Watermelon Ice Cubes

Watermelon Ice Cubes - Refreshing way to use leftover watermelon chunks! Add to your water, coconut water, cocktail, mocktail, smoothie, the sky’s the limit! 

If you haven’t figured it by now, I am absolutely obsessed with watermelon. If I’m not posting about watermelon on my Instagram, I’m posting watermelon recipes on the blog. There is nothing that stands in the way between me and watermelon...nothing. 

With that said, I thought it would be fun to post about the many ways you can use leftover watermelon. Do you find yourself cutting a large watermelon and basically having an entire half watermelon leftover? What do I do with the rest of it? 

Well, I am here to solve your problems! To start off, we will get into this quick and simple recipe! Using half of a large watermelon, cut your melon into large chunks and add to a blender. You can blend as is or boost the watermelon flavor with citrus like fresh lemon or lime juice! Sometimes I get a little wild and add fresh mint or jalapeno slices when I want to make frozen spicy watermelon margaritas. 

You can either strain the liquid using a milk bag or cheesecloth or freeze as is. Tip* If juicing, skim the foam off of the watermelon juice. When frozen, add a few cubes to a glass of water, coconut water, smoothie, or make into a mocktail/cocktail. The sky's the limit with these cubes! 

Now that you know of one amazing versatile trick using leftover watermelon chunks, here are a few more ideas! 

• Slice watermelon into triangles and make watermelon popsicles by inserting a popsicle stick into the rind. Freeze them, grill them, or eat as is! 

• Slice watermelon into small chunks and toss into a summer salad (picture above)

• Add fresh mint, feta, lime, and balsamic glaze for a quick watermelon salad picnic!

• Make watermelon margaritas, frescas, or granita! 

• Use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes for a party or for the kids! 

How would you use watermelon cubes or leftover watermelon? Share below, I love hearing your ideas!

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Ingredients

• ½ large watermelon

• Juice from two limes

• ½ cup filtered water or coconut water

Optional add-ins

• Fresh mint

• Jalapenos (to make spicy margaritas)

Directions

1. Cut the rinds off the watermelon and slice into large chunks.

2. Add watermelon chunks to a blender and add lime juice, water, and optional add-ins. Blend until smooth.

3. Either strain the juice using a milk bag or cheesecloth or pour mixture directly into ice cube trays. *Skim the foam off the liquid for smoother texture. 

4. Freeze and enjoy in filtered water, coconut water, alcohol, smoothie, kombucha..sky’s the limit!

Energizing Morning Smoothie Bowl

Energizing Morning Smoothie Bowl - A fun and healthy “create your own” smoothie bowl made with nourishing ingredients that will get you pumped for the day! 

"Everybody's working for the weekend..." Now, every day feels like the weekend! At least working from home it has! On a Saturday, I would spend extra time in the morning to create a nourishing meal as I would lounge around with a cup of coffee in hand. Well, since it is getting warmer here in Kentucky, I’ve been making refreshing smoothie bowls that double as my morning cup of coffee! 

Smoothie bowls are great for breakfast, post-workout meals, or for that 3pm slump since we are elevating our smoothie bowl with caffeinated bar bites! I love using Eat Your Coffee caffeinated bar bites for this recipe. Chocolate mocha flavor pairs perfectly with the subtle berry chocolate flavor from the smoothie bowl. Just add other fun toppings that add texture and variety like coconut flakes, granola bits, and dark chocolate chips. 

If you are wanting to try Eat Your Coffee out for yourself, use code: ROOTS20 for 15% off your first order + free shipping. 

If you don’t have these bars on hand but still want that caffeine boost, that’s okay! You can also use a single serving of instant coffee, or replace half the milk mixture with room temperature coffee or cold brew. 

If preparing a nourishing and caffeinated smoothie bowl doesn’t get you going while #workingfromhome, here are some tips for successfully working from home: 

• Getting dressed every day. Okay, some most of the time, I am going back into yoga pants but at least make an effort to change into something different. 

