What fresh produce is available in April? The month of April starts out with a bang for many favorite fresh fruits and vegetables we have been missing during the cold winter months.
Florida Produce
Since I live in Florida I like to buy locally grown fresh produce. No matter where you live you will be able to find all the same produce as I cam in the grocery stores.
Most people know that Florida grows a whole lotta citrus fruit. Did you know that Florida farmers also grow blueberries and peaches?
Florida peaches are in season during the month of April.
Because Florida peaches are a specialty crop you might not be able to find them up north.
Florida residents or someone who lives on the east coast will see them showing up in the produce section or at the Farmers market this month.
Since Florida has beautiful weather (for the most part-outside of an occasional freeze) every month of the year Florida farmers are able to plant and grow many fresh fruits and vegetables in the tropical climate all year long.
Winter months are the busiest and most plentiful months of the year when it comes to fresh Florida produce.
Florida strawberries are a good example. Florida strawberry season runs from December through March.
Fresh Produce 12 Months of the Year
Each month I share the full list of in-season produce and recipes using those fruits or vegetables.
Check out the full list of Fresh From Florida fruits and vegetables in season for the month of April below.
How To Know you are buying Fresh From Florida Produce?
It seems these days it is a little harder to read the labels on fresh produce. One way to make sure you are buying Fresh From Florida produce is to look for the Fresh From Florida logo.
Another way to spot Florida produce is to see where the fruit or vegetable has been grown. Most produce label will list the country of origin.
Florida farmers are a proud bunch so you will usually see something on the label that says "grown in Plant City, Florida" as in the case of Florida strawberries and other produce grown in Plant City.
If you are shopping at a local Florida farmers market you can ask the vendor where the produce has been grown if you don't see a sign displayed.
Recipes using in season produce
Check out the recipes below that you can make using the April list of seasonal fruits and vegetables in season.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are so versatile. You can use them to flavor many recipes or they can be the main attraction of a recipe.
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How to Dehydrate Bell Peppers
Don't let bell peppers go to waste! Learn how to dehydrate them and store them for all year long. In just a few simple steps, you can preserve bell peppers for months! Improve your cooking with this easy home-preservation technique.
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2
How To Freeze Sweet Bell Peppers
Freezing fresh vegetables when you buy them on sale is a great way to save money. Freeze sliced bell peppers in individual serving sizes so you always have fresh peppers on hand.
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3
Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers Recipe
Tender and delicious Instant Pot Sausage and Peppers Recipe done in less than 30 minutes. Italian Sausage and sweet bell peppers and onions can be served as Sausage and Pepper subs, served over cooked pasta or white rice. A perfect dinner recipe any day of the week. Also a great game day recipe while watching the game.
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Blueberries
Spring blueberries are coming in and should show up in the produce section soon. Fresh blueberries are one of those perfect fruits everyone loves. They are packed full sweet tart flavor.
4
Instant Pot Blueberry Muffin Bites
Moist and delicious Instant Pot Blueberry Muffin Bites for breakfast or a snack. Blueberry Muffin Bites are bite-size kid-friendly treats.
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5
Blueberry Lemonade Ice Pops
The sweet and tangy flavor of homemade Blueberry Lemonade Ice Pops will have the kids jumping for joy. Pack your favorite ice pop mold with fresh blueberries and thinly sliced lemon, pour the lemonade in and freeze. Cool the kids off with homemade Ice Pops this summer.
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6
Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Blueberry Cheesecake Bars are made with multiply layers of cheesecake filling, homemade lemon curd and a fresh blueberry filling surrounded by a moist cake top and bottom.
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Cabbage
Fresh cabbage can be eaten raw or cooked. It is packed full of fiber and low in calories. You can buy fresh cabbage all year long.
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Fried Cabbage and Bacon
Fried cabbage and bacon is a delicious cabbage recipe seasoned with bacon. As the cabbage wilts is will absorb the flavors of bacon and the seasonings. You can serve this recipe as a side dish or a main meal. Top each serving with extra crispy fried bacon pieces.
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8
Crock Pot Ham Cabbage Potato Soup
Crock Pot Ham Cabbage Potato Soup recipe made with leftover ham, fresh cabbage, diced potato and chopped fennel is perfect for Octoberfest or Saint Patrick's Day. This ham and cabbage soup recipes is full of rich flavors from the vegetables and ham slow cooking for hours.
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9
Crock Pot Unstuffed Cabbage
Crock Pot Unstuffed Cabbage is all the flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls without all the work of rolling the filling into a cabbage roll. Simply brown the ground beef and put all the ingredients into a crock pot. Slow cook until the cabbage is tender and enjoy a home-cooked comfort meal with out all the work.
