Before Joy the Baker was Joy the Baker…. Joy the Baker was a low-level, middle school candy hustler.
I used to buy candy from the ice cream truck after school, repurpose it, work it and twerk it, and re-sell the candy to other kids… at a markup of course. I was in it for the glory and profit.
There was a method to the hustle: buy blow-pop lollipops, jolly rancher hard candy strips, and starburst candies. Get them home and into the kitchen without them being confiscated by big sister or hungry mama.
I’d unwrap the lollipops. Somehow… and this part is hazy… heat the jolly rancher bar and wrap it around the lollipop. Then heat the starburst candy and smash it on top of the blow-pop creating a MEGA three in one candy experience. Four in one candy experience if you count the bubble gum inside the lollipop. I think there was boiling water and tweezers involved. The memory is murky.
I’d wrap these candy knobs in plastic wrap and sell them at school. Is that allowed? Who knows.
Where did this candy creation come from!? These were the days before Pinterest. How did we have any good ideas at all?
Does anyone have any idea what I’m talking about? Surely I didn’t invent this Franken-candy on my own. Did you meld candy in your middle school years in order to hustle them and garner middle-school fame?
I mention my monster candy creation because one sip of this juice brought be right back to my candy layering days. In other words, this juice tastes just like candy, and it’s pink, and cold, and otherwise delicious.
Here’s how this goes. It’s super easy.
Slice into a big ol’ watermelon. Hull a big bunch of fresh strawberries. Quarter and peel a few limes.
Almost juice!
Now, the trick to making stellar, otherwise store-bought-expensive juice is with a juicing machine. I have this Hurom Elite Slow Juicer. It’s a total class act.
I told you about my first Hurom Juicer a few years ago in this post On Juicing. They make great juicers. Efficient, quiet, and they stay pretty compact in the kitchen!
Fruit is sliced and diced, pressed and smashed.
This is what remains. I wish I knew someone with a compost pile.
The goodness.
Sweet and tart summer juice.
It tastes like watermelon, strawberry, and lip puckering lime. It’s like candy except better, because we can add tequila and really just do it up right.
YES!
Print
Watermelon Strawberry Lime Juice
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 5 cups cubed seedless watermelon
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled
- 2 limes, quartered and peeled
- lots of ice
- and go!
Instructions
- A juicer is the best tool to create a smooth, easy, juice consistency. You can also use a powerful blender to combine all of the fruit ingredients and a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp. That’s more work, to be sure.
- To make this juice, slowly run the watermelon, strawberries, and lime through your juicer. Serve over ice and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
25 Responses
If we had met in school I’d buy all those candies, so I HAVE to try this juice!
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We did this at my middle school in LA! Except I generally remember they were just massive, microwave-formed Jolly Rancher meteors.
Looks refreshing and delicious! It was fun to read how creative you were as a child and today. Great innovative and entrepreneurial skills!
This trio has been a favorite this summer. We add rum and mint. It’s lovely!
Dear joy,
Thanks for sharing your recipes and experiences with us I really enjoy reading and following your blog and I’ve baked a lot of the recipes, I just have a comment about the RECIPE INDEX, when you click on it and choose a category for example CAKES, the names of the recipes are listed without any pictures! I live in a small town in IRAN, and since I don’t know what these pastry look like, I have to click on every link which is really frustrating with our slow internet! Other sites and blogs show a picture near the name of the recipe! I know it’s a lot to ask but unfortunately Internet service is not as good as what you have in America in a lot of countries! Thanks again
This look and sounds so refreshing! There is a watermelon lime juice at Trader Joe’s that quickly got discontinued so I will definitely be making this. Plus it has strawberries :)
Never knew you did this but I do know you DID need to hide from older sis and your mama! So industrious you were/are!!! Sending much love!
You left the gin out of the recipe….
This story is absolutely hilarious, I love it. And the juice? All the ingredients are now on my farmers market list for the weekend. I’ve been making some shaken lemon-lime-mint-maple-syrup creations and I will definitely be adding watermelon and strawberries to the mix. Another great recipe and photos, Joy!
Candy hustling as a kid? Love it! I used to sell (steeply marked up) lemonade and sweets since we lived right on the end of a popular hiking trail..but nothing quite as amazing as your creation.
Omg how can anyone resist strawberry and watermelon with lime especially during the summer?! This looks absolutely delicious!!!!
P.S. I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve looked at your blog for reals. It’s so gorgeous!!! Allow me to run through your archives in the next hour…
hey joy! i in-person met you at barre3 last week. your story reminded me of this amazing article from lucky peach; command+F “candy” if you wanna skip ahead: https://luckypeach.com/fixed-menu/
you mean to tell me I’m making PRISON CANDY!? amazing…
you’s a bad bitch!
I’ve blended a whole watermelon by throwing the chunks in a large pot and taking an immersion blender to it. Putting the remains through a fine mesh strainer takes out the pulp and leaves a beautiful watermelon juice–I added hibiscus tea, lime, and tequila :) This looks fantastic!
this looks perfect. i feel that the crushed ice is a necessity on this one, right?
What a great idea! This sounds so refreshing. And I love that it has a little zing from lime.
Candy hustler! Haha oh I love it. Thanks for the recipe!
Has Tracy seen these straws? This is important.
her birthday is coming up. Also important.
Your candy hustling probably wasn’t illegal in the good days, but now… probably screwed. HA
What a great story! And this juice looks SO good!
Mmmmmm….. Is there any way to do this without the juicer contraption?
This is what my dreams are made of. I want to drink this all day long!
Crushing on this big time!! I love this flavour!!