A Nice Cuppa

I am clinging to Summer tooth and nail, hanging on to every last warm day, every opportunity to wear short sleeves and pretend a bit longer that winter in the Northeast is just a nasty rumor. But I’m not delusional; I know that all good things must come to an end. So around this time of year, I begin the countdown-to-fall annual freezer cleanout. This is where I get rid of all the odds and ends - forlorn single Popsicles, forgotten and going gooey around the bottom; small foil-wrapped packages of frost-bitten steak ends; leftovers of meals that no one liked but that I couldn’t bear to throw away - to make room for the soups and stews of Fall.

One great thing about this is that I typically will unearth some treasure that presents the possibility of a bit of creative experimentation. Such is the case with the bag of frozen watermelon chunks I dug out from beneath a tub of spinach and white bean soup. Watermelon chunks that were the remnants of the sugar babies we grew experimentally this year. What on earth was I planning for back in July, that would make me freeze a resealable bag full of diced watermelon?

I don’t know what I was thinking then, but now I thought, Watermelon Slush. It’s easy to make slush if you have a decent blender. That is, your blender needs to be able to chew through ice cubes with a minimum of distress - no smoking, no sparks.

This bag of rock-solid frozen watermelon went into the fridge to thaw for a few hours. Be sure to keep an eye on this - you want it to soften just enough to allow you to break off chunks that will be suitable for your blender. If it melts down too much, you’ll have a watery mess on your hands.

The recipe is loosey-goosey - no specific amounts because it uses whatever you happen to have on hand. Play around, taste as you go, have fun. It’s a wink good-bye to Summer!

Watermelon Slush

• 2 or 3 cups frozen diced watermelon, thawed slightly
• 1/2 to 1 cup juice (orange, apple, fruit punch, etc.)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste
• Squeeze of fresh lime
• Splash of sparkling mineral water or seltzer

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Serve immediately.