Fit watermelon into breakfast, lunch, dinner and more

Watermelon slices have been at every gathering I've been to so far this summer. It's not a surprise, really. The versatile melon can quench a parched palate on a hot day and provide ammunition for sibling rivalry and outdoor contests.

Yet, think outside the rind and you'll find watermelon has a place in salads, salsas, drinks and then some.

A primer

Watermelon grows on the ground on vines like its relatives, cantaloupe, squash and pumpkins. Food historians trace watermelon's beginnings to Africa and early hieroglyphics depict it on Egyptian walls some 5,000 years ago.

Watermelon made its way to the United States aboard slave ships, and despite it's abundance here, China is the world's top producer. In the U.S., Texas, Florida, California and Georgia rank as the top-producing states, though downstate Illinois also contributes a fair share of melons to the annual yield.

The presence of lycopene, a carotene, has brought watermelon recent popularity as a health food. Studies have shown lycopene helps protect against some cancers. Because the fruit contains a lot of water, it delivers more nutrients, including fiber and vitamins A and C, in a small calorie package.

Broad appeal

Since it's such a nutrient-friendly food, we really should be eating more of it. And with watermelon so available this time of year, it's easy to do so.

For breakfast, consider dicing the fruit and adding it (sans seeds) to a parfait glass with vanilla yogurt and a crumbled muffin. Or, whirl frozen watermelon chunks and frozen raspberries for a good-for-you morning treat.

At lunch, add watermelon to a green salad. Cut it into small cubes or thin strips for a pleasant crunch. Add it to chutneys or salsas to give meat and fish dishes a burst of color and flavor.

And let's not forget about snack time. Just as you roast pumpkin seeds in the fall, you can roast watermelon seeds with a bit of oil and salt or other spices. The rind, as well, need not be discarded. It can be pickled or candied and enjoyed on its own or in vegetable relishes or fruit salads and desserts.

What about watermelon?

You can get watermelon year-around and the National Watermelon Promotion Board doesn't want you to forget it.

In an effort to bring this iconic fruit into the 21st century, the group started a blog, available at watermelon.org, to offer culinary inspiration no matter the season.

Updated two to three times each week, What About Watermelon will news and facts - from why knocking on a watermelon to determine ripeness doesn't work to life on a watermelon farm. And, of course, recipes.

"There's so much you can do with watermelon beyond the traditional wedge at the backyard barbecue," said chef Harry Schwartz, author and TV food personality. Demonstrating that versatility is just one of many goals of the blog.

Another is to have fun, because watermelon is a fun food no matter what time of year it is."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>Recipes</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> </div> <div class="recipeLink"> <ul class="moreLinks"> <li><a href="/story/?id=305081" class="mediaItem">Watermelon, Cranberry, Coconut and Fig Chutney</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=305080" class="mediaItem"> Watermelon Berry Slush</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=305078" class="mediaItem">Watermelon Muffin Crumbles</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=305077" class="mediaItem">Watermelon Gin Punch</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=305076" class="mediaItem">Watermelon Salad With Mint and Crispy Prosciutto</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=305078" class="mediaItem">Watermelon Muffin Crumbles</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>   <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Watermelon by the numbers</b></p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">55 degrees: The ideal temperature for storing watermelon</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">7-10 days: How long watermelon will keep at room temperature</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">32-36 degrees: The temperature cut, wrapped melon should be stored at</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">90 slices from an average watermelon</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">3.2 cups per pound</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">70/30: Fruit to rind ratio</p>