Wow, this is my 40th Cooking Class! If you have been following the series from the beginning, you’ve taken quite a culinary journey with me. You have learned technique, building flavors and even more techniques. But, if you look through the classes you will see they all have one thing in common and that is to apply your creativity to every dish you cook.

This is not just something I say to you, I also challenge my Sous Chefs to do the same thing. I have them go into the walk-in and bring out an ingredient and then I task them to come up with as many dishes as possible that they could make with it. Well, I decided it was time to put myself to the same challenge, so in honor of my 40th Cooking Class, I’m going to give you 40 things to do with watermelon. Of course you can make some of these dishes, but I also would love it if you added your own ideas to the list. Note, I’m using the seedless variety of watermelon for all of these dishes. Let’s get cooking!

1. Glazed Watermelon Tiles with Jalapeno Syrup - Cut thinly sliced watermelon into squares, lay on a plate and brush with jalapeno syrup. Top with diced avocado, cheese or Prosciutto. For the jalapeno syrup: 10 jalapenos (seeded & diced), ½ cup red wine vinegar & ¼ cup sugar. Put all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat & cook uncovered until it reduces to a syrup. Strain & cool in fridge. Salt & pepper to taste after it has cooled.

2. Watermelon Salad - cubes of watermelon mixed with arugula, crumbled goat cheese and chopped cilantro. Dress with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

3. Watermelon Granita - make a simple syrup by heating 1 cup of water with3/4 cup of sugar in a saucepan until sugar is dissolved. In a blender put 2 cups cubed watermelon, the simple syrup and juice of 1 lemon. Put in non-stick pan and freeze. Stirring with a fork every 20 minutes. Once ice crystals are formed, serve.

4. Watermelon Sorbet-puree 1 pound watermelon cut into cubes and then strain into a bowl. Use same simple syrup recipe as above. Combine syrup with watermelon and add the juice of 1 lemon. Put into a plastic container with a lid and freeze for 3 hours.

5. Watermelon Popsicles - follow same recipe as for granite, but pour mixture into popsicle molds and freeze until solid.

6. Watermelon Diablo Sauce - puree and strain 2 cups cubed watermelon. Put into a saucepan over low heat and reduce to a syrup. Stir in 2 tsp. Sriracha, the juice of 1 lemon, salt & pepper to taste.

7. Grilled Watermelon Steak - brush thick slices of watermelon with canola oil. Salt and pepper for savory. Sprinkle with brown sugar for sweet. Grill about 2 minutes on each side.

8. Watermelon stuffed with Goat Cheese - cut watermelon into cubes and use the wide end of a pastry bag tip to create a whole in the center of the cube. Combine softened goat cheese with lemon zest and pipe into the watermelon cubes.

9. Watermelon Tempura - cut watermelon into 2 inch by 2 inch rectangles and put in freezer for 30 minutes. Tempura batter: ¾ cup flour, ¼ cup corn starch, 1 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 cup club soda. Whisk together. For savory, add salt and pepper. For a sweeter batter add 2 tbsp. sugar. Dip frozen watermelon into batter and fry in canola oil at 350 degrees until golden brown.

10. Watermelon Pico de Gallo - dice the following: watermelon, red onion and jalapeno. Put in a bowl and add chopped cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, salt and pepper.

11. Watermelon Avocado Salad - diced watermelon, diced avocado, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

12. Prosciutto Wrapped Watermelon - wrap slices of watermelon with Prosciutto.

13. Cantaloupe Wrapped Watermelon - create ribbons of cantaloupe using a vegetable peeler. Wrap the cantaloupe ribbons around slices of watermelon.

14. Watermelon with Strawberry White Balsamic Glaze - puree 1 pound of strawberries, strain and put into a saucepan. Add: 2 tbsp. white balsamic, ¼ tbsp. sugar and juice of ½ a lemon. Cook over low heat until it reduces to a syrup. Cool and brush on watermelon.

15. Watermelon Wrapped with Grilled Ramps - brush ramps with olive oil then salt and pepper. Grill 3 minutes & wrap around watermelon slices.

16. Watermelon Ravioli with Ahi - cut very thin rounds of watermelon, set aside. Finely dice Ahi, add in sesame oil, lemon juice, olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper. Put one watermelon round on a plate, spoon in a tablespoon of Ahi mixture and top with another watermelon round.

17. Watermelon Topped Oysters - small dice watermelon, add salt, pepper and diced chives. Put atop favorite oyster.

18. Watermelon Shooters - puree watermelon and strain into a bowl. Add Sriracha, white rum and agave syrup. Serve chilled in chilled shot glasses.

