Watermelon Gazpacho at Friendship Garden

June 14 students from Delaware Community School help make a Watermelon Gazpacho with Ellie Markovitch at the Friendship Garden on Hurlbut Street in Albany’s Delaware Avenue neighborhood.

Watermelon Gazpacho by Ellie Markovitch

One large seeded watermelon
Half watermelon (8 to 10 cups chopped) seeded and blended with the other half watermelon (8 to 10 cups of mashed)
2 cups peeled, seeded cucumbers, diced
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar    1 seeded melon, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
Juice of 2 lemons
2-4 tablespoons fresh mint from Friendship Garden, minced

In a blender, puree half of the watermelon until smooth and freeze it. In a large bowl, combine the frozen watermelon puree, the other half of the watermelon mashed or chopped, diced cucumber, melon, salt, lemon juice. Serve with fresh mint.

Local chefs Yono Purnomo, Brian Molino, Sarah Johnson; and Ellie Markovitch and Michael Lapi of Chefs Consortium, led cooking demonstrations for the after school garden club at the Friendship Garden in Albany.  The chefs prepared healthy and delicious foods for the students to sample.

Inspired by first Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, the students have been growing tomatoes, basil, peppers, lettuce, garlic and swiss chard this season.  The mission of the gardening program is encourage and motivate children to eat healthier, exercise more, and make positive health choices that will stay with them until adulthood.