Watermelon and Nectarine Salad

(photos updated July 2009)

This is, hands down, the absolute best fruit salad I have ever tasted. I am not the only one who thinks so. My family loves it, my brother won a recipe contest with it, and I will make it over and over again, now that watermelon is here. The lime syrup adds a little zing to the fruit and wow, is it good. Just make sure to follow the directions and chill the syrup, don't stir in the zest or add the nectarines, until right before serving and refrigerate the watermelon so it is nice and cold.

WATERMELON AND NECTARINE SALAD
1/3 cup sugar
2 T fresh lime juice
2 tsps freshly grated lime peel
6 cups seedless or seeded watermelon chunks
3 ripe nectarines

1. Put sugar and 3 T water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 2 to 3 minutes, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; stir in lime juice. Refrigerate until cold. Refrigerate watermelon in serving bowl.

2. SHORTLY BEFORE SERVING: Cut nectarines in wedges; add to watermelon. Stir lime peel into syrup, drizzle over fruit and toss to mix and coat.