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10
Crock Pot Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls is another one of those recipes my mom cooked when I was a kid. She always made it with a tomato soup gravy and mashed potatoes.
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Cantaloupe
A perfectly ripe cantaloupe has a sweet flavor unlike other melons. Eating or making a smoothie and drinking it is a great way to stay hydrated. In the summer cut one up and let the kids enjoy a sweet treat that will keep them hydrated.
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Cantaloupe Smoothie Recipe
This cantaloupe smoothie is combined with vitamin-rich orange juice. Packed full of nutrition and natural sweetness it takes only 5 minutes to make.
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12
Easy Summer Fruit Salad with Ginger Infused Honey
Celebrate the abundance of fresh summer fruit by making this easy Summer Fruit Salad with Ginger Infused Honey Dressing. Fruit salad is an easy summer salad side dish recipe that will serve family and guests at all of your summer barbecues and family get-togethers.
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Carrots
Fresh carrots are the staple of many recipes. This orange root vegetable can be used to flavor savory soup recipes or sweet dessert recipes.
13
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Warm and comforting chicken and rice soup is done in 30 minutes or less when you make Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup.
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14
Carrot Cake Jam
This Carrot Cake Jam recipe is Inspired by Better Homes and Garden Canning magazine. Makes 7 half pints of jam. Spread it over cream cheese for a treat.
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15
Carrot Cake Cheesecake Trifle Recipe
Carrot Cake Cheesecake Trifle is an Easter dessert recipe that is very easy to make. This layered dessert is made with carrot cake, cheesecake filling, Cool Whip, golden raisins, and chopped pecans. If you love carrot cake this will quickly become your favorite Easter dessert recipe.
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Cauliflower
Cauliflower has become one of the most popular vegetables in recent years.
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Gouda Cauliflower Casserole Recipe
Gouda Cauliflower Casserole is packed full of cheesy flavor but is easy to make. This cheesy cauliflower casserole recipe is low carb but so delicious the entire family will love it. Taste like mac and cheese and is made with two types of cheese. Gouda and Vermont Sharp Cheddar is the star of this cauliflower recipe that will make you think you are eating a gourmet mac and cheese recipe.
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17
Instant Pot Cauliflower Broccoli Soup
Instant Pot Cauliflower Broccoli Soup recipe is delicious and easy to make. Takes less than 30 minutes to pressure cook. This rich and creamy cauliflower and broccoli soup recipe is packed full of fresh cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots. Makes a great freezer meal when you freeze individual soup servings in freezer containers.
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Cauliflower: Cheesy Buffalo Ranch Casserole
Celery
Celery is a rather boring vegetable but adds so much flavor to recipes. Soups, stews and recipes with dried beans taste much better when you add some.
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Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is a hearty chicken soup recipe the family will love. Packed full of flavor Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is going to become a family favorite during the cold winter months. Done in less than 30 minutes.
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19
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe made with dried beans and Andouille sausage for that spicy flavor of Louisiana. This no soak red bean recipe is done in about 45 minutes when you make it in the Instant Pot.
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Cucumbers
Add them to your salads or blend them into a refreshing smoothie. Cucumbers are packed full of vitamins.
20
Cucumber Dill Dip
Cucumber Dill Dip is an easy dip to make and goes great with vegetables, or chips. Use crisp ripe cucumbers and fresh dill from the garden. Summer dip recipes are easy to make. This dip only takes 10 minutes to make.
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21
How to Make Kosher Dill Pickles
Learn How To Make Kosher Dill Pickles with the Ball Blue Book of Preserving. Hot water bath canned homemade dill pickles are a great way to use up your garden surplus of pickling cucumbers.
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22
Cucumber Ranch Turkey Wraps
Cucumber Ranch Turkey Wraps are easy lunch ideas. Wraps are also great for party appetizers, cutting them into pinwheels and serving them on a buffet style table.
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23
Kiwi Cucumber Smoothie Recipe
Kiwi Cucumber Smoothie recipe is a green smoothie you will love! It is packed full of healthy fruit and veggies that will help you start the morning off with a good dose of vitamins and minerals.
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Eggplant
We know eggplant as a vegetable but it is really a fruit. You can grill them, bake them or sauté them.
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Cheese Baked Eggplant Slices
This simple, easy and effortless recipe gets done in less than 30 minutes. These cheesy eggplant slices also make a great addition to sandwiches or salads.
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25
Grilled Vegetable Sandwich
Grilled eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, and red onions are piled high on a roll for the perfect summer recipe. Make a grilled vegetable sandwich with a combination of your favorite summer vegetables.
