• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons agave nectar
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil or other neutral-tasting oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
  • 4 cups Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup honey melon, cubed
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries

With its’ juicy textures, sweet goodness and lovely bright colors fruit definitely attracts our attention. And for good reason. Fruit is one of the best foods we can feed our bodies. Fruits (including melons) are full of water, fiber and antioxidants. Also low in calories, fruit makes the perfect snack, breakfast or dessert. I love everything about the honey dew melon. I think it’s one of the prettiest fruits and it pairs beautifully with blueberries.

This week bloggers like me are participating in Summer Fest, an exciting summer link party brought to you by Food Network’s FN Dish blog, are celebrating melons of all kinds!

Healthy Breakfast Idea

On a quest to get back to eating a breakfast high in protein and in fiber, but still craving a little sweet taste in the morning, this yogurt with a quinoa crunch and honey dew melon was the perfect way to start my family’s day. The crunch from the protein-packed quinoa gave this breakfast an almost dessert-like quality.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together quinoa, agave nectar, oil, and cardamon. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden browned, making certain to stir occasionally.

Remove your quinoa from the oven and allow it to cool.

Place 1 cup of yogurt in each bowl. Top with fresh cubs of honey dew melon and blueberries. Adorn with your quinoa crunch and a small dollop of yogurt.

Another favorite melon of mine is watermelon. When I was expecting my first son, Nathaniel, I craved watermelon and I ate a lot of it! It is no wonder that watermelon is one of Nathaniel’s favorite fruits!

Here are two chilled melon soups that are wonderful by themselves or combined!

Chilled Melon Soup Two Ways

Chilled Watermelon Soup

4 cups cubed watermelon

Juice of one lemon or about 2 tablespoons

A Pinch and I do mean just a pinch of cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped

2 tablespoons agave nectar

Water as needed

In a blender combine all ingredients. Add only a little water at time until you reach your desired consistency.

Place chilled watermelon soup in a bowl, rinse out your food processor and make your cantaloupe soup.

 

Creamy Chilled Cantaloupe Soup

4 cups cubed cantaloupe

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons agave nectar

Water as needed

 

In a blender combine all ingredients. Add only a little water at time until you reach your desired consistency.

These two chilled melon soups can be served separately side by side or with one spooned in the center of the other.

Add a pretty swirl of yogurt on top!

Grilling Melons

Have you ever tried grilling fruit? I have grilled pineapple, pears, bananas, apples and so on, but I had never tried grilling watermelon that is until BJ’s Wholesale Club asked me to create a grilled watermelon recipe for a grilling segment. I can’t wait for you try make this Grilled Watermelon Salad! The marriage of the sweet and smoky grilled watermelon, the saltiness of the feta cheese and kalalmata olives and the acidity of the lime juice is the perfect combination! I know you will just love it! Besides saving money each month by shopping at BJ’s, a portion of the proceeds from each and every watermelon you purchase there is donated to breast cancer awareness and research. Now that’s a powerful pink!

Be sure to visit my SummerFest friends for more wonderful recipes featuring melons of all kinds! Share the love and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest using the hashtag #summerfest!

Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Watermelon-Mint Freeze
What’s Gaby Cooking: Melon and Prosciutto Salad
Cooking With Elise: Quinoa Crunch With Melons, Blueberries and Yogurt
Haute Apple Pie: Watermelon and Feta Salad
Cooking Channel: Five Things to Make With Watermelon
Healthy Eats: Melon Refreshers
Ingredients, Inc.: Melon-Arugula Salad
Daily*Dishin: Honeydew Melon Salad With Genoa Salami and Mozzarella Fresca
Made by Michelle: Cantaloupe Popsicles
Chez Us: Cantaloupe Lime Agua Fresca
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Mixed Melon Smoothie
Virtually Homemade: Melon-Mint Popsicles
Thursday Night Dinner: Cantaloupe With Figs, Basil and Kalamata Olives
Zaika Zabardast: Cantaloupe Soup With Cardamom Infused Cherry Syrup
Sweet Life Bake: Paletas de Melon
HGTV Gardens: Garden-to-Table: Melons
FN Dish: There’s More to Melon