Watermelon Ginger Sparklers. (I made us a mocktail!)
That’s really delicious.
While everyone else around me is all omg fall! and pumpkin spice lattes and scarves and boots and chilly weather I’m still trying to figure out how I can hoard every bit of summer produce in the universe. All the fruit, all the time.
Oh but I did buy one fall colored nail polish already. Like I really needed another one. But I DID. It’s dark blue with gold flecks and… and… and… totally different from all the other dark blue with gold fleck shades that I have. I KNOW.
But really.
I don’t even feel like it ever got hot enough to eat watermelon, but I sure as heck devoured my share so far.
Perhaps the craziest thing that I’ve experienced in this pregnancy (okay, not the craziest by any means, but odd for me) is that I’ve wanted flavored drinks. I’ve mentioned it a few times here and there and I’m not talking about cocktails or anything (though a margarita sounds amazzzzzing as does some ice cold pinot grigio), just beverages other than water. I’m a lunatic and have always loathed carbonation (burns my mouth, chest and throat) and haven’t cared about flavored drinks, because water tastes so dang good to me.
Like so, so good.
Well.
Now I want every beverage known to man that has some sort of flavor other than plain water. GIVE ME ALL THE DRANKS!
So I made us this.
It starts with a vanilla bean (see the beans??) ginger syrup and some watermelon juice. A drop of club soda. Lots of crushed ice (the best kind, yes ice connoisseur-ism is a thing) and then a few cucumbers added in because they are 1. pretty 2. cute and 3. a vegetable which makes this a health food which means you are practically drinking a salad.
Seriously. Now go eat a donut. It’s friday.
Watermelon Ginger Sparklers
Ingredients
- 4 cups watermelon cubes
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 knob fresh ginger
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
- 1 seedless cucumber, sliced
- 1 cup club soda
- candied ginger for serving
Instructions
- Place the watermelon in a blender and blend until pureed and liquified. Pour the contents through a fine mesh sieve, saving all the watermelon juice in a large pitcher.
- Add the sugar, water, ginger and vanilla beans plus the empty pod to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat while whisking constantly until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to simmer for a minute or two until it becomes syrupy. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- To assemble the drinks, add crushed ice in a cup. Pour a few ounces of the vanilla ginger syrup into the cup, then add 4 or so ounces of watermelon juice. Pop the cucumbers in the cub and add about 2 ounces of club soda. Taste and adjust the drink to your desired taste – more syrup or juice, or more club soda. Stir well to mix. Serve!
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63 Comments on “Watermelon Ginger Sparklers. (I made us a mocktail!)”
Love these mocktails! So pretty!
I’m holding onto summer with you! Now pass me a sparkler, please. ;)
I am so all over this. Not only because of the watermelon, but also because of the ginger. And the fact that there’s no booze (it’s been a looooong summer). Love that you’re trying to hold onto summer…me too!
This is so dang pretty! And yeah, I am a little jealous of your crushed ice. The only way I can make crushed ice is by taking a massive king ice cube and smashing it on my countertop (ice goes EVERYWHERE!).
Hope you’re getting to drink all the flavored liquids on vacation! :)
In my last pregnancy, I had kind of the same issue. I couldn’t stomach plain, flat water. And I still can’t unless it’s REALLY, REALLY cold.
I love this mocktail! I kind of want one right now.
I want to drink it as is… but I also want to pour gin in it. Happy weekend!
YAY, hold the pumpkin, gimme all the watermelons. Plus ginger. omg!
Ginger and watermelon…sounds great together! LOVE LOVE watermelon especially at this time of year!
I’m semi-seriously contemplating a deep freeze so I can hoard summer fruit. Love love the ginger too!
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When I was pregnant all I did was eat watermelon! When I went to my favorite roadside stand to get my last melon of the summer, the man took one look at me and said, “Look’s to me like you done already swallowered a watermelon seed,” It was amazing. One of my all time favorite memories ever.
Gorgeous! And I love that they’re mocktails!
What nail polish did you buy? Your description of the color sounds like the stuff dreams are made of and I must have it!
This drink looks and sounds amazing! I’m with you on fizzy, flavored water – and just this summer totally got into it. I don’t know why but for the first time ever just needed more than plain ole water. And proceeded to buy and try every flavored water under the sun! This looks like it would trump them all! pinned!
This looks delicious Jessica! And I’m with you – still holding on strong to summer. I’m eating ALL THE ICE CREAM!
This looks like the perfect summer drink! Love the colours too :)
You didn’t address the hardest part of the cocktail… the crushed ice!!! Do you buy it somewhere because I have yet to find it. And I’ve been known to use some weird time consuming tactics, and was wondering how you got the perfect crushed ice?
Oh my goodness, I’m the SAME exact way!!! I’m 26 weeks pregnant, and water is so boring to me right now. I want flavored beverages!! I’m a little relieved to find out that I’m not the only preggo lady out there like that. Ha, ha!
Oh, and for the record, this looks AMAZING! I wish I could reach into the picture, pull out a glass, and take a sip!
These would be AHMAYZING with vodka. bahahaha I have a huge birthday coming up (threeOH NO YOU DI’INT!) and so I want to drink all of the things that blurr those lines. mhmm!
Gimme all the drinks indeed! I love that ginger syrup in this.. I bet that taste amazing with watermelon.
Omg! These look delicious. And I love your personality! Haha. xo
Mandy
http://www.mandydacandy.com
These look delicious!
http://www.yellowhats.net
These look INCREDIBLE! Definitely going to give them a go this weekend x
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…. “All the fruit, all the time.” – 110% agreement.
I LOVE the watermelon/ginger combo!!! Everyone stares at me freakishly when I take ground ginger and sprinkle it on my watermelon before I eat it. I’ve been doing it for YEARS!!! Glad I’m not the only one who has discovered that flavor combo.
I too am very jealous of your crushed ice… This looks delicious and so refreshing!
These sound delish! I’m with you about wanting all the fruit, all the time. I’ve been obsessed with strawberry watermelon smoothies all summer, and actually just had one earlier today. Yum!
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I’m still in watermelon mode too! I have one on my countertop that is waiting to be cut open. These sound so darn refreshing!
I still haven’t had any watermelon this summer. Ahh!
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Mmm this looks so good!! And crushed ice really is the best (we’re talking the little tiny baby cubes of crushed ice, right? Just to be clear…)
From one pregnant lady to another, thank you.
This does look really fun! I love watermelon and it is without a doubt my favorite summer fruit!
This looks ah-mazing! I’ve been on a cocktail kick all summer, all fruit. I’ve been freezing cubes of watermelon and popping it in everything. It’s the bomb! Pears and peaches work as well, but watermelon is by far the best! When I was pregnant with my third I was all about frozen green grapes, I still crave them 20yrs later. For those that might want to add something to this vanilla vodka would be good. ;-)
So simple and refreshing and perfect timing for the two little babies I have on my counter; thanks!
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Oh I need this in my life… pronto…
Hope
hchdesigns.blogspot.com
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