• Create an office environment. It’s getting warmer outside so why not work outside or work in a space where you have a view with natural lighting. 

• Work around your ebbs and flows. In the morning, I tackle the highest priorities on my list because that is when I’m most productive. 

• Movement. I sprinkle multiple breaks throughout the day by taking my dogs out for a walk, light stretching, and quick 20 minute workouts. 

What are ways that you stay productive while working from home? If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with! 

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Energizing Morning Smoothie Bowl - A fun and healthy “create your own” smoothie bowl made with nourishing ingredients that will get you pumped for the day! 

Ingredients

• 1 large ripe banana (frozen)

• 1/2 medium ripe avocado (fresh or frozen)

• 1 large handful choice of greens

• 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk

Add-Ins 

• 1 scoop plain or flavored protein powder/collagen powder

• 1/2 tsp adaptogen of choice (maca, ashwagandha, etc)

• 1/2 cup frozen berries

• 1 Tbsp nut butter or seeds of choice (hemp, flax, chia, etc)

Toppings

Chia seeds, coconut flakes, dark chocolate chips, bee pollen, caffeinated energy bar bites, granola pieces

Instructions 

1. To a high-speed blender, add all the ingredients, including any desired add-ins, and blend until creamy and smooth. If the smoothie is too thick for your taste, add more milk or water to thin. If too thin, add more frozen fruits or ice cubes. 

2. Taste and adjust flavor as needed. Top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

Notes

• If you don’t have these bars on hand but still want that caffeine boost, that’s okay! You can also use a single serving of instant coffee, or replace half the milk mixture with room temperature coffee or cold brew. 

Strawberry Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca

Strawberry watermelon mint agua frescas are a refreshing seasonal drink that’s great on a warm, summer day!

Sadly, summer is coming to an end, which means my favorite fruit, watermelon, will no longer be in season. Well, instead of being sad about it, I’ve decided I am just going to make strawberry watermelon mint agua frescas until I can’t anymore!

Agua frescas are refreshing fruit drinks that are made simply with blended fruit, lime juice, and sometimes sweetener. It is best to use seasonal fruit so that it’s fresh and naturally more sweetened, making it unnecessary to add sugar.

What I love about agua frescas is that the juice can be unfiltered, which means more fiber and more nutrients! You do not need to add any extra sweetener unless you absolutely want to, especially if you have picked a perfectly ripe and sweet fruit! So, not only are you avoiding extra sugar, you are also getting in your vitamins with this refreshing drink!

I’ve raved about the benefits of watermelon in other blog posts (check out my watermelon salad and watermelon lime refresher recipes)! However, you can make agua frescas with just about any type of fruit like cantaloupe, cucumber, pineapple, strawberries, melon, mango or watermelon. This recipe is crazy simple and easy to follow, so feel free to mix things up depending on what you have on hand that’s ripe and in season.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Strawberry watermelon mint agua frescas are a refreshing seasonal drink that’s great on a warm, summer day!

INGREDIENTS

• Half of small seedless watermelon

• 1 cup fresh strawberries

• 2 large mint leaves

• Juice of two limes

• 1-2 Tbsp sweetener (if you are using a perfectly ripe and sweetened fruit, then this is optional)

• 1/2 cup filtered water

DIRECTIONS

1. In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste, and add more lime or sweetener if necessary.

2. Serve immediately, over ice.

Watermelon Lime Refresher

Watermelon lime refresher is just that! A refreshing drink that is sure to cool you down and keep you hydrated during the summer time!

This drink was actually made by mistake as I was creating an agua fresca recipe which is coming to the blog soon!

