Happy National Watermelon Day!

Isla Bonita Print from Defoe Studios

I love the print above from Devoe Studios on etsy.  Isn't Bonita a goddess?  What's better than being a goddess & watermelon?
I guess it is the "southern" in me, but I couldn' t pass up a chance to talk about one of my favorite fruits!

Did you know it's National Watermelon Day!  Do you love watermelon as much as I do?  I grew up eating watermelons from my Granddaddy's farm so I guess you could say I've taken watermelon for granted.  It was always available to me during the summer months.  I never really thought about the history of the watermelon or the long track it took to be in my Granddaddy's garden.  

Orignally, it was thought the melons came from southern Africa, where they were found growing in the wild, but there was evidence that the fruit was found in the Nile Valley from the second millennium BC.  Watermelon seeds were found in Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb and on other Twelth Dynasty sites.  The ancient Israelites ate watermelon when they were in bondage according to the Bible.  The watermelon reached India in the 7th Century and China in the 10th Century. Today China is the leading producer of watermelons in the world.  The watermelon didn't arrive in the US until 1576 when it was introduced by the Spanish settlers in Florida.I'm happy it found its way here!  I adore the sweet taste of the beautiful red fruit.

 My fondness for the bright red, juicy melons also spills over into other areas such as art, fashion, beauty products and home decor.   I like watermelon prints, but I also like the color watermelon because it conjures up fond childhood memories of sharing a slice of goodness with my family.

I don't know about you, but it is so hot in Charlotte,NC I am looking for any possible way to cool off.  What could be better than a nice cold watermelon or a watermelon drink?  I've included some of my favorite watermelon items and a couple of delish recipes at the end!  Enjoy!

NARS Watermelon Lip Gloss

Combining Christopher Kane's modern aesthetic and NARS' flawless formulas, the 'Neoneutral' makeup collection is inspired by the bold appeal of neon colors. Enriched with nourishing ingredients, this glossy lacquer coats lips in a high-shine shade of watermelon-pink and is easy to apply thanks to the precision applicator.

Watermelon Pouch

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzou

ISSA Dress 60%off!

Ramy Brook Paris Blouse ON SALE!

Boys Watermelon Bow Tie

Ted Baker Bow Tie in Watermelon

Halston Heritage Caftan

Watermelon Dress on Etsy

Summer isn't over yet, how cute is this watermelon dress on etsy?

Photo Courtesy via

Vodka & Watermelon Cooler

from Epicurious

YIELD: 

Makes 6 drinks

INGREDIENTS

• 3 pounds watermelon, rind and seedsdiscarded and the flesh cut into pieces,plus thin slices of watermelon for garnish
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/4 cup Triple Sec
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

PREPARATION

In a blender purée the watermelon pieces and strain the purée through a very fine sieve set over a pitcher, discarding the solids. (There should be about 2-1/3 cups juice). Stir in the vodka, the Triple Sec, and the lime juice, pour the cooler into long-stemmed glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish each drink with a watermelon slice.

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Grilled Grouper with Watermelon Salsa

from Southern Living

4 (4-oz.) grouper fillets

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon salt, divided

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 

2 cups chopped seedless watermelon 

1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives

1/2 English cucumber, chopped 

1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

2 tablespoons minced red onion

2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

Preparation

1. Preheat grill to 350º to 400º (medium-high) heat. Sprinkle grouper with pepper and 1/2 tsp. salt. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp. olive oil.

2. Grill fish, covered with grill lid, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or just until fish begins to flake when poked with the tip of a sharp knife and is opaque in center.

3. Combine chopped watermelon, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Serve with grilled fish.

Watermelon Salad from Huffington Post

This salad is light and sweet, with a perfect balance between fruit and vegetables. Not only is it delicious, but it also features two extremely hydrating foods -- watermelon and cucumber -- making it perfect for the summer. Serve it up at barbecues or throw it together at lunchtime. Either way, you're sure to impress whoever you're feeding.

When choosing the watermelon, pick one with a bright color. You can even vary red and yellow varieties to create an even more colorful salad.

As far as the herbs, freshness is key. If you don't have mint on hand, you can easily substitute basil, for a dish that will be just as delicious. Just be sure that whatever you use is organic -- herbs are some of the most heavily treated plants, so organic herbs are of the utmost importance!

Watermelon and Feta Salad with Cucumber and Mint

Serves 2
Ingredients
1/4 watermelon, diced into bite-sized chunks
1/2 cucumber, diced into bite-sized chunks
2 ounces feta, crumbled
1 lime
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4-5 fresh mint leaves, chiffonnade
freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Toss the watermelon and cucumber together in a large bowl. Sprinkle the cheese on top and season with olive oil, lime juice and black pepper. Sprinkle the chiffonnade of mint leaves over the top of the salad as a garnish.

The colors of the salad look best before tossing, so if you're making this for company, I recommend serving like this and tossing at the table. Alternatively, you can toss the watermelon and cucumber with the oil, lime juice, salt and pepper and then add the cheese and mint at the end.

Image: Emily Monaco

Watermelon Smoothie Recipes from

Incredible Smoothies

Watermelon-Banana Smoothie
2 cups seedless watermelon
1 whole banana
2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
1/2 cup water if needed

Calories: 223 | Fat: 0.4g (grams) | Protein: 4.4g | Carbs: 45.6g | Calcium: 10% | Vitamin A: 99% | Vitamin C: 81%

Watermelon-Strawberry Smoothie 
2 cups seedless watermelon
1 cup whole strawberries
2 cups fresh baby spinach (or other leafy green)
½ vine tomatoes (optional)
1/2 cup water if needed

Calories: 162 | Fat: 0.5g (grams) | Protein: 4.6g | Carbs: 26.6g | Calcium: 12% | Vitamin A: 105% | Vitamin C: 226%

Happy Watermelon Day!