A Cucurbit Cocktail #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

Here we are at the fourth #KitchenMatrixCookingProject post for July. This month I picked the dishes with easy recipes to inspire some al fresco dinners. This week, I decided to focus on a summer produce darling: the watermelon. I remember long summer afternoons when I was a kid, having watermelon seed spitting contests with my friends. I don't think I've seen a seed in a watermelon in decades. Why is that?!

In any case, when they are in season, we always seem to have one on our counter or in the fridge. I have made Watermelon Pico de Gallo, Roasted Watermelon Fennel Ice Cream, Watermelon Agua Fresca, Grilled Haloumi Watermelon Salad, and more. When it's in season, I love how it adds a refreshing texture to things and succulent sweetness that just scream, "Summertime!!"

In case you don't have Bittman's cookbook, you can read his Watermelon Matrix online. He offers four categories - cocktail, salad, soup, dessert - and three variations of each.

Watermelon Madness

An InLinkz Link-up

A Cucurbit Cocktail
Or Watermelon & Cucumber Mojitos

I decided to make a cocktail with watermelon and cucumbers, hence the cocktail name. Watermelon, cucumber, and gourd are all members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, and are commonly referred to as 'cucurbits.'

This is easy to whip up, but since the "ice cubes" are frozen watermelon cubes, I did have to prep those the day before I was mixing and pouring these. Though I am not a huge fan of rum, Jake is. I will experiment to make this cocktail with my booze of choice, either gin or bourbon. Maybe I'll try Bittman's Gin and Basil cocktail. But that will be for another day. Cheers!

Ingredients

• 1 seedless watermelon, pureed
• 1 English cucumber, pureed + a few slices reserved for garnish

Per Drink

• 8 to 10 organic mint leaves + more for garnish
• 1 T freshly sqeezed lime juice
• 1 t organic granulated sugar
• 1 ounce watermelon juice
• 1 ounce cucumber juice
• 2 ounces rum
• splash of sparkling water
• Also needed: ice, fine mesh sieve, cocktail shaker, blender or food processor, ice cube tray

Procedure

Use a blender or food processor to puree your watermelon. Use the fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp. Set aside 2 ounces of watermelon juice - makes 2 cocktails - and pour the rest into an ice cube tray. Freeze until solid.

Use a  blender or food processor to puree your cucumber. Use the fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp. Set aside the juice until ready to mix your drinks.

To make your drinks...Place two or three watermelon cubes in a serving glass. Muddle together the mint leaves, lime juice, and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and stir in the rum and juices. Shake and strain into prepared glass. Top off with sparkling water and garnish with a sprig of mint and a cucumber slice. Cheers!