For NALTA (Nashville Area Ladies Tennis Association) matches it is the home team’s responsibility to provide snacks and refreshments. Since eating is probably my most favorite past time ever, I look very forward to Thursdays during NALTA season.
The women on my team are so creative and wonderful food preparers. (Actually, I’ve been on my current team 2 seasons now. But even the ladies on my old team were talented in the kitchen.) So my taste buds have delighted in many scrumptious new-to-me flavors and treats. Everything from baked breads, muffins and cookies to creative cheese dips.
They’re also conscious of their presentation. (Whereas I just toss things on a plate and go.)
However, there is something about the visual presentation enhancing the taste enjoyment somehow. They haven’t meant to, but the tennis ladies, whether on my team or not, have made me come to appreciate this.
So for a recent tennis gathering (it was actually a USTA brunch, not a NALTA shin dig), I decided to try to be a little more creative. I’d seen something either on Facebook or Pinterest for goat cheese and mint topped watermelon. I thought that sounded like something the tennis ladies would like, so I decided to give it a shot.
It was easy! And turned out yummy and nice looking!
MINT GOAT CHEESE WATERMELON BITES
Ingredients
- Watermelon – I bought slices
- Goat Cheese
- Mint
- Cheese and Fruit Shaped cutter – I used a flower-shaped one.
- Something to cut or shape the goat cheese into little balls – I tried to use a melon baller, but it was too big. Then I ended up using something else I found in my drawers that I don’t even know what it’s really for or what it’s called, but it worked. I sliced the goat cheese then punched out little slabs to put on the watermelon.
- Toothpicks – optional
Steps
- Cut the watermelon into shapes.
- Top with mint sprigs
- Top that with goat cheese (I did mine backwards, as you’ll see in the pics. It would’ve looked even prettier with the mint on the bottom.)
- Hold it together with a toothpick, if desired. (I took the picture pre-the toothpicks, which I opted to use because I was transporting my creation and thought it would help it hold together better. It did. Also, it made it easier for the girls to eat.)
Variations
I think a blueberry with the mint and goat cheese would be amazing. One of my tennis teammates suggested basil in place of the mint might also be nice.
A few more things to experiment with…
CUCUMBER WATERMELON SALAD
I had some extra watermelon that I decided to pair with cucumber and feta to create a salad. This was just a concoction I decided to experiment with.
It wasn’t bad, but would need some tweaking. Here’s what I used…
Ingredients
- Watermelon chunks
- Cucumber chopped into quarters
- Feta cheese – crumbled
- Lime juice
- Cilantro paste
Steps
I just combined everything and chilled for a bit before serving.
It was just okay. I think maybe a drizzle of olive oil and fresh cilantro with the lime juice might’ve given it a better flavor.
It’s one I’m definitely going to be experimenting with and trying again.
Do you have any fun watermelon recipes? I’d love to hear them!