~Written and edited by Veronica Clark ~

Monday 8 August 2011

Ways with watermelons..

Good Morning Friends. I trust that you all had a wonderful weekend and that Monday is full a spark and positive vibes. I am joining On the Menu Monday over at Stone Gable. Yvonne has a wonderful blog with amazing photography, so do take a look and also visit the other links.


I do realize that it is totally bizarre to start a recipe with which platter or bowl to use... but alas it is the kind of madness that I am given over to in the wee hours of the night when sleep eludes me and my thoughts drift to food. So my favourite bowl  for this salad is a large white platter embossed with fruit on the edges that shows off the colours to perfection. Now, you can just imagine how it looks, with these amazing colours against the white platter, all fresh and gorgeous, red, black and white with a sprinkling of green and a touch of pink onion.... sorry... um use any platter that takes your fancy...When summer rolls around and I make it you will see the bowl.




This is as an improbable combination of ingredients as you can muster to put together! But it works and works exceptionally well. It is both refreshing and compellingly beautiful in the contrast of shape and colour. That, and it hardly amounts to any work at all, that is if you are able to recruit your spouse to "slaughter" the watermelon...

Besides, think of the fun, you are going to have in the watermelon fight smearing each other and then the whole sorry lot landing in the pool... um whose cleaning the pool?






Menu

Sticky Pork Ribs on the BBQ

Watermelon, Feta and Black Olive Salad

Watermelon fight and....A dip in the Pool







Watermelon, Feta and Black Olive Salad

1 small red onion
2-4 limes, depending on juiciness
1,5 kg sweet ripe, watermelon
250 g feta cheese
bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
bunch fresh mint, chopped
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
100 g pitted black olives
black pepper

Peel and halve the red onion and cut into very fine half-moons and put in a small bowl to steep with the lime juice, to bring out the transparent pinkness in the onions and diminish their rasp.

Remove the rind and pips from the watermelon, and cut into bite size chunks, triangles or cubes. Place in your favourites bowl...

Cut the feta in similar size pieces and place in between the watermelon.

Tear of sprigs of parsley and add more like a salad leaf than a garnish to the salad.

Add the chopped mint.

Tip the now glowingly puce onions, along with their pink juices over the salad in the bowl, add the oil and olives, then using your hands toss the salad very gently so that the feta and melon do not loose their shape.

Add a good grinding of black pepper and taste to see whether it needs more lime juice.





The above image and recipe comes from one of my favourite cookbooks by Nigella Lawson, Forever Summer.










Click here for instructions to make these gorgeous little artful bites of bliss.








I found these lovely ideas via Geek Mom. If you feel like unleashing your inner slumbering sculptor or you have exceptional knife skills!! ( but keep the phone handy and the emergency numbers, please) take a look....













For much more inspiration of what to do with your crop of watermelon,  click here for The National Watermelon Promotion Board ( did you know that such a thing existed?) where the possibilities seems to be endless...

So, for those of you who are enjoying the balmy days of  a summer, break out the watermelon and the knives and have some fun.



I am also linking with Mosaic Monday at Little Red House as well as The Newbie Party  at Debbiedoo's Blog and Creative Bloggers Hop at Home maker on a Dime! Please support the other links as well.

Bon Appetit


Live well


Veronica

xxx

images from pinterest other than indicated.


21 comments:

  1. Now that Watermelon, Fetta and Black Olive Salad does sound like a real taste sensation. Such an unusual combination but I'll believe you when you say it's fantastic. Nothing says summer quite like watermelon and watermelon sculptures are just incredible. I can see my grandchildren being amazed by the shark!!

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  2. I have seen this delicious recipe before. Thanks for sharing, such pretty pictures too.

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  3. Veronica, I would have never thought to combine black olives feta and watermelon but...I love them all so much that I will have to try this. Beautiful post. You did an amazing job. Mona

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  4. That menu sounds wonderful for a summer Sunday. I'd never have thought of the watermelon/onion/olive combination, but it is intriguing!

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  5. Feta and olives are my favorite and I am sure watermelon will fit perfectly. I will need to buy one tomorrow and try it. Thank you for the recipe. I love your photo's and I love how they work with the melons. I get hungry when I see all your goodies.

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  6. That salad looks amazing! I can't believe I've gone all summer without a taste of watermelon. Your recipe has motivated me :) Thank you for the beautiful post!

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  7. Hi Veronica, The watermelon salad sound delicious.
    I love the shark. I am giving my grandson a birthday party on Saturday (he is five this week) I might try it.
    Have a good week.
    Sue.

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  8. Hello Veronica! What a deliciously fresh idea...so fun to see all these images. I will have to let others find out. Keep up the good work. I am going to place a link on my Facebook account.

    Trinidad

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  9. Veronica,
    The salad looks so amazing. I admit the combination is not one that immediately comes to mind, but thinking it through, I can see how these not only work, but work beautiful! YUM!
    Patti

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  10. Veronica, I love this combination of salty-sweet! I am going to have to try this salad. Thanks for stopping by. I will be back when vacation (really, a staycation for me with lots of work) is over so I can really enjoy going through your blog. xo,

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  11. Hi Veronica,
    From the Watermelon Salad to the Dip in the pool, what a great party! Thanks for sharing and have a great week!
    Miz Helen

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  12. I've done the watermelon shark twice now, and both times it was a HUGE hit. Ten year old boys seem to like it, especially if you throw some barbie legs in there :)
    Stacy

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  13. Wow, although the ingredients sounds a bit unusual, I bet it taste delicious. It definitely looks good. Thank you for dropping by my blog and commenting. Have a great week!

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  14. Hi Veronica,

    I adore watermelon and love this yummy post! My boys would love the shark with the fin.

    xo,
    Dee

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  15. I love watermelon and cannot wait to try the salad...looks wonderful!!

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  16. I'm definitely filing this one away for summer! We seem to have the weather at the moment - just not the watermelons! Lovely post. x Sharon

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  17. Your salad looks so refreshing! I have visited theb Watermelon web site through photos on Printerest --it has some wonderful ideas, especially the carved displays!

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  18. Oh my gosh, your blog is literally a feast for the eyes! Love the combination of flavors here and the photos are superb!

    I'm your newest follower.

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  19. The salad sounds delicious! Perfect for these hot summer days!

    I would love for you to join us at “It’s a Party” today!
    www.acreativeprincess.blogspot.com

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  20. Hi Veronica~

    Yummy stuff here, watermelon is a great thing! I invite you to link to my {K.I.S.S.} Blog Bash and am happy to be a new follower of your lovely blog. :)

    ~Christina~

    Drop By The Tattered Tag

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  21. That salad sounds delicious. I was just looking at an old Everyday Food mag and came across a watermelon/cucumber/vodka drink. I just may be making it!

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