Watermelon Lemon Thyme Cooler

Watermelon
Lemon Thyme - a sprig or two
Mint - a sprig or two
Simple Lemonade Syrup - recipe below
Water
 Sugar 
Lemon juice
Ice

Simple Lemonade Syrup
Bring to a boil on a small pot, one cup sugar and two cups water.  Add 1/2 cup lemon juice. Once boiling is reached remove from heat and cool.  Pour over 2 cups ice.


Into a large carafe or quart canning jar place chunks of watermelon.  Add herbs, then fill with lemonade.
To enjoy, fill glass with watermelon chunks, top with lemonade. Garnish with lemon thyme and mint.

Summer Tuna Salad

 I made this today...yummy...not too sweet or tart!  If this isn't spicy enough just use less Hellman's Mayo.  Normally, I am not a a mayo fan...Miracle Whip is my first choice.  However, I think that it would make this too sweet.  Also made Watermelon Lemon Thyme Cooler.

1 carrot, shredded
1 yellow pepper, cut in half.  Chop half of the pepper into large dice.  Save the other half for presentation.
1/3 vidalia or other sweet onion, diced
2 T parsley chopped
1 T fresh lemon thyme, chopped
 1/4 cup Marzetti's Southwest-Ranch Veggie Dip
1/4 cup Hellman's Mayo with EVOO
2 cans tuna - water pack, drained well
Salt and pepper to taste
3 lettuce leaves - I used red leaf lettuce today.

Combine all ingredients.  Scoop into reserved pepper half.  Plate and enjoy!

Just Right BBQ Sauce

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup strong coffee - reduced to 1/2 cup
1 can crushed tomatoes
1/3 cup beef broth
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons molasses
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon season salt
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon each cumin, celery salt, chili powder
1 small bay leaf
1 small dried chili
2 garlic cloves - minced

Combine in a large pot.  Cook over medium heat until thick and reduced by about half.  Remove chili and bay leaf. 

If processing to can, put in hot sterilized jar, seal jar. Hot water bath - pints 10 minutes, quarts - 15 minutes.