I’m sorry to do it, but I’m phoning this one in as far as the writing goes. The weekend (okay, okay, the last two weeks) totally got away from me and after some truly masterful avoidance of completing anything of remote importance over the last few days I’m down to the wire here. If some of this doesn’t make sense or you find some grammatical errors I’m sorry. Don’t hold it against me. I’m not proof reading. Doing nothing really tires you out, ya know?
The 4th of July is coming up (as in, like, 36 hours from now) and nothing says the 4th—or summer for that matter—to me quite like watermelon. We always had plenty of it growing up. I remember my dad’s family advise of salting it—and distinctly remember a few of them taking that quite a bit too far—and I remember always seeing a big, fat, green watermelon sitting on our counter top awaiting dissection.
This is so refreshing. It’s summer in a glass. Liquefied watermelon and vodka. I know it sounds almost embarrassingly simple, like I should almost be ashamed to even call it a recipe (I’m not), but it’s so good I couldn’t help myself. Not only that but it’s so fitting for the summer; it’s the epitome of the season in not just taste, but also preparation. Rather than worrying about complex and complicated preparation for summer cocktails, especially one to serve a huge 4th of July backyard barbecue bash, you simply blend a watermelon, strain the juice, and stir in some good old vodka.
Some people don’t like buying whole watermelon because they always get bland, flavorless, overly crisp or mealy fruit when they cut into it. When it comes to choosing a watermelon it should feel heavy for its size, make a deep hollow thud when you tap it, and have a discolored spot on it from where it sat on the ground (the whiter the better because it would have ripened on the vine longer). My dad’s girlfriend has a special trick she shared with us a while back after we pressed her on her secret (every watermelon she’s ever picked has been the best damn melon ever); she said you pick it up in both your hands, look at it and firmly tell it “you are going to be a great tasting watermelon”. I know. I was a bit gobsmacked hearing that… But I haven’t picked up a bad one since. Just saying.
I’m not one to sit by the pool but with one of these in my hand you’d have to pull me off the lounge chair. Have a safe and happy 4th of July! Oh, and follow me on BLOGLOVIN’, okay? Thanks.
- 1 medium-large watermelon seedless (roughly 15 pounds)
- A few tablespoons sugar as needed
- 1-1/2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces fresh watermelon juice (or 1/2 cup)
- 3 cups vodka
- 8 cups fresh watermelon juice
- Chop the flesh of the watermelon roughly and, in batches, puree in the food processor for a few minutes. As each batch is pureed pour it through a fine mesh sieve into a pitcher. If you want to make sure juice is totally pulp free strain the juice once more. Taste it, too, and if you think it could use a little sugar boost add a spoonful or so of sugar but not much more than that—the point isn't to make a simple syrup out of it.
- To make an individual cocktail shake the juice and vodka in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice before straining over fresh ice. To make a party out of it mix it all in a big pitcher and stir it with lots of ice and let everyone serve themselves.