Recipe: Refreshing Summer Drink

The best thing about watermelon is the chance to take target practice with the seeds. It is a sign that summer will soon be upon us, as sure as baseball, cookouts and the Fourth of July.

You'll start to find plenty of melons at the farmers markets around town. Check out the Larkspur farmers market at Marin Country Mart every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon, and the Corte Madera farmers market at the Town Center every Wednesday, from noon to 5 p.m.

Shopping for fruits at the local market this week, I found a nice selection of melons, including a couple of varieties of watermelon. But what to do with the melons, aside from just eating slices or cutting them up for fruit salad?

If you're looking for a refreshing drink, here's one simple way to use that watermelon.

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Serves 6  

Ingredients:

6 to 8 pounds seedless watermelon, cut into 2-inch pieces

2 cups cold water, divided

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed limejuice

1-tablespoon agave nectar or honey (more or less to taste)

Ice cubes

Lime slices or mint leaves for garnish (optional)  

Preparation:

Cut the watermelon flesh from the rind. In a blender, process half the watermelon pieces with 1 cup of water until smooth. Pour through a strainer into a pitcher. Repeat the process with the remaining melon and water. You should end up with about 8 cups of juice. Stir in the limejuice and agave. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with lime slices or mint.

— Recipe courtesy of the Marin Country Mart Farmers Market