Cucumber Watermelon Salad and Coolers

WATERMELON AND CUCUMBER SALAD

"Cornbread is sweet,
pork chops are good,
blackeyed peas are mighty, mighty fine
but give me, oh give me
I really wish you would
that watermelon hangin' on the vine..."

-- Tennessee Ernie Ford, "The Watermelon Song"



Ingredients:


- 3 cups peeled and cubed cucumber

- 3 cups cubed seedless watermelon

- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice

- Salt & pepper to taste

- Cayenne pepper to taste (optional)

- Lime zest


1. In a large bowl, toss cucumber and watermelon with lime juice, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using.) Top with grated lime zest and serve immediately.

2. There is no step two.

If not serving immediately, leave out the salt. Refrigerate salad, covered, up to four hours; just before serving, toss with salt.

If you're feeling boozy, omit the salt and pepper and dump the salad into a food processor or blender. Puree and strain the liquid into an ice-filled glass and top up with vodka, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of honey. Boom! WATERMELON-CUCUMBER COOLERS (save the pulp to eat later).