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26
Roasted Eggplant Dip - Baba Ganoush (Video Recipe)
This Middle Eastern classic Baba Ganoush is a smokey, creamy roasted eggplant dip. Once the eggplant is fire roasted it takes less than five minutes to mix.
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Grapefruit
Most of us have cut open a grapefruit and sprinkled sugar on it for breakfast. You can enjoy this citrus fruit in salads and desserts. You can enjoy it is cocktails and beverages.
27
Pink Rose Mimosa Recipe
Enjoy a Pink Rose Mimosa for breakfast or brunch. Made with Pink Moscato Champagne, rose flavored syrup, and orange juice or pink or white grapefruit juice, This is a special Mimosa for a special occasion.
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28
Grapefruit Bars (just like lemon bars) | Dessert Now Dinner Later
Grapefruit Bars are just like your favorite lemon bars with a shortbread crust and citrus curd, but with the sweeter flavor of pink or ruby red grapefruit.
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Photo Credit .garlicandzest.com
Pink Grapefruit Bars
Love citrus bars? you’ll love THIS grapefruit dessert. It’s pink grapefruit curd on a soft shortbread crust. Food coloring makes this pink bar blush.
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Photo Credit sallysbakingaddiction.com
Grapefruit Greek Yogurt Cake
Refreshing grapefruit greek yogurt cake is simple to prepare and drizzled with a grapefruit glaze. It’s light, moist, and sunshine sweet!
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Guava
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Photo Credit garlicandzest.com
Fresh Guava Jam
Tart, tangy, sweet and lush - this Fresh Guava Jam will ruin you for any store-bought variety.
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Lettuce
Lettuce: How To Make Chef's Salad
Mushrooms
32
How To Dehydrate Mushrooms
How to dehydrate fresh mushrooms for long term storage is an easy way to preserve mushroom so you can enjoy fresh mushroom recipes anytime you want. Dehydrated mushrooms will last a year or longer when stored in an airtight container.
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33
Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Mushroom Soup recipe is packed full of flavors from the chicken, wild rice, fresh baby Portabella mushrooms and fresh herbs. This easy Instant Pot soup recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner.
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Oranges
Oranges: How To Make Orange Curd
Papaya
34
Photo Credit acozykitchen.com
Papaya Bars (Easy Dessert Recipe) - A Cozy Kitchen
These Papaya Bars are a silky smooth custard using fresh papaya fruit on a bed of short bread crust. Perfect for picnics or summer-y get togethers.
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35
How To Freeze Fresh Papaya
How to Freeze Fresh Papaya in portions to use in smoothies or other papaya recipes.
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Potatoes
36
Dehydrated Hash Brown Potatoes
Making dehydrated hash brown potatoes is an easy way to preserve fresh potatoes for long term storage. Properly stored dehydrated potatoes can last many years. This is a perfect way to stock your pantry with fresh potatoes.
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37
Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan Stew
Big chunks of vegetables and tender chicken are flavored with Parmesan cheese in this easy crock pot Chicken Parmesan Stew recipe.
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Radishes
38
Sweet Pickled Radish Recipe
This Sweet Pickled Radish Recipe is a sweet and spicy refrigerator pickled radish recipe that is perfect served alongside many of your favorite dishes. You can top a salad or sandwich with these pickled radishes or eat them from the jar.
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Snap beans or Green beans
39
Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes Recipe
Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes Recipe is made with fresh green beans, new potatoes, and ham. This southern style green beans recipe is melt in your mouth and flavored with smoky ham or bacon.
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40
Citrus Cranberry Snap Beans Recipe
Citrus Cranberry Snap Beans Recipe is a sweet green bean recipe with a hint of citrus and cranberry flavors of fresh snap beans, cranberries, and sliced almonds. Its sweet, and crunchy.
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Spinach
41
Scrambled Egg Breakfast Muffins Recipe
Scrambled Egg Breakfast Muffins Recipe is delicious, easy to make and freezer friendly. Stock the freezer with ready to serve breakfast muffins. Save time feeding the kids in the mornings. Low carb breakfast option.
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42
Pork Apple Wilted Spinach Quinoa Bowls
This one-skillet Pork Apple Wilted Spinach Quinoa Bowls recipe is done in less than 30 minutes, is so easy to make for dinner with Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork loin. This fresh pork recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight meal when you don't have much time in the kitchen.
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43
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing is the perfect salad dressing to drizzle over a fresh spinach, strawberry and avocado salad. Plus if you are following a low carb diet Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing only has 2.2 carbs per serving!
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Squash
Squash comes in many shape and sizes. The most common are yellow and zucchini.
