Desserts/ Drinks

Watermelon Ice

wataermelon ice cubes in glass of seltzer

I’ve always loved watermelon, but only recently discovered it improves your mood. That may be partly why I’m always so happy in the summer. Watermelon is packed with vitamin B6, which helps your body create serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good.

Watermelon also helps keep your kidneys functioning properly because it’s full of potassium, and it contains lycopene, an antioxidant that helps reduce cholesterol. It’s loaded with water, which helps keep you hydrated, always good for you, but especially so during the summer.

When it’s really hot, help yourself to a dose of watermelon ice, a refreshing treat that contains no refined sugar. It’s simple to make and keep on hand in the freezer for whenever you need a sweet serotonin-booster that’s so delicious, you’ll forget it’s good for you too.

Scrape the innards of a watermelon into a blender with fresh lemon juice, fresh mint, a little stevia and a touch of maple syrup for extra flavor. Blend away, and then pour into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Or you can pour the blended watermelon pulp into a covered bowl and put it in the freezer. Take the bowl out of the freezer every hour or so, and stir it with a whisk to add air and keep it from separating or freezing into a solid block. If it separates, put the frozen watermelon ice back into the blender, and blend until smooth, then freeze again.

I like to use a melon baller to scoop the still slightly soft watermelon ice into balls that I keep in a tightly sealed container in the freezer. (An ice cube tray works also.) I drop the balls of watermelon ice into a glass of chilled seltzer for an instant hot-weather cooler or I pile them into an ice cream cup for a refreshing dessert.

Springhouse Turtle

Watermelon Ice

There's no refined sugar in this watermelon ice, which is sweetened with stevia and a touch of maple syrup and flavored with mint and fresh lemon juice.

Ingredients

  • 4-5 cups fresh watermelon (about 3 cups watermelon purée)
  • ¼ cup packed fresh mint leaves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon liquid stevia

Instructions

1

Put all ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.

2

Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

3

Or pour into a flat covered container, and put into the freezer, then stir every hour.

4

Keeps in the freezer for several months.

Start with a fresh, ripe watermelon. It should be heavy and dark green on the outside.

Cut the watermelon into halves, then quarters.

Using a large spoon, scoop the pulp into a blender.

Add fresh mint, lemon juice, stevia and a little maple syrup.

Blend until it’s light colored and frothy.

Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions. Or, pour it into a shallow pan, and place it in the freezer. Stir every hour or so to keep the mixture from separating as it freezes.

You can pour the watermelon mixture into ice cube trays, which will freeze more quickly.

Drop the watermelon ice cubes into chilled seltzer for a refreshing summer drink.

wataermelon ice cubes in glass of seltzer

Or use a melon baller to create balls of watermelon ice. Keep in the freezer in a tightly sealed container. Serve garnished with fresh mint.

Springhouse Turtle

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