Watermelon Slushies (photos)

[NJCher]

I love to have cold, fruity drinks in the refrigerator in the summertime. I've been mixing up these drinks using watermelon + whatever fruits look good at the market. The ones you see in the pics below are watermelon and peaches.





I put the cap on the jar, store them in the 'frig, and have one each morning as I start my day. It takes about 25" to make them up, including clean-up time. I usually make up enough for four days.

I use all kinds of melons--honeydew, watermelon, and cantalope. I also sometimes squeeze my own fresh orange juice to go in them.

If I put yogurt in, it would be a smoothie. I like the slushies better--they're lighter.

I'm going to experiment making an alcoholic beverage with them, too, by using Mike's Hard Lemonade as a mixer. That would be my happy hour bev.

I've used all kinds of fruits and berries--strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries. I have just purchased six kiwi fruit, so I'm interested to see how they turn out as a slushie.



Cher

[Galileo126]

1. Yum!

I would have that every morning, since I'm not a breakfast "eater". But a fruit slushie, that would be nice on my tummy in the a.m.

Yet, in seeing the pics, the jars are just screaming out for rum or vodka! A perfect pre- or post-dinner drink on a hot day.

(Thanks...now I have to go out to the market again and buy a watermelon. Sheesh!)

[NJCher]

2. Oh, yeah, mix some up

and you will have something fun to look forward to when you wake up in the morning.

If you really want to get a chill, put one in the freezer about 20" before drinking. Ymmm, love those frozen fruit crystals.



Cher

[rusty quoin]

3. It sounded so good, and I had a watermelon in kitchen.

I've been trying to get good at smoothies. So I quickly read some online recipes and decided to not measure anything and see how it try yogurt, fresh watermelon and ice. My suspicion was the watermelon taste would be too diluted. It was done in a cheap blender.

It was okay, but there was what I thought a chalky texture. And then I FaceTimed my wife (her job requires travel).

She had researched Vitamix and smoothies, and tasted Vitamix smoothies. She told me you need high speed and power to break down the plant fibers, to make a good one. You may have known this, but I didn't. I'm just looking for healthy alternatives to things like eggs in the morn, or other parts of the day, that don't sit in my stomach for 1/2 the day.

The machines...OMG, they start at 300,and one was 1000+.

[NJCher]

4. a couple thoughts

Well, first I would say that eggs aren't so unhealthy. Don't know if you've been following the research, but now they are saying that eggs are OK. But if you do have eggs for breakfast, it's a good idea to also have some type of fibrous food.

Next up, I'd say the chalky texture may have come from the addition of yogurt.

I think you can still get good results with a regular blender, although I'll admit I make mine with one of those high-powered ones. The reason I think that is that watermelon is soft and doesn't need a lot of power to break it down. The other ingredients are usually fairly easy to blend, too, such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.

I'd give it a try without the yogurt. Use orange juice instead.



Cher

p.s. if you don't want to squeeze your own OJ, you can add a couple tablespoons of frozen orange juice concentrate.

[rusty quoin]

5. I didn't realize yogurt was chalky,

But I used Greek, not something I'm use to. My life has been the regular, and I'm use to the extra whey.

[NJCher]

6. today's combo

Kinda' unusual:

8 fairly ripe figs
2.5 bananas
1 8 oz. pkg blueberries
1/2 c. concentrated oj (from frozen)
1 c. watermelon
Approx 1/2 c watermelon juice

Makes a pretty purple color. Will try to post a pic--too dark out now.


Cher

[dem in texas]

7. watermelon Cooler

I started a quilt back in February. I have almost finished the quilt which is called Mod Melons (you can Google Mod melon quilt to see it). Each block is a slice of watermelon in various shades of red with some light green and orange blocks thrown in. I found the pattern on Susie Quilts. On the page was a recipe for a watermelon drink which did not look too good in February. Now it's summer and ripe watermelon are in abundance so I made the recipe. It calls for gin and limes and since gin and tonic is my favorite drink, I have these ingredients on hand.

4 cups ripe watermelon chunks
1 1/2 cups ginger ale
juice of 2 limes
3 ounces gin

Put watermelon in blender or processor and blend until smooth. Pour through strainer to remove seeds and pulp, place juice in pitcher. Add ginger ale, lime juice and gin; stir to mix. Pour in 2 or 3 tall glasses filled with ice cubes.

My note, the recipe yielded more than the recipe stated about 4 1/2 glasses. I added two tablespoons sugar and two more ounces of gin.

It's a great summer drink, both of us liked it and I will be making it again.

[NJCher]

8. we've got gin around here

Sounds good. Gonna' try it.


Cher