Boozy Minted Melon Balls Food

GUMBALL MACHINE MELON COCKTAIL KEG

Steps:

• Using a melon baller, scoop as many balls as you can from the honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon. Save the scraps for another use. Put the melon balls on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. Transfer to a resealable container and keep frozen until ready to use, up to 2 weeks.
• Meanwhile, drill a hole in a 3-gallon plastic container, about 2 inches from the bottom, with a power drill fitted with a 5/8-inch drill bit. Snip any ragged pieces of plastic with scissors and securely attach a keg tap. Wash well to remove any plastic bits.
• Invert a 16-by-10-by-7-inch red plastic bucket (144 ounces). Attach the bottom of the keg to the bottom of the bucket with hot glue. Wrap a 4-foot red cord around where the keg and bucket meet to cover the seam; glue it in place. Cover the lid with red contact paper. Apply a chalkboard sticker to the bucket directly below the tap. Use a chalk pen to write 25 cents on the sticker.
• When ready to serve, put the melon balls in the keg. Pour in the vodka and orange liqueur. Top with seltzer and stir, then top with the lid.

BOOZY MELON THREE WAYS

Steps:

• Tequila-Soaked Watermelon: Place sugar, tequila, orange liqueur, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool slightly. Arrange watermelon in a single layer in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour syrup over fruit. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 1 day. Serve with mint and a drizzle of syrup; sprinkle with flaky salt and squeeze with lime juice.
• Gin-Soaked Honeydew: Place sugar, gin, orange liqueur, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool slightly. Arrange honeydew in a single layer in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour syrup over fruit. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 1 day. Serve with tarragon and a drizzle of syrup; sprinkle with flaky salt and squeeze with lime juice.
• Vodka-Soaked Cantaloupe: Place sugar, vodka, orange liqueur, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool slightly. Arrange cantaloupe in a single layer in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour syrup over fruit. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 1 day. Serve with basil and a drizzle of syrup; sprinkle with flaky salt and squeeze with lime juice.

BOOZY MELON BITES

Steps:

• Using a melon baller, make watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe balls.
• In a large bowl, combine fruit and vodka, making sure the fruit is completely submerged. Place in refrigerator to soak for 1 hour.
• Remove from refrigerator and drain, reserving alcohol if desired. Skewer fruit and mint leaves, alternating types of melon with a mint leaf in between each. Serve.

MELON BALLS WITH HONEYLIME YOGURT

Steps:

• Use a melon baller to scoop out balls of flesh from the cantaloupe; place balls in a large bowl. Repeat with the honeydews and add the balls to the bowl. Use the handle of a teaspoon to scrape out the visible watermelon seeds in rows, then scoop out flesh with the melon baller. Add to other melon balls and toss well with orange juice to combine. Chill.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey and lime juice until honey is liquefied. Whisk in yogurt; taste and add more honey or lime according to your taste.
• Divide melon balls between 4 serving dishes and drizzle 1/2 cup yogurt over each. Enjoy.