Memorial Day weekend is the big picnic kick off for Americans. Everybody runs to the store for burgers and dogs, corn on the cob and WATERMELON!
A picnic is not a picnic without watermelon. Our local grocery has huge bins of melons waiting to be thumped and pressed before being hefted into the cart. The problem is that watermelons don’t arrive at their prime until mid summer. What you get at the store now is mediocre tasting. But purchase you must because it’s the big picnic weekend and the family will run you out on a rail if you do not produce the goods.
So here’s a cure for a melon with a subprime taste crisis:
1 quart melon balls
1 cup mint leaves, lightly chopped
juice of 1 LARGE lime (don’t cheat and use bottled–you’ll only be cheating yourself)
1/4 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)
1/2 tsp. rum (or extract) *optional
Cut your watermelon in half. Scoop melon balls out of half the melon and place in large bowl. Set aside.
Place remaining ingredients in blender, process until liquified. Pour over melon balls and toss to coat. Garnish with sprigs of mint. Serve cold.
Simple Syrup
2 parts granulated sugar
1 part water
Place in saucepan. Bring to boil. Boil for 5 minutes to ensure sugar is dissolved thoroughly. Cool and place in airtight container in refrigerator.
I use simple syrup all summer for a variety of things. It’s good to keep some handy.