Hello, Summer!  We welcomed summer in our Memorial Day post, but on Tuesday, June 20^th at about 11:00 pm it became official.  Don’t you just love summer?  Our favorite part about summer is fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. Rhonda grew up a Midwest farm girl, and fresh fruits and vegetables are a big part of summer to her.  This week we wanted to welcome in summer with the fruit of the summer- watermelon!  Rhonda found a recipe in Southern Living Magazine’s July 2017 issue.  Craig found a recipe through his friend Mark.  We had a taste off and ended in a tie, so we bring to you Watermelon Wars!  We are introducing two recipes this week. Both meet the criteria of easy, tasty and fresh.  We want you to decide, which drink wins.

Contestant Number 1: (Rhonda’s Choice)

Seagram’s Spiked Watermelon Lemonade

This awesome drink is very fruity and just the right amount of sweet.

Combine ½ cup of fresh watermelon juice.  (I used my ninja to make the juice, but you can easily juice a watermelon in the blender.  You only need 3-4 small pieces of watermelon to make ½ cup of juice.)

½ cup of simple sugar (See directions for simple sugar below.)

¼ cup of Seagram’s Watermelon Vodka,

and 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.

Cover and shake vigorously, about 15 seconds.

Strain into a glass filled with ice.  Garnish with mint spring and a slice of watermelon.

Serving size = 1

To make simple syrup combine 1 part sugar and 1 part water.  Heat until boiling. Remove from heat and cool.

Contestant Number 2: (Craig’s Choice)

Seagram’s Watermelon Spiked Honey Limeade

This drink is a little more “boozy” as Craig would say (is that a word????).  He also says the drink is more alcohol forward.  You be the judge.Combine 1.5 ounces of Seagram’s Watermelon Vodka

1.5 ounces of Corralejo Reposado Tequila

1 ounce of Honey Syrup (See directions below)

1 ounce of lime juice

2 ounces of watermelon juice

Cover and shake vigorously, about 15 seconds.

Strain into a glass filled with ice.  Garnish with a watermelon slice.

Serving size = 1

To make honey syrup combine 1 part honey with 1 part hot water.  Stir until dissolved.

Now you have our two fabulous drinks of the summer.  These drinks are perfect for serving at your upcoming 4th of July picnic!  To make a pitcher of either drink, just multiply the ingredients by the number of servings you would like.  Both drinks can be made ahead and cooled in the fridge before serving.  Whether you make one drink or both we would love to hear about it.  We have a bet to see which drinks can get the most comments and posts!  Who will win?  Rhonda? (The crowd goes wild.) Or Craig?

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Happy Summer and Cheers!

Rhonda and Craig