44
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Have you ever taken a bite of a recipe and thought OMG why did I wait so long to make this? That's what I thought after eating the first cheesy forkful of this butternut squash mac and cheese. It has a rich flavor like no other macaroni and cheese I have ever tasted.
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45
Sauteed Summer Vegetables
Only 20 minutes to make Simple Sautéed Summer Vegetables with olive oil for an easy summer side dish recipe. This is an easy and delicious way to enjoy the delicious flavors of fresh summer vegetables. This fresh vegetable cooking method can be used with any fresh vegetable. Fresh Zucchini and eggplant are two other vegetables that work well with this recipe.
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Strawberries
Fresh strawberries are the perfect summer fruit. You can make sweet or savory recipes using them.
46
Strawberry Balsamic Ice Cream
The sweet and tart flavors of fresh strawberries with balsamic vinegar mixed into homemade creamy vanilla ice cream in this Strawberry Balsamic Ice Cream recipe is a flavor combination you don't want to miss!
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47
How To Dehydrate Strawberries
How to dehydrate sliced strawberries so you can enjoy them as a dried fruit snack or use the dried strawberries to flavor your favorite recipes like cupcakes, frosting, oatmeal, and smoothies.
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48
Carambola and Strawberry Jam
Tropical Carambola fruit is widely known as starfruit and makes a great Carambola and Strawberry Jam. If you live in the south or have a carambola tree dropping fruit all over the place make jam with the ripened carambolas. Homemade carambola jam is a delicious tropical jam with an unique flavor.
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49
Strawberry Lemonade Ice Pops
Homemade Strawberry Lemonade Ice Pops are easy to make and the kids will love the pieces of sliced fresh strawberries and lemon slices as they enjoy a frozen ice pop treat made with fresh fruit.
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50
Frozen Fruit Punch Cups
Frozen Fruit Punch Cups are a fun frozen treat full of fruit and a lemon-lime flavored punch. These individual frozen treats are perfect for a party or backyard barbecue. 4th of July or Memorial Day these will be a refreshing treat for the kids.
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Sweet Corn
Sweet corn is the queen of summer. Grill it, boil it or add it to a recipe.
51
Instant Pot Corn On The Cob
Instant Pot Corn On The Cob recipe makes cooking corn on the cob so easy. Sweet and tender corn on the cob cooks to perfection in the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker.
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52
Grilled Corn Casserole Recipe
Grilled Corn Casserole is a perfect summer barbecue side dish made with sweet corn. When the sweet corn is in season make this easy corn casserole recipe. This creamy cheesy corn casserole is perfect served with chicken, beef or fish.
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53
Crock Pot Pork Black Bean Corn Soup
Crock Pot Pork Black Bean Corn Soup is a great way to use up leftovers like leftover corn on the cob and cooked white rice. This easy summer crock pot soup recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients.
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Tomatoes
Fresh ruby red tomatoes are a gardeners dream. If you can't grow them yourself have no fear. You'll find them in the produce section.
54
Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
5 easy steps to make a delicious homemade Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce recipe using fresh cherry tomatoes from the store or garden. Serve a real meal made with good ingredients in less than 30 minutes that your family will love. A perfect recipe for meatless meals.
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55
Asparagus Tomato Pasta Salad
Pasta salads are the ideal summer side dish recipe to serve at a barbecue or picnic. The perfect pasta salad takes advantage of in-season ingredients like fresh asparagus and vine-ripened summer tomatoes.
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56
Quick Pickled Green Tomatoes and Peppers
Quick Pickled Green Tomatoes and Peppers is an easy way to make pickled tomatoes and peppers. Quick pickled vegetables can be made in minutes and last for months in the refrigerator. Top your favorite sandwiches, street tacos and wraps with these crunchy spicy pickled vegetables.
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Watermelon
57
Watermelon Thyme Lemonade Recipe
Homemade Watermelon Thyme Lemonade recipe using freshly squeezed lemons, fresh watermelon juice, and thyme simple syrup is a unique fruit-infused lemonade recipe that will refresh your guests. This herbal lemonade recipe is perfect during the summer.
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58
Dehydrated Watermelon
Dehydrated Watermelon makes a sweet treat. Whether you're calling it watermelon candy or dried watermelon jerky dehydrated watermelon is a summertime treat everyone will love. Great for camping or hiking dried fruit snacks.
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59
Watermelon Salsa
Take advantage of the sweet ripe watermelons and make this Watermelon Salsa recipe that is perfect served at your next bbq. Fruit salsas are a refreshing snack on a hot summer day.
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60
Watermelon Lemonade Recipe
Watermelon Lemonade recipe is the perfect summer drink for your 4th of July or Memorial Day weekend celebration or any back yard BBQ's you might be throwing before the cool Fall weather comes your way.
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