hand in hand with Sangria.  They meet up year after year like best friends on holiday.  A crony of mine told me Beringer White Zinfandel on ice was his favorite way to enjoy a summer night.  I invited him over for my Cherry Social, and wanted to make sure he really enjoyed his White Zinfandel that evening, so decided to take it up a notch and make it into a Sangria.  I might as well have served him liquid gold…. He loved it.  Everyone else at the gathering loved the Sangria as well.  The cherries sweet-tart flavor and the White Zinfandel blend together perfectly, and the candied sweetness of watermelon pushes this Sangria to a new height.  Enjoy it this evening for a taste of summer on holiday.

Ingredients for Cherry Watermelon Sangria:

3 – cups of chopped watermelon

2 – cups Whole Foods Market cherries (pitted and sliced in half)

2 – liters of lemon lime soda

4.5 – liters of Beringer White Zinfandel

In a large jug add watermelon and cherries.

Then pour in lemon lime soda.  Top with White Zinfandel.  Mix well.

Pour over ice and enjoy

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Whole Foods Market. However all opinions and recipes are my own. I genuinely love Whole Foods Market. 🙂