Just Another Meatless Monday Agua Fresca

I love watermelon. At least now that I've started the big diet that is. It's relatively low calorie (about 50 per cup of chunks) but sweet and very refreshing in the heat of summer. And about that heat of summer WHERE IS IT ANYWAY? Oh sorry, it's been pretty cold and dreary for a while now, so any day now would be the perfect day for the sun to come. I'm practicing for summer while awaiting the sun, I'll let you know how that goes.

So the big diet basically means I won't be having gluten, sugar, extra fats, beer(!!) or fun for a while. We eat very healthy but we also eat too much of the very healthy. So we're cutting back to get in better shape for our health and the happiness of our family. Now that I've finished pouting about the lack of fun I'm going to be having while on the big diet, I am moving along into the things-I can-enjoy-and-not-explode-my-pants phase. Welcome back watermelon to the conversation! Watermelon, light refreshing and non-fattening even when over indulged in. 

I whipped up a batch of drinkable delicious Agua Fresca with some watermelon today to enjoy while planting a bunch of flowers. Even though it was cold and overcast I was hot and sweaty from the exertion. Agua Fresca literally means water fresh and is made by combining fruit, a dab of sugar and cold water. Think of it as juice light and you'll be very close to what this is. YUM.

Agua Fresca

1 1/2 cups watermelon chunks

1/2 cup strawberries chunks

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

2 TBSP of sugar if desired

2 cups water

put the fruit, lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor

sprinkle with the sugar, if using, and let set 10 minutes to juice the fruit

whirl on high for 30 seconds

slowly with it running add the water to fruit

let whirl an additional 30 seconds

strain through into a pitcher and chill for 30 minutes

serve over ice

be refreshed

Peace and Love--