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National Watermelon Promotion Board

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Eating In, Dining Out

Trendy Summer Sips

Shrubs, infused spirits and wines flavored with seasonal herbs and fruits makes summer cocktails a refreshing way to beat the heat.

Chilling out this summer hasn’t been easy. With record breaking temperatures still forecast for the remainder of summer, your bartender has a suggestion -cool off with a trendy summer cocktail. Summer cocktails are typically lighter concoctions that can be mixed with or without alcohol. Fruit flavored wine punches such as sangria has been a favorite for decades as well as wine spritzers and sparklers made with sparkling wines. “My favorite sparkler is made by taking a sparkling wine like Proceso and placing frozen raspberries in the drink. It's something different and refreshing on hot summer days,” said Patty Held, Hermann Wine Trail Director/Trail Boss.  “I also like to make red wine spritzers with a Missouri wine like Hunter's Red and …

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Eating In, Dining Out

Watermelon - The Hot Weather Cooler

Beat the heat with a summer classic--iced cold watermelon.

Fireworks aside, the Fourth of July means one thing to me--watermelons are back in season.    To find the best watermelons take a drive down Highway 30 or 141 where you'll often find pickup trucks filled with melons from rural Missouri and Arkansas farms. Picking the prefect watermelon can be tricky and takes more than knocking on the melon to hear if it sounds hollow. There is a better way. Look for a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents. Pick that melon up – a watermelon should be heavy for its size.  Check the underside, watermelon should have a yew spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun. OK, I know there are those who will still tap on the melon but know that tapping is a little …

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