Can it be any hotter? I don’t know about where you are located, but here in Jacksonville, Florida we are already in the mid 90’s with 80% humidity… we need summer fresh fruit recipes continuously. HA HA! Fortunately Florida is known for its fresh fruit that taste like they’re straight from the local farmers market. A few weeks ago I introduced you to Fresh From Florida ‘s summer fruits and vegetables that are perfect for family meals, bbq, and entertaining events. I’m excited to pair with them again to make a delicious and quenching Watermelon Fizz recipe from the Fresh From Florida website. Every summer watermelon is a staple fruit around our house and I enjoyed finding a new way to use Florida watermelons in a delicious drink.

Florida Watermelon Fizz Recipe

All Images via: ©Stagetecture.com

Makes 4 servings

Watermelon Fizz Ingredients:

5 cups Florida watermelon – seed and cubed

2 cups sparkling water – I found a lemon flavored one!

Florida honey to sweeten as you’d like

1 lemon – juiced and seeds removed

Fresh mint sprigs for garnish or you can add a few to the blender

Fresh Fruit Drink Directions:

1. In a blender combine cubed watermelon, honey and lemon juice. Liquefy and blend the mixture until smooth.

2. Pour watermelon mixture through a fine sieve to strain. (I accidentally used to large of holes sieve and some of my mixture went right through! – use a small holed sieve.

3. Fill 4 glasses with ice. If you’re planning a party I think pretty sugar crystals around the rim would be a nice touch. In a small plate use a small amount of lemon juice and dip the rim in juice, and then a plate of fine colored sugar crystals to make the crystals stick.

4. Pour the strained juice over the ice in all 4 glasses.

5. Pour the sparkling water over the juice and stir once.

6. Garnish with fresh mint and serve.

More Farm Fresh Recipes Using Watermelon:

Now that you see what a delicious watermelon recipe I made, what watermelon recipes from the Fresh From Florida website will you try? Here are more watermelon recipes we think you’ll love:

• Florida Watermelon Salad with Blueberries
• Florida Watermelon Slices with Balsamic Syrup Mint Oil and Feta Cheese

We’d love to hear how you plan on incorporating Fresh From Florida produce into your summer recipes. We have a link to two yummy recipes in our previous Fresh From Florida Recipes post here.

Isn’t the summer the best time to make farm fresh recipes? When I first moved to Jacksonville, Florida straight out of college in 1998 I thought the only food I would love from the Sunshine State was oranges! Ha! After 18 years of still living here in Florida I relish in the splendor of how many delicious fruits and vegetables are naturally grown here. One of the delights of our backyard is seeing the grapefruit tree produce yummy fruit each season. I’m excited to pair with Fresh From Florida and Florida Department of Agriculture to highlight their seasonally grown foods that are perfect for creating recipes with this summer.

Farm Fresh: Why I Love Making Recipes Using #FreshFromFlorida Foods

Summer recipes beg for fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood:

Now that the days are longer and school is out it’s the perfect time to entertain, bbq, and gather friends and family around delicious meals. From cool drinks and cocktails made with fresh fruit to tasty entrée meals made from Fresh Florida seafood, there is no limit to the cooking options.

Take a look at these Florida foods that are in season:

• Watermelon
• Blueberries
• Tomato
• Sweet Corn
• Seafood

What are you making this weekend? This Florida Corn Tomato and Avocado Salsa looks light and delicious for our 90 degree Florida weekends.

Image via: Florida Department of Agriculture

Florida fruits and vegetables taste like they’re from the farmers market:

The best part about using fresh Florida ingredients is the ability to bring fresh farmers market taste straight to your table. Living in Florida we know that our climate produces the perfect environment for fresh foods that many other states have to ship to their stores. My recipes taste better and I believe fresh fruit and fresh vegetables are better for you when they are fresher.

Looking for a sweet dessert to serve for the summer patriotic holidays? This Florida Blueberry Parfait looks delish!

Image via: Florida Department of Agriculture

What type of farm fresh recipes do you love making in the summer?

The Fresh From Florida website has wonderful information about what foods are perfect to eat and cook with this season as well as cooking recipes to give you ideas for your summer entertaining.

I can’t wait to get started on some of these yummy recipes.. I think the watermelon recipes are going to be my first creation. Let me know what you’re going to try!

For more summer recipe ideas on Stagetecture, try this blueberry recipe!