One of the joys of cooking and having an assortment of fresh ingredient on hand is stumbling on fantastic flavor combinations. I found one this week when I had a bowl of watermelon pieces and took a piece of smoked gouda cheese out of the fridge. The combination of the fresh, sweet and juicy watermelon with the creamy, smoky richness of the gouda was remarkable.

Here are a few ideas about how to use this flavorful pairing:

Spear a piece of watermelon and the cheese on a toothpick for an hors d’oeuvre.

Make a lunch salad of greens (arugula would be especially good) and watermelon pieces, with grated smoked gouda sprinkled on the top.

A first course salad of equal sized pieces of cooked beets, cucumbers, watermelon and smoked gouda. Sprinkle with chopped mint, dill or freshly ground pepper.

What dish can you imagine these ingredients working with?

The sweet, fresh, juicy crunch of the watermelon contrasts perfectly with the smoky, creamy gouda cheese.