mixed melon smoothie

all photo credits-peter padoven

it is melon week at food network's summerfest, so i thought i would share with you my mixed melon smoothie recipe....my go-to thirst quencher when the weather is really hot.  this refreshing drink is made with a combination of watermelon, cantaloupe & honeydew melon and flavored with fresh mint and ginger.  coconut milk provides some protein making this smoothie perfect for breakfast, lunch or an afternoon pick-me-up snack.   for extra nutrients you could even add some fresh spinach or other mild greens.

the trick to making this smoothie extra special is to cut up the melon into large chunks and freeze them for 1 hour.  this delivers a frosty, icy, frothy, frozen drink.   my husband insists i tell you that adding vodka or tequila makes a delicious cocktail.  that is what he did today when we were taste testing. so...there you go...either a healthy, wonderful smoothie, or a fabulous cocktail.  don't you love versatile recipes?

speaking of health.  i did some research on the nutritional components of watermelon.  thanks to healthmad.com, i learned the following:

•The health benefits of watermelon are really great. No matter how it is sliced, it is packed with some of the most important antioxidants found in nature.

•It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, particularly through its concentration of beta-carotene.

•The beautiful red watermelon is also a source of the potent carotene antioxidant which is called lycopene. These antioxidants travel throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are substances in the body that can cause much damage to us. They are able to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to blood vessel walls and thicken them which can lead to hearty attack or stroke. The lycopene which gives fruits the attractive red color that we find in watermelon can help reduce the risks of prostate cancer.

•It is a surprising fact that watermelon is the only fruit that contains higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable.

•Watermelon is a fruit that is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium that we lose through our perspiration.

•Watermelon is rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production. Food experts recommend watermelon as a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin B1 and magnesium. Because of its higher water content approximately ninety percent and calorie value it is ranked more valuable than other fruits.

•Watermelon has a special cooling effect and is exceptionally high in citrulline, an amino acid that our bodies use to make another amino acid, arginine, which is used in the urea cycle to remove ammonia from the body.

•The antioxidants help reducing the severity of asthma. It also reduces the risk of colon cancer, asthma, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostate cancer.

•Watermelon is a good source of thiamin, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from so many diseases.

•Watermelon is fat free but helps energy production. It protects against macular degeneration.

to customize your smoothie, you can change the proportions of melon to suit your preferences...all watermelon? perfect.  more honeydew than cantaloupe? fine.  just ensure you equal 4 cups.  i love the taste of the three together.  and the red, orange and green deliver such a beautiful color, don't you think?

mixed melon smoothie
2 cups watermelon cubes (rind removed and seeded, about 2 inches each cube)
1 cup cantaloupe cubes    (rind removed and seeded, about 2 inches each cube)
1 cup honeydew melon     (rind removed and seeded, about 2 inches each cube)
3/4 cup coconut milk ( the type in the carton, not canned)
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
2 tsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp minced fresh mint
fresh mint leaves for garnish

place the melon cubes on a parchment lined rimmed cookie sheet and freeze for 1 hour.  place all ingredients in a blender and process until well mixed.  note, the mixture may freeze in the blender.  if this happens, stop processing and stir with a wooden spoon to break up smoothie.  resume processing until frothy.  taste and add additional ginger or lime juice if desired.

pour into tall glasses and garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.  serves 2 in our house.  *** makes an excellent cocktail.  add tequila or vodka to blender with rest of ingredients if you wish...delicious!

now it is your turn to participate in summerfest. simply leave your melon tip or recipe or favorite links in the comments below, and then go visit food network and do the same same. be sure to check out the delicious sounding recipes from the other participating bloggers:

Jeanette's Healthy Living: Watermelon-Mint Freeze
What's Gaby Cooking: Melon and Prosciutto Salad
Cooking With Elise: Quinoa Crunch With Melons, Blueberries and Yogurt
Haute Apple Pie: Watermelon and Feta Salad
Cooking Channel: Five Things to Make With Watermelon
Healthy Eats: Melon Refreshers
Ingredients, Inc.: Melon-Arugula Salad
Daily*Dishin: Honeydew Melon Salad With Genoa Salami and Mozzarella Fresca
Made by Michelle: Cantaloupe Popsicles
Chez Us: Cantaloupe Lime Agua Fresca
Virtually Homemade: Melon-Mint Popsicles
Thursday Night Dinner: Cantaloupe With Figs, Basil and Kalamata Olives
Zaika Zabardast: Cantaloupe Soup With Cardamom Infused Cherry Syrup
Sweet Life Bake: Paletas de Melon
HGTV Gardens: Garden-to-Table: Melons
FN Dish: There's More to Melon

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