Thursday, June 28, 2007

Summer Cooler... Watermelon!!

Woof!! it's getting HOT in here!!! Summer is here... it's that time of the year when the clothes start getting skimpier (and husband's who keep turning their neck in order to admire the pulchritude... hope you get a crick in your neck!)... kids cannonball into pools and yell .. you get the picture!

It is also time for some super summer coolers! No cokes, phokes for me please!!! I have always had this aversion to colas... I completely favour water and fruit juice (fresh fruit juice) ANYTIME! and what better time than now to experiment with a riot of flavours and fruit!!

Just sitting in a rocking chair with a chilled summer cooler.. a nice book to read.. the gentle breeze (oh yes, despite the heat, we do have the gentle wind blowing!) .. sipping slowly and just for that moment, forgetting the everyday hustle bustle !!! Feels GOOD!

And what better than getting a BIG watermelon ... cutting chunks of it, blending them with some vanilla ice cream ? Yep, that's what I did!!!

To make this drink all you need is:

Chunks of Watermelon (seedless is effortless!)

Scoops of vanilla Ice cream (or French Vanilla Ice cream )

Small cubes/ chunks of watermelon to top

Sorry, no measurements for this, just help yourself!

Blend the above in in a blender, pour into a glass , top with small cubes/ chunks of watermelon and serve!!

This will go to Bee & Jai of Jugalbandi who are hosting AFAM (A Fruit A Month) started by Maheshwari

A bit of gyan........Taste apart.. here are some benefits of the watermelon (source : Wiki)
Watermelon as food and drink
Fresh watermelon may be eaten in a variety of ways and is also often used to flavor summer drinks and smoothies.
A one-cup serving of watermelon will provide around 48 calories.Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A, with one serving containing 14.59 mg of vitamin C and 556.32 IU of vitamin A. Watermelon also provides significant amounts of vitamin B6 and vitamin B1, as well as the minerals potassium and magnesium. Pink watermelon is also a source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene.
Grilled watermelon, known as watermelon steak due to its visual similarity to raw steak, has started to become a popular item in restaurants.
Watermelon rinds are also edible, and sometimes used as a vegetable. In China, they are stir-fried, stewed, or more often pickled. When stir-fried, the de-skinned and de-fruited rind is cooked with olive oil, garlic, chili peppers, scallions, sugar and rum (and provides a great way to utilize the whole watermelon). Pickled watermelon rind is also widespread in Russia, Ukraine, and Romania.[citation needed]
Watermelon seeds are rich in fat and protein, and are widely eaten as a snack, added to other dishes, or used as an oilseed. Specialized varieties are grown which have little watery flesh but concentrate their energy into seed production. In China watermelon seeds are one of the most common snack foods, popular especially with women, competing with sunflower seeds, and sold roasted and seasoned. In West Africa, they are pressed for oil, and are popular in egusi soup and other dishes. There can be some confusion between seed-specialized watermelon varieties and the colocynth, a closely-related species with which they share many characteristics, uses, and similar or identical names.
Watermelon is 92 % water by weight, the highest percentage of any fruit. In the United States and South Africa, one may also find an alcoholic novelty known as a hard watermelon, or a watermelon that has been enhanced with an alcoholic beverage. This process involves boring a hole into the watermelon, then pouring the liquor inside and allowing it to mix with the flesh of the fruit. The watermelon is then cut and served as normal.

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18 comments:

Sharmi said...

that is a great drink to beat the heat. the color of the drink rocks. lovely and simple.

Kajal said...

Very cool cool in hot summer.....nice entry for A fruit A month......watermelon with vanilla ice-cream.....everyone like this.....Plz send one glass for me:)

Suganya said...

Thats watermelon taken to a whole new level..

TNL said...

Manasi,

you certainly have a way with words.....it never fails to put a smile on my face...

Watermelon Cooler looks awesome, I love the combination of cream and watermelon, its an unusual combination that has become a favorite....
Have a lovely weekend.

-trupti

Lata said...

I read somewhere in Ayurveda that Melons should not be mixed with anything else, so since then I eat them just like that but don't add anything to it. I saw that you added Ice Cream, so I am saying.

I made Water Melon juice recenly just with some kala namak and it turned out great.

DEEPA said...

very much summer drink ...Wow!!!!cool one

FH said...

Great cooler and very informative post Manasi.I have yet get home to make something:))

Cynthia said...

Oh lawd gal! Watermelon and icecream - that is a smoothie worth having any day at any time! :)

Manasi said...

Hi Sharmi! Thank U thank U!!!

Hi Kajal!! Join me for a glass... wud ove to share it with u!!

Hi suganya!! Thanx dear!!

Hi Trupti!! Thank u for ur kind words! they warm my heart!!!! Have a lovely weekend!

Manasi said...

Hi Lata!! Good ol' watermelon juice also rocks! but i wanted something different!! Willl try with kala namak next!!

Hi Deepa!! thax.. it is COOL!!!!!

Hi Asha!! Thanx!!! enjoy ur holiday.. and i'm sure u r going to come with a variety of stuff!!

Hi Cynthia!! It sure is!!! :D

Bharathy said...

No other Summer fruit can top this water melon...love the cooler..sure it tastes better blended with the vanilla icecream...will SURELY try..
Mango...err..emm depends upon the quality...mine was quite creamy...still it turned pulpy...if alphonso or canned ones used,it may turn more pulpy when the icecream melts...no very sure dear!!

Pdk said...

water melon as a whole is good for health.. i dint know.. i used to eat the fruit with seeds coz i dint like the hassle of throwing them out every second and i used to eat a slice of water melon as near as the green as possible coz i just loved water melon.. good to know that i had been doing a nutritious thing without the realisation of the fact.. Nice post, manasi...

J said...

Lovely colour for the drink! Liked the watermelon facts - interesting!

Unknown said...

did you know having watermelong on empty stomach is good,but not after dinner? here is why...

For example, many people say that watermelon gives them indigestion. Since watermelon digests in only 20-30 minutes, when it enters your stomach filled with slower digesting food, it gets held up in its digestive process and ferments. This fermentation causes gas and discomfort.

However, watermelon eaten on an empty stomach does not create digestive distress, and because of its rapid transit, your stomach will be free to digest other foods within half an hour. As a result, one of the food combining rules is: Eat melons alone.

more here http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/aronfoodcom.html

Swapna said...

Very very cool drink for a very very hot summer. Lovely!

Sia said...

LOL@ and husband's who keep turning their neck in order to admire the pulchritude... hope you get a crick in your neck! manasi. u r so funny girl:)
gimme cooler anytime and i drink barrels of them:)

Unknown said...

hey manasi;
i have become a regular visitor to your page now....u are an awesome cok and have a way with words...ever tried adding a dash of roohafzha to the watermelon cooler..i think it will work wonders with the freshness of the drink....do let me know..
from one cook @ heart to another...

Anonymous said...

Luckily I have vanilla ice cream in my refrigerator, nice way to have (drink) it.

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