1. Make Lemonade

There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a tall, cold glass of lemonade. One of the most fun things to do with watermelon is to muddle it with your lemonade for a unique and delicious flavor you won’t find anywhere else. Simply place a couple cubes of watermelon in the bottom of your glass and smash them up a bit. Top with ice and lemonade and serve.

2. Make a Basket

Watermelons have a thick skin, which makes them a perfect medium for fruit art. To make a basket, cut two thick cubes from either side of the melon, leaving a strip in the center for a handle. Hollow out the flesh of the watermelon and then fill it back in with a variety of fresh fruit. Delicious!

3. Make a Sandwich

Instead of bread, try using watermelon slices for a sandwich. Sure, you’ll want to eat this outside because it’s bound to be messy, but you can’t beat how it tastes. Try goat cheese and arugula as a filling or slide some vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce between two pieces of watermelon.

4. Cut Shapes

Because watermelons are typically so large, you have a blank canvas for using all your favorite cookie cutters. Simply slice the watermelon into thick round slices and press your cookie cutters into the flesh, carefully removing each shape as you go. This is a fun way to serve themed watermelon at parties. Try dinosaurs for a birthday or stars for the 4th of July.

5. Make Popsicles

Frozen fruit pops are such a treat when the temperature gets hot outside. Watermelon has a high water content, making it the perfect fruit for making popsicles. Whip watermelon with a bit of lemonade or juice and pour into a popsicle mold. You can also add yogurt or mix and match other fruits with your watermelon. Yum!

6. Add It to Salsa

Watermelon is the perfect choice for tempering the heat of jalapenos. Many people enjoy the sweetness of the fruit in a spicy salsa, so go ahead and give it a try. You can serve your watermelon salsa with tortilla chips or spoon it over grilled fish. Try a combination of watermelon, jalapenos, onion, garlic and a splash of balsamic vinegar.

7. Make Cocktails

A backyard summer party wouldn’t be complete without a few cocktails. Shake things up with watermelon. You can add it to margaritas or mojitos or blend it to make daiquiris. You can also muddle watermelon to make juice and combine it with your favorite gin or vodka. You simply can’t go wrong, no matter what you make!

I love to buy watermelons in the summer, cut them up and have them on hand in the refrigerator anytime the mood strikes. Did you know how many great things you can do with watermelon? Which one will you try first? Do you have any other ideas to share?