Watermelon is one of the best ways to cool off in the summer.
How to pick the perfect watermelon
When you walk up to a watermelon bin give the watermelon a good shake. If you hear water or juices running around, put that one down and go to the next one. This means it isn't as dense as it should be, and will not be as flavorful as a better specimen.
Give the watermelon a thump. The transfer of sound and vibration should be very satisfactory, the thump should be audible and less like a pulse. A "pulse" like tone means that there is more water in the melon than there is melon.
A lopsided watermelon will have underdeveloped seeds, which means less sugar and less flavor. Turn the watermelon over and look at its belly, the spot where it sat on the ground. If it's white, find another melon. You want yellow, the color of butter.
Now look at the stem, which should have a black ring around the base. That blackness is crystallized sugar. Sometimes you find beads of black crystallized sugar on the rind as well.
A Watermelon Treat...
Watermelon Sorbet Recipe
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup or light agave nectar (the syrup or nectar makes the resulting texture quite smooth)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice
3 fresh mint leaves
3 pounds watermelon, rind and seeds removed, cut into chunks
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, corn syrup or agave nectar, lime or lemon juice, and mint to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool.
2. In a blender, puree half of the watermelon chunks. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl. Repeat with the remaining watermelon.
3. Add the slightly cooled syrup to the watermelon and mix well. Place in a 2-quart container, cover, and freeze for 3 to 4 hours.
Flake the mixture with a fork scoop it up and serve.