Yellow Watermelon Lemonade: Sweet, Tart & Surprisingly Delicious

 

I know summer has officially arrived when my fridge holds a pitcher of cold brew tea, pork steaks are prepped for the grill, and at least one watermelon is sitting on the counter. This year I went all in with three small ones. One didn’t make it to dinnertime because I turned it into ridiculously refreshing Watermelon Lemonade that has everyone doing a double take.

 I chose a yellow watermelon for this batch not just because it was seedless, but the golden color turned out to be an unexpected bonus. People take one look at the drink and assume it’s some kind of tropical punch. The surprise comes with the first sip, when they realize they’re tasting fresh watermelon and lemon. The result is sweet, tart, icy-cold, and ridiculously refreshing on a hot summer day.

 If you’re serving this to children, be sure to set aside a portion before adding the vodka. Speaking from experience, that little detail matters. I made this one morning and kept sampling it “just to make sure it tasted right.” By lunchtime, I was feeling a little woozy. Quality control can be a dangerous job. 

Watermelon Lemonade

6 c. Melissa’s yellow watermelon chunks

½ c. granulated sugar

½ c. fresh Melissa’s Meyer lemon juice

¾ c. citrus vodka

 Combine the watermelon, sugar, lemon juice, and vodka in a blender.

 Blend until completely smooth.

 Transfer to a pitcher and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours.

 Serve over ice and enjoy.

 Summer in a glass.

 Sources:

Glass straws

Glassware

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Tangerine Tequila Sunrise

Cocktails might not win any health awards, but they can lift your spirits when sipped responsibly. Better yet, you can tweak them to be a bit healthier, tastier, and more refreshing by swapping out processed mixers for fresh juice. I recently juiced a bag of Melissa’s pixie tangerines for a Tequila Sunrise, and the result was a game-changer—brighter, sweeter, and fresher than any version I’ve tried before. Here’s the simple recipe that took this classic drink to new heights.

Tangerine Tequila Sunrise

2 oz. tequila*

4 oz. freshly squeezed tangerine juice 

(from Melissa’s pixie tangerines)

½ oz. grenadine

Garnish: tangerine slice and a cherry

Fill a chilled highball glass with ice. Pour in the tequila, followed by the fresh tangerine juice. Add the grenadine—it’ll sink, creating that signature sunrise layering. 

 Garnish with a tangerine slice and a cherry.

Serves:1

This twist not only boosts flavor but also cuts out the bottled stuff. Give it a try—your taste buds will thank you!

 

*Swap with bourbon for a Kentucky Sunrise or brandy for a Brandy Sunrise.

 

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