Watermelon

Watermelon is one of the things that I absolutely love about summer. Yes, you can get decent chunks of watermelon from somewhere on earth just about any time of year, but in the summer, it becomes incredibly cheap and unbelievably sweet and juicy. I've learned to pick a whole one by judging the yellow patch, where the melon sat on the ground to ripen, and a good thump. I like 'em to sound hollow if I thump 'em, although all experts say it is really that yellow patch that lets you know the melon sat in the field long enough to ripen into something sweet. If I'm just buying cut melon, I have to be able to know that it smells like watermelon through the plastic wrap. If I don't get a whiff of watermelon oozing through that plastic, I leave it on the shelf. That's pretty much my guideline with a lot of fruit, especially things like tomatoes (they are a fruit), peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears, apples and strawberries. They ought to smell like what they are, no matter how pretty they look in the bins. My grandpa taught me to pick cantaloupe by pressing the stem end, to be sure it gives just a little, and by sniffing the stem end, to be sure you get a good cantaloupe scent. This method has never failed me. My friend Lisa taught me to pick a honeydew melon by finding one with a slightly yellow tinge to it, and this has always worked for me, too. A rule I have for most fruit is that it should also feel heavy for its size. This is how I pick my citrus fruits. Nice and unblemished skins and fruit that feels heavy, meaning it will be juicy.

I pretty much just cut the watermelon into chunks and have it that way, unless I mix it into a fruit salad. Last night my dessert was half of one of those cute little "personal" sized watermelons. It was beautifully red and sweet, and was a perfect ending to my dinner of leftover baked tilapia with fresh salsa and green beans.

Back in the days when I ran, one of the earliest races I did was at the Cleveland Zoo. I think it was sponsored by the local Lions club, and it was a 5K that ran through the zoo. Most of the old Lions that manned the points where they directed us on the course just stared in amazement. They had what was probably one of the best post-race treats I've ever had, though. On a hot morning, they offered water and watermelon slices. As much of both as you wanted. I don't think watermelon has ever tasted so good and so refreshing. The memory sticks with me every time I'm looking for something light and refreshing and sweet, especially in the dog days of summer.