Watermelon Lime Agua Fresca
Mary gave me a watermelon today. I put it on the front seat, stopped at the stop sign, and it bounced onto the floor, bruising all to *#!#. That means one thing: watermelon agua fresca.
Mary is the backdrop to my life--so much so that I hardly mention her. One thing I love about our relationship is that we are always giving each other little things. Today, when I picked up Milo, she gave me a Ziploc of blueberries and a mini watermelon. And she gave back a casserole dish that I had delivered food in last week. We like to debate about who has it harder. I say she wins hands-down. They just adopted a third child in January with a lot of medical needs, and she's a hospice nurse, often working the graveyard shift. She looks at my crazy days of meetings and Yancey gone so many nights and decides to do things for me, which I usually don't know I need until she does them. We have been chatting almost every day, in some form, for over seven years--picking Oscar and Wyatt up at the bus stop, rocking each other's babies to sleep. I know she's the reason I haven't been up in the middle of the night reading parenting books. She makes me feel normal. She tells me Oscar has an everlasting cough, too, and that I'm not a horrible mother if my kids still aren't sleeping through the night at 20 months. I can't count the ways she has kept me sane these parenting years. Mothers need co-mothers.
And, when the day is done--books littering every square inch of the living room floor, laundry still not folded, UNO cards permanently separated from their brother and sister UNO cards and soggy on the wet front steps--maybe you can sit down to a swig of this. It tastes like summer in a glass, you'll have the satisfaction of rescuing a mushy watermelon, and you can take a minute to collect yourself before it starts all over again in the morning.
Watermelon Lime Agua Fresca
"Aguas Frescas" are "fresh waters," often found in Mexican restaurants. Like juice, but much lighter, less sweet, more refreshing. I like to make them with cantaloupe and strawberries, too. Take whatever leftover watermelon you have lying around. Chop it into big chunks, not worrying about seeds or mushy spots. Fill a blender 3/4 full with the watermelon chunks, and add about 1 Tb. sugar (or to taste) and 1/2 c. water. Puree. Pour puree through a fine sieve into a pitcher, discarding solids when done. Repeat for remaining watermelon. Add fresh lime juice to taste to the watermelon juice--I juiced one large lime for two blender-fulls of watermelon. Serve with thinly sliced cucumber rounds and fresh mint, and maybe a shot of vodka or gin if you happened to slip on those UNO cards.
June 10, 2010
Reader Comments (14)
Oh my, yet again I feel blessed to have found your blog. I visit often and I love your wonderful writing and I love the 'normal' stories. Keeps me going through my crazy days......Gives me a minute to smile and breathe.....and also feel that I too am not a horrible mother.
Can't wait to try the watermelon drink as I am not crazy about drinks that are too sweet. Have a lovely weekend!
Nice to meet you, Nelli! Thanks for the kind words.
Yum, I love aguas frescas! I have spent a lot of time in Mexico and agua de guyaba (guava) is my favorite. I'm in Korea right now and given the hot weather and the availability of the ingredients, this will be the perfect summertime party drink. Thanks!
Sweet Mary. I love your relationship with each other. A sign for us to study. Rich made me laugh and horrified me a little when he asked me how in the hell I got away with giving you two books on animals and telling you both the story about the pregnant whales swooning together during their pregnancies reminded me of you two!$&@. You know what I meant. Love and admire you both. Amazing friends and mothers. Xoxo
Love the new photo of The Leftoverist--a woman who clearly enjoys life!! I do hope you got your much-anticipated taco today at the market. I also wanted to let you know (just in case you had not heard this yourself) that Nancy Pearl was on KUOW Weekday this past week. Topic: "Good Books with Bad Endings." It was so interesting, and I jotted down several titles to add to my on-going list. One of Nancy's favorite books is IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS by Tim O'Brien. She said it's a great bookclub choice because the ending generates much discussion. Her recall is amazing! If you have not read WINTER WHEAT by Mildred Walker, I recommend it. Strong women; great story.
I plan to make this tomorrow (I just happen to have half an over-ripe watermelon in the fridge and was wondering what on earth to do with it). Love your co-mothering idea, love your description of soggy UNO cards :) FYI - I have been meaning to write you and tell you that your blog is now consulted weekly at our house and that we have found so many dishes we love - pork tacos and oatmeal pancakes come immediately to mind. I am so glad you are doing this...sharing the recipes and sharing the insight about life as a mom. Thanks!
Oh Sarah, I love everything about this post. The nitty and the gritty and the essential-ness of fellow parents. Co-mothers, indeed! And last but not least, the agua fresca recipe. Been meaning to try this for years, and have never gotten around to it. This is just the reminder I needed. Happy summer to you.
i think i'll slip the gin in. :) you and mary have been so lucky to have each other. the best part is that you know it!
This is delicious! My family and i have been enjoying this the past several days. Thanks!
the Aguas Frescas sounds so refreshing and tasty!
This is delicious! Unfortunately, my blender broke...instead I have been squeezing lime on top of the chopped watermelon with a dash (well, more than a dash) of salt. This has been heaven for me, kind of like a margarita, but virgin of course! Can't wait for the real thing!
This is yummy, refreshing & quick. Plus, I loved having a way to use the leftover watermelon I've been eying in the fridge for the past week...
[...] suggestions involving strawberries, various melons and a cucumber/lime combination. Also the watermelon lime [...]