Watermelon Lemonade

I am beyond excited to tell you about today’s draaaaank.

This. Lemonade. Is. Everything.

Yes, excessive drama is necessary here. This lemonade is so ridiculously simple but so redonkulously delicious, it makes the drama very necessary.

Real talk time: lately, I’ve been struggling with the blog. I have felt uninspired as of late, and I think the combination of that with the lazy hazy days of summer has affected my desire to get in the kitchen. Creativity has been lagging lately. This doesn’t mean that the recipes I’ve shared lately aren’t still something I stand behind, because I do (they are awesome), but the usual passion and excitement I have about creating in the kitchen has been absent. I know this is common and often cyclical for creative types, but it always sends me into a bit of a tailspin when I can’t think of anything fun and interesting to share with you guys.

This has been my state of mind for about a month or so now. Until….I whipped up this lemonade. Seriously. This lemonade saved me.

It’s funny, too, because as a food blogger, we’re always trying to come up with the next big thing, or at the very least, something real and relatable that your readers really want to see (read: easy one-pot meals). I think that is where I get into my own head sometimes. I want everything I share on here to be great, and when I struggle to come up with something new and “great,” I get completely overwhelmed. I think it’s a form of writer’s block?

Which is why it’s so ironic that this lemonade, of all things, got my creative mojo going again. It is so simple. Like, almost too simple to share. BUT! It was an idea that I’ve had in my mind for a couple summers now, and I finally mustered up the drive to actually follow through (See? Lazy summer vibes are totally to blame.), and the resulting drink was so dang delicious, I felt excited in the kitchen for the first time in weeks!

So, thank you, lemonade.

We all know by now that I am a huge citrus person, and I pretty much eat my weight in watermelon each summer, so this watermelon lemonade was pretty much inevitable. Lemonade, ever since I was a little kid, is one of my most favorite summer treats. There is nothing that beats a tall, icy glass of lemonade on a hot day. Except maybe watermelon! So, you see, this recipe was destined to be.

I love this recipe for the obvious reason of it resulting is something addictively delicious and refreshing, but also because it is so easy to make.

Cut up your watermelon and throw it in a blender. Blend the heck out of it until you have watermelon juice. Pour it into a jug or pitcher with some freshly squeezed lemon juice and a touch of simple syrup (if you think it needs it), and enjoy! It really might be one of the simplest recipes I’ve shared in a long time.

But I’m OK with that.

Because it’s sooo good. Cheers to getting back in the kitchen!

Watermelon Lemonade

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• Yield: 8-10 servings 1x

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Ingredients

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• 1 cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• 6 lemons
• 5 cups cubed watermelon
• Additional watermelon wedges or cubes, for serving
• Lemon slices, for serving
• Seltzer or ginger beer, for serving (optional)

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Instructions

1. Place the water in a small saucepan and add the sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a boil.
2. Simmer for a few minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the simple syrup to cool completely before using.
3. Meanwhile, juice the lemons into a large pitcher (I set a small sieve over the pitcher to catch any seeds). Place the watermelon cubes in a blender (you may need to do this in batches) and puree until the watermelon is completely juiced (See NOTE).
4. Add the watermelon juice to the pitcher with the lemons. Taste the mixture and add as much of the simple syrup as desired to meet your tastes. I would start with ¼ cup of the syrup and add from there, if needed. It really depends on your preference and the sweetness of the watermelon/tartness of the lemons.
5. Chill the mixture thoroughly before serving. I found that this tasted best after chilling in the fridge for several hours.
6. To serve, pour into glasses filled with ice and garnish with lemon slices and additional watermelon slices/cubes. I like mine with a splash of ginger beer or seltzer as well for some fizziness!

NOTES:

1. I have a high-powered blender and did not feel the need to strain the watermelon juice. This is an optional step you can take.
2. Additionally, if you don’t want to make the simple syrup, try sweetening this with a tablespoon or two of honey. Just make sure to taste it before you sweeten it – the watermelon may be sweet enough for your tastes!