Chilling with a Watermelon (Summer Salad)
By Cal Orey
This time of year at the grocery store seeing
watermelons is a common sight. While this red melon (usually with seeds) is not
my favorite fruit—it is a summertime favorite. I caved and tossed a small
watermelon into the cart next to other seasonal fresh fruit. A watermelon fruit
salad can make this no-cook food something to love...Last week I did flee the Langolier-type tourist invasion, ending up in Victoria, British Columbia--a beautiful, calm retreat. One treat of the hotel I stayed at was a breakfast buffet in the concierge room. I recall seeing fresh pieces of a variety of summer fruit including pineapple, green apples, oranges, and watermelon. While I didn’t include them on my plate with a croissant, scrambled eggs, orange juice, and a large cup of coffee—I do remember the bright red chunks but it was the green apples I took back to my room for snacks.
Actually it wasn’t the fresh fruit that wowed me
overlooking Victoria Harbour; it was a seal at Victoria Pier. I experienced
plenty of shops and eateries, boats and house boats, all full of charm. One of
my goals for this adventure was to smell sea air, go on a boat ride, and bond
with a seal like I used to do in San Francisco. After a pool swim in the
morning, I strolled on the pier in search of seal. Almost immediately my eyes
met with one single marine mammal in the water. It swam inland right up to me
as if to say, “Hello! Welcome to Victoria.” I said, “Hey! What a good boy!”
Once the seal was close to me (and the tourists could see clearly it was
swimming in my direction) I snapped a photo or two and felt an instant
connection to Mother Nature’s creature and Canada’s water.
Watermelon Summertime
Salad Bowl
* * *
1 mini round
seedless watermelon
Assorted fruit, 2
cups watermelon chunks, ½ cup each of
sliced strawberries, orange slices, apple chunks, and peaches
2 tablespoons raw
honey (local)
1 lemon, juice
Cinnamon, nutmeg to
taste
Using a sharp knife,
slice a thick slice from bottom of watermelon to make a flat base so the melon
will lie nicely on a large dish. Slice the melon in half. Scoop out melon of
one half. Slice it like a checkerboard. Make horizontal and vertical cuts for
watermelon square chunks. Scoop fruit out and place in a bowl, add other fruit.
(It works well with kiwi, grapes and other melons.) Mix in honey, lemon, and
spices. Cover and chill in refrigerator. Serve in bowls and top with Greek
yogurt or gelato. Serves 6-8.
This watermelon
fruit salad is easy on the eyes and good for you, too. Watermelon is low in fat
and calories, plus it provides some nutrients, including vitamin C and
disease-fighting antioxidants. A watermelon salad like this one makes a super
centerpiece for a picnic outdoors, brunch, or after dinner dessert. It’s easy
to make and will help you chill, and give you time to enjoy the water at Lake
Tahoe or escape to British Columbia's waters during our heat wave. Enjoy.
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