Things to do with leftover watermelon/ / Happy Fourth

I've never been a super patriotic person. I have never really gotten a huge thrill out of blowing up good chunks of my money in one evening with the threat of blowing off an arm or a leg as well. I've never covered myself in American flags and rejoiced from the mountain tops that I am an American #merica, but I do enjoy the fourth of july. I enjoy the fourth of july because of the sense of family that it provides. Every year growing up my family would drive out to my grandparents lake cabin for a day of swimming, eating, and spending time together. I remember these, the times out at the lake, being the times that I got along with my siblings best. Our toys and clothes were nowhere near for us to argue over, it was just us and that murky green lakewater and hours to spend in it. Once we were completely exhausted and sun burnt, despite our mom's insistence that we put on more sunscreen, we would head up to the house where grandpa would have been cooking some delicious sort of barbeque. Every year the lake would also put together a firework show to set off on one of the shores. I am not really into spending my money on it and lighting fireworks off myself, but watching someone else do it? I'm game. I love the colors and different lights. The noise though, I'm not too fond of. I find the repeated pops around my house to be disctracting.
This year Dave and I did not make any plans. We both had travel plans pretty close to the fourth and he didn't end up getting in from his trip until the night before. At first we weren't sure if we would do anything at all, but it just felt wrong to not see any family. So we invited his brother over for some burgers and watermelon. I missed most of the official firework show in town, but I did enjoy a few fireworks later in the evening with the rest of Dave's family. It is fun to watch the joy in his nephews eye's as they light of fireworks and ride around on their tricycles with glow sticks. They really enjoy the Fourth.

I've never been a super patriotic person- just like I have never been able to down an entire watermelon in one sitting. Don't get me wrong, I love them juicy melons but that particular variety of fruit is gigantic. With only three people at our house this year to "celebrate" a half of a watermelon didn't even get consumed. So, I have scrounged around and found nine recipes to use that extra watermelon, if you are like me, that I think look extra delicious. Enjoy!

• Watermelon Sorbet from Cincy Shopper
• Watermelon Lemonade from Cooking Classy
• Watermelon fruit leather from  Deliciously Blissful
• Watermelon Feta Mint Skewers from Bites of Bri
• Balsamic Watermelon Feta Salad from Layers of Happiness
• Watermelon Mango Pico de Gallo from Damn Delicious
• Watermelon Coconut Ice cream from Nutritionist in the Kitch
• Watermelon Cucumber Salad from The Healthy Foodie
• Watermelon and Kiwi Pops from Real Food by Dad

                                Image Credits: Cincy Shopper, Cooking Classy, Deliciously Blissful, Bites of Bri, Layers of Happiness, Damn Delicious, Nutritionist in the Kitch, The Healthy Foodie, Real Food by Dad