I love summer. And not just because it’s the opposite of winter. Summer brings with it a wealth of sunshine (an embarrassment of riches, really), an abundance of play time, and more varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables than you can shake a stick at. (Do people really shake sticks at anything? Have you seen this stick-shaking activity in your everyday travels? Enlighten me, please.)

For me, if there’s one fruit that screams “summer’s here!” loud and clear, it’s the watermelon. Okay, and strawberries. Peaches. Pineapple. But mostly watermelon. When I imagine summer picnics and fruity desserts, I usually picture a chubby-cheeked little boy happily chomping on a watermelon wedge, juice running down his arms, with a blissful look of satisfaction on his face. Watermelon is refreshing, hydrating, sweet, and if you stick a little funnel in it and infuse it with alcohol, it can be a little naughty too.

So let’s talk about watermelons today! Tell us:

Do you have any favorite tips for choosing, serving, or storing watermelon?

My mom taught me to look for a watermelon with a flat, yellow part where it would have sat on the ground. She said that means the watermelon spent time ripening on the ground, and wasn’t picked too early. My biggest challenge is finding space in the fridge to store 3/4 of a watermelon after we’ve cut into it. Well, maybe that’s my second-biggest challenge. Maybe my biggest challenge is that I’m allergic to watermelons but eat them anyway. Because apparently, I have little self-control when it comes to watermelon drinks. And watermelon granita, like the one in the photo above. Spiked or otherwise.

How about you? Are you a watermelon fan? Have you had those yellow watermelons or the square ones? Any recipes to share? (Agua fresca!) Any tips for picking a good one, or even growing them? Come share!

Leave it to me to be late to the party again. I just found out that yesterday was National Junk Food Day. What? A day just for junk food? Raise your hand if you knew this. Raise your other hand if you don’t care that it’s a day late and want to celebrate with me.

I try to eat healthy most of the time, and I do that mostly so I don’t feel bad about indulging in a guilty pleasure now and then. Sometimes, I’ll make an effort to create a homemade version just so I can justify eating more of it. Raise your other other hand if you do the same.

Let’s get ourselves into—and hopefully out of—trouble together, shall we? Tell us:

What’s your junk food weakness? Any tips for keeping things in moderation?

Do you love kettle cooked chips? Have trouble resisting chocolate bars? Need that soda pop fix? Can’t stop munching on tortilla chips and salsa? Are Doritos your true love? Or maybe Oreos? (Extra points if you share a recipe for a homemade version!) Or maybe you know a trick or two for battling those insistent junk food cravings and stopping at just one or maybe nine chips. (I could use some of those tips right now, because for some reason, all I can think of is Doritos.)

Come share below! In the meantime, I’m going to go drink three glasses of water and contemplate the meaning of moderation.

Happy Wednesday, folks!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for … pizza! Yes, I know that’s not how it goes, but I’m convinced that pizza in the summertime is just as popular as ice cream. Actually, pizza is crazy popular just about anytime, with just about anyone. Even gluten-free pizza has come a long way from its […]