Here’s the story if you are interested: I only had thirty minutes to make the recipe, take pictures of my lovely creation, and clean up before working out so I had to go fast! My husband helped me out by walking the dogs so that I could focus. As soon as he came back I would be done. It would have been perfect timing!

https://fromtherootsblog.com/watermelon-lime-refresher/

Well, we executed our plan. When he came back inside, I let him sip the drink and he was like, “This tastes amazing, but weren’t you supposed to be making a thicker drink?”

That’s when I noticed I used a cheesecloth to strain the pulp from the juice. (face slap!)

Even though it wasn’t my originally planned agua fresca drink, it was still refreshing, tastes way better than just regular water, AND is perfect for mixing in my pre-workout powder!

I highly recommend using this watermelon lime refresher for your pre-workout powder or just to drink on its own before or after a workout. Watermelon contains the amino acid citrulline which promotes blood flow, which leads to improved circulation and reduces muscle soreness. Also, watermelon is about 90% water -- hello, hydration!

I also played around with my new popsicle molds and made this drink into watermelon lime refresher popsicles! They were a hit at a summer picnic I hosted last month (blog post coming soon on that! :) ) The frozen juice created a beautiful stained glass appearance with bright, summery colors!

Regardless if you make these watermelon lime refreshers for a pre/post-workout drink, popsicles, or just sipping by the pool, they are great in promoting hydration and kicking boring water to the curb!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Watermelon lime refresher is just that! A refreshing drink that is sure to cool you down and keep you hydrated during the summer time! 

INGREDIENTS

• Half of one small seedless watermelon (rind cut off)

• Juice of 2 limes

• 2 Tbsp fresh mint

• 1-2 cups filtered water

• 1-2 Tbsp pure maple syrup (optional for sweeter taste)

DIRECTIONS

1. Put all ingredients into a high powered blender and blend until smooth.

2. Transfer mixture into a cheesecloth covered bowl. Strain mixture until you are left with just the juice.

3. Pour juice over ice and enjoy!

Pink Starburst Smoothie

February Motto:

Does anyone else think it would be great if you could just take all of the pink starbursts and drink them? No? Just me? Well…

This. Smoothie. Literally. Tastes. Like. A. Pink. Starburst!

I am not kidding -- it’s pretty amazing! As a health and wellness blog, do you really think I would blend an entire bag of pink starbursts and tell you to drink it?!

Maybe.

Haha, hard no…

But once you see the ingredients, you will notice that you may already have these things on hand! With the month of February, this smoothie couldn’t have come at a perfect time, just look at that gorgeous pink color!

The ingredients provide not only a beautiful pink color for Valentine’s Day; it also provides high levels of vitamin C that will boost your immune system and keep the common cold at bay. While we are on the topic, here are some facts about vitamin C:

• Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that captures free radicals and neutralizes them.

• Apples, berries, broccoli, red bell peppers, and citrus fruits contain a high level of vitamin C.

• Vitamin C helps to absorb iron.

• It also helps to prevent damage to our bodies from pollutants and toxicities.

Since Valentine’s day is coming up, I would definitely replace your morning orange juice for this smoothie and make a wonderful breakfast in bed with yourself or with your significant other!

But, as always, be sure to consult your healthcare provider before starting any new nutritional supplement. I’m not a doctor – just a nutrition student!

A sweet and refreshing smoothie jammed pack full of vitamin C and antioxidants! 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 blood oranges (peeled)

• 4 carrot stalks

• 1 red apple (cored (any red will work))

• 1 frozen banana (ripened)

• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries

• 1 small knob of fresh ginger root

• 1 cup coconut water

DIRECTIONS

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth -- that’s it!

NOTES

1. It is best to use a high powered blender like Vitamix or Blendtec. This is what I use!

2. If the smoothie is too tart, start by adding 1 tsp of pure maple honey and increase to your likeness for a more sweeter taste.

3. You can add 1 cup of ice if you want to use fresh fruit instead of frozen.

4. This smoothie can have a grainy texture so if you prefer a smoother texture, then turn this into a juice by filtering through a milk bag or cheesecloth.