19. Watermelon Gazpacho - in a blender put: 2 cups cubed watermelon, ½ jalapeno, 1 diced tomato, 1 diced cucumber (peeled & seeded), ¼ cup cilantro, ¼ cup basil & juice of 1 lemon. Pulse until chunky, salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving.

20. Watermelon Martini - puree watermelon and strain, then chill. In a shaker with ice add watermelon juice, lemon vodka and agave syrup. Shake. Strain into chilled glass.

21. Watermelon Margarita - same as above, but add lime juice and tequila instead of vodka and lemon.

22. Watermelon Ice Cubes - puree watermelon and strain. Pour liquid into ice cube trays and freeze.

23. Watermelon and Sage Glaze - puree 2 cups of watermelon and strain into a saucepan. Add: juice of 1 lemon, ¼ cup sugar, 4 sage leaves, salt and pepper. Over low heat, reduce to a syrup. Remove sage leaves and whisk in 1 tbsp. of unsalted butter. This is fabulous on pork.

24. Watermelon with Smoked Sea Salt - sprinkle slices of watermelon with smoked sea salt.

25. Watermelon Napoleon with Smoked Salmon - cut watermelon into thin, large squares. Put a square on a plate, spread with Mascarpone cheese and a slice of smoked salmon. Repeat this with several layers.

26. Watermelon Smoothies - in a blender combine watermelon, strawberries, lemon juice, coriander, sugar, orange zest and heavy cream. Blend until smooth.

27. Watermelon Skewers - skewer cubed watermelon, grilled shrimp, cherry tomatoes and cubes of Muenster cheese.

28. Watermelon Balls Stuffed with Boursin - using a large melon baller, make balls with the watermelon. Take a small pastry tip and create a whole in the balls, then pipe in room temperature Boursin cheese.

29. Watermelon Barbecue Sauce - puree and strain 3 cups of watermelon. In a sauce pan put the watermelon juice and add: 1 cup apple cider vinegar, ½ cup ketchup, ¼ cup brown sugar, juice of 1 lemon, ½ tsp. smoked salt, 1 tsp. Sriracha and pepper. Cook over low heat until thick.

30. Watermelon and Shrimp Verrine - in a chilled rocks glass put diced watermelon. Then put in chopped cooked shrimp. Next mix diced avocado with lemon juice, cilantro, salt and pepper. Now, layer that on top of the shrimp. Repeat layering until glass is filled. Chill then serve.

31. Pickled Watermelon Rinds -remove peel from watermelon rinds and cut into one inch pieces. In a bowl combine: ½ cup apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup sugar, ¼ tbsp.. salt, ½ tsp. mustard seed, ½ tsp. black peppercorns and juice of 1 lime. Mix well, add in rinds and let sit in fridge overnight.

32. Watermelon Carpaccio - Thinly slice watermelon and lay out on a plate. Drizzle with reduced balsamic vinegar and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve with goat cheese, capers and gherkin pickles.

33. Watermelon Buerre Blanc - puree and strain 1 cup of watermelon. Put juice into a saucepan with ½ tsp. white balsamic. Reduce to a syrup, then whisk in ½ pound cold unsalted butter a pat at time, taking pan on and off the flame. Salt and pepper to taste.

34. Watermelon Relish - finely dice: watermelon, new pickles, red onions and tomatoes. Combine. Add chopped basil, salt and pepper.

35. Watermelon Sangria - puree and strain watermelon. Add equal parts white wine and watermelon into a large bowl. Add in a touch of sugar, orange slices and lime slices. Chill. Serve over ice.

36. Watermelon Cake - 3 large watermelon rounds, skin removed, 2 inches thick. Put first round on a plate and top with whipped cream and assorted berries. Place second round on top of berries and repeat. Put final round on top and chill one hour before serving.

37. Watermelon Grape Salad - watermelon balls, red grapes and diced roasted red peppers. Toss with lemon, olive oil, salt, pepper and Parmesan.

38. Watermelon Cigars - Thinly sliced watermelon brushed with raspberry jam and sprinkled with Feta cheese. Roll and serve.

39. Watermelon Butter - softened unsalted butter and add watermelon juice in a 2 to 1 ratio. Salt and pepper to taste. Add in chopped tarragon. Combine. Form into a roll on parchment paper and chill in fridge.

40. ?

I’m leaving 40 up to you! Have fun and remember, as with any technique or recipe, the most important component is the cook’s heart. The heart is what helps you create delicious meals you'll never forget.