I don't know where many of my readers are from, but I'm from Boston...I pray for you that your weather has not been as sh*tty as mine has been here!! Our local weatherman Harvey Leonard said the other day that for the 30 days in the month of June, it had rained for 22 of them, and that the average daily temperature for those 22 days had been 58 degrees or less...WTF right? Imagine if you lived here and haven't been able to leave the house cuz it might start pouring...or not being ble to take your 2 year old to the park because it's flooded!!! I'm serious! Kassie and I tried going to the store one day which is literally 2 blocks from our house and we were caught in a torrential downpour! She loved it and thought it was awesome...me, not so much!
This past week has been better, though it was dreary and rained 2 days, we really can't complain too much!! But it IS summer and nothing makes me think of summer more than watermelon. How do you pick the perfect watermelon? What's the best way to serve it (and actually cut the sucker!!)? What the heck can you do with it besides cutting it up in wedges or cutting a hole in the top and sticking in a bottle of vodka in it?? Keep reading and you'll find out!
Here's how (according to Family Circle) to pick out a perfect watermelon...
- Look for the tell-tale “ripe spot”. It'll be on the bottom of the watermelon and a light yellowish color. The spot develops as the melon grows on the soil. If the spot is greenish or white in color, it’s not ripe yet. Watermelons don’t continue to ripen once they’ve been picked, so it's an important clue to watch for.
- The outside rind is firm and hard, blemish free. It’s also a deep green and dull in color (not a light or bright green). No cuts, no bruises. If you find some soft spots, it’s a sign it’s starting to turn bad.
- Choose one that's symmetrical in shape, a nice oval or round shape. Not unevenly heavy or full on one end and thin on the other.
You also want a watermelon that is good and heavy– it is, after all, over 90% water!! You also want to make sure that when you get it home, you give it a good scrubbing with soap and water to get all the dirt and germs off. Otherwise, you'll just be dragging all that yucky stuff into your watermelon when you go to cut it!! Speaking of cutting watermelon...how about some carving tips?
I have no tips on how to make your watermelon look like that, but I do have some useful tips from The National Watermelon Promotion Board (who even knew they existed?!?!)...
- Have the watermelon at room temperature before you start carving since the cuts will be easier to make. Refrigerate after carving is done.
- Make a flat base on the watermelon by cutting a small, thin piece from the bottom of the watermelon (this makes the watermelon more stable when carving).
- Use a waterproof marker or sharp pencil to mark the design on the watermelon before cutting.
- A sharp knife with a pointed tip makes cutting easier and cleaner.
- Wear a new pair of gardening gloves with gripper palms when cutting, this gives you a better grip.
- Use round toothpicks or skewers rather than flat toothpicks when attaching cut pieces–they’re more stable.
For the entire list of watermelon tips, visit The National Watermelon Promotion Board. And if you do want tips on how to make your watermelon look like the picture up there, check out the NWPB's carving tips HERE. You won't believe some of the stuff they can turn a watermelon into and it just may be the only thing you need for your next party's centerpiece- well, that and a sharp knife!
