Watermelon Lemonade

I buy melon all summer and what we don't eat right away, I always freeze in baggies to make smoothies later.  (I got the best watermelon a few days ago which yielded me 10 bags full of fruit to freeze!)  Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon smoothies are some of my favorites---but lately I can't get enough of this watermelon lemonade.  It's so easy to make that I almost hate to insult you with a recipe, but this will give you a starting point.  Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your taste.  I think it's particularly amazing with fresh mint in it, but I have made basil- and rosemary-flavored lemonades, and they're delicious too.

You can also make this with un-frozen watermelon, in which case you will get more of a traditionally thin lemonade.  I love it with the frozen melon because it makes a thicker, slushier drink.  It settles into a beautiful deep-ruby-to-pale-pink gradient as it sits in the glass---I think it looks so lovely.  The best kind of summer drink.  We sit out on the porch swing drinking it in the evenings, feeling like we are sucking up the marrow of life---er, or if we prefer not to use Thoreau's rather smug and unappetizing metaphor, we could say it's like we're hummingbirds enjoying the last of our summer nectar.  Try it!

Watermelon-Mint Lemonade

1 small baggie-full of frozen watermelon chunks (16-17 oz.), thawed slightly in microwave (I open the ziploc and microwave for about 40 seconds---enough to loosen the melon so you can get it out, but it's still mostly frozen)
1 c. water
1/2 c. lemon juice
1/4-1/2 c. honey or sugar
A handful of mint leaves

Add all ingredients to blender and blend.  Serve immediately, garnished with mint.