365 Designs: Farmhouse Style Summer Beverage Bar with DIY Watermelon Keg and Easy Agua Fresca Recipe

Thanks to Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company for sponsoring today's post, all opinions are 100% mine alone.

I want to kick off the last few weeks of summer by giving you guys a fast and easy tutorial. We'll be making a fun and festive farmhouse style beverage bar. The best part, and definite conversation piece, is the watermelon keg. It's an absolute stand out! What's even better is the quick and delicious agua fresca we're going to fill it with. It's the perfect way to celebrate the last month of summer before the kids go back to school and we head into fall.

I really love summer. I spend as much time as possible outside enjoying the beautiful weather. So for this tutorial, we're going to do something craaaazy! We're going to go shopping for all of our ingredients while sitting outside in the fresh air and sunshine! Yup, you heard me right. We're going to get everything we need for our beverage bar and watermelon keg shopping from the comfort of our own home. Follow along I'll show you exactly how.

Summer always seems to be one of the busiest times of the year for me. I always feel that while everyone else is relaxing by a pool - in the beautiful sunshine - iced tea in hand, I'm trying to get a million things accomplished by the end of the day. I know some of you can totally relate. With the kids going back to school soon, there's even more to get done. For this next tutorial, we're going to make life super simple. We are going to have all of our ingredients delivered! Trust me it is just as easy and simple as it sounds. I actually used the Peapod app on my phone which I LOVE!!! I think my favorite feature is the ability to scan a product you already have and instantly re-order it! You can also use Peapod on your PC, tablet or iPad. How easy is that?!

You can even pick the time and day you want everything delivered....as soon as the next day!

STEP ONE
Cut off top of watermelon. Use a spaghetti spoon to hollow it out removing 1/3 of the pulp. Cube or use a melon baller and place in a bowl for a delicious garnish.

STEP TWO
Use a handheld immersion blender to liquefy the pulp inside the watermelon. Pour into a large bowl to completely empty the watermelon.

STEP THREE
Use a corer to punch a hole in the watermelon. Attach tap reaching inside the watermelon to secure nut onto threading.

STEP FOUR
Strain. Pour the juice back into the watermelon

STEP FIVE
Add four cans Minute Maid Lemonade and four cups ice. Add the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon.

Watermelon Lemonade Agua Fresca

Recipe by: Dean Ludington
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
1 Lg Watermelon
1 Lemon, juiced
4 12oz cans Minute Maid Lemonade
4 C Ice

Instructions:

Empty 1/3 watermelon and save pulp for later.
Use an immersion blender to liquefy remaining pulp inside watermelon.
Empty watermelon juice into a bowl and strain pulp. Pour back into watermelon.
Add 4 12oz. cans Minute Maid Lemonade and the juice of 1 freshly squeezed lemon. Add 4 cups ice. Add lemon or mint garnish and enjoy!

I stocked my beverage bar with extra Minute Maid Lemonade and plenty of FUZE Lemon Tea. I also included fresh fruit including strawberries and orange slices. Don't forget to make sure you have plenty of ice!