Cooks Note Watermelon Bowl Food

SHARK AND WAVES GIANT WATERMELON BOWL

Steps:

• Using a large chef's knife, cut both watermelons in half lengthwise through the stem. With a melon half flesh side up, cut vertical lines into the flesh (leaving rind intact) 1 inch apart and about 2 inches deep along the length of each half, leaving a 1-inch border of flesh on both ends. Repeat this process with the lines going in the opposite direction. Use a spoon to scoop out the watermelon pieces into a large bowl (it's okay if some of the spears break in half as you are doing this.) Repeat with the remaining melon halves. Use the spoon to remove as much of the flesh left in the watermelon halves as possible and save for another use.
• Cut 1 1/2 inches off both ends of 2 of the watermelon halves (these halves will become the middle parts of the bowl). Cut 1 1/2 inches off one end of the 2 remaining halves (these will become the bookends of your bowl). Use the flesh left in the watermelon ends to stamp out sharks with a 3-inch shark cookie cutter and set aside.
• Use a metal skewer to outline waves along the top edge of each watermelon half. Then carefully cut out the wave pattern using a sharp paring knife. Take one middle piece and one bookend piece and place the flat sides together to create half of the large bowl. Thread the metal skewer through the bottom of the watermelons to secure them together. Repeat this process with the remaining watermelon halves and another metal skewer to create the other half of the large bowl. Place both halves on a large platter with the two middle pieces pushed together (these parts do not need to be secured with a skewer as they will stay together on the platter).
• Fill the assembled watermelon bowl with the reserved watermelon chunks. Mix the berries and grapes together and scatter on top of the watermelon, covering it as much as possible, then add the melon sharks.

WATERMELON BOMBE

Steps:

• Spray a 9.5-inch bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside. Turn an 8-inch bowl upside down and spray the outside with nonstick cooking spray. Cover the outside of the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside.
• Prepare the vanilla mousse mix with the whole milk in another bowl according to package instructions. (The milk amount is reduced from package instructions.) Pour the mousse into the lined 9.5-inch bowl. Place the smaller bowl inside and press gently to spread the filling up the sides of the bowl until just below the rim. Put the bowls in the freezer until firmly set, at least 4 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the watermelon cubes out onto the baking sheet in an even layer. Put in the freezer until frozen, at least 3 hours.
• Combine the frozen watermelon cubes, sweetened condensed milk and red food coloring in a food processor. Pulse to break up the watermelon cubes, then let the processor run until the mixture is smooth with a texture like soft serve ice cream. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and mix in the mini chocolate chips.
• Remove the bowls from the freezer. Remove the smaller bowl, revealing a well in the frozen mousse layer. Transfer the watermelon mixture into the well and spread with an offset spatula so the watermelon is smooth and is level with the mousse layer. Place a 10-inch cardboard cake board on top of the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the freezer until set, at least 4 hours or overnight. This can be done up to 2 weeks in advance.
• When ready to decorate, prepare the Watermelon Mirror Glaze. Fit a cooling rack into a baking sheet. Put 3 ramekins on the cooling rack so that the cake can be elevated over the rack. Remove the bowl from the freezer. Discard the plastic wrap covering the cake. Invert the bowl and remove the cake. (If you have trouble removing the cake you can place the bowl in warm water to help loosen it.) Place the cake on the ramekins on the cooling rack. Pour the green mirror glaze over the frozen cake, then squeeze on lines of the yellow mirror glaze. Put in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before serving.
• Combine the corn syrup and 1/3 cup water in a small pot and bring to a boil. Put the melon gelatin into a bowl. Pour the boiling corn syrup and water mixture into the gelatin and gently whisk until the gelatin is dissolved.
• Combine the white chocolate and sweetened condensed milk in a double boiler and heat, stirring frequently, until the white chocolate is just melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the gelatin mixture into the white chocolate and condensed milk mixture and slowly stir until well combined and the mixture is smooth.
• Divide the glaze into 2 bowls, pouring 1/4 cup in one bowl and the remaining 3/4 cup in the second bowl. Add 1 drop of yellow gel food coloring to the bowl with 1/4 cup of the gaze and 15 drops of green gel food coloring to the bowl with the 3/4 cup of the glaze and mix until well blended. Transfer the yellow glaze to a squeeze bottle. Let sit until the temperature of the glaze is around 85 degrees F. Then it is ready to pour over the watermelon cake.

CHILLED WATERMELON SOUP

Steps:

• Put 5 cups of diced watermelon in a food processor or blender and blitz to a purée. Strain purée through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. You should have about 4 cups purée. Season with salt and pepper and cayenne, 1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Chill bowl on ice or refrigerate.
• To serve, place remaining diced watermelon, honeydew melon and cucumber in a small mixing bowl. Toss with a little salt and pepper, 2 tablespoons lime juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Divide mixture evenly into chilled soup bowls.
• Ladle watermelon purée into each bowl. Sprinkle with chives, basil and mint. Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper and flaky salt if desired. Pass lime wedges separately.

WATERMELON FRUIT BOWL

Steps:

• Slice the watermelon in half with a sharp knife, and scoop out the flesh.
• Chop up the watermelon flesh that was removed from the rind.
• Cut up your fruit and mix with the watermelon pieces.
• Put the watermelon and fruit mixture back inside the watermelon rind.
• To make the optional dressing, whisk together lemon juice and maple syrup, then combine with the fruit before transferring into the watermelon rind.

WATERMELON FRUIT BOWL

Steps:

• With a large, sharp knife, remove the top 1/4 section of the watermelon. With a melon baller, scoop flesh from inside of watermelon, removing as many seeds as possible. Leave 1/2 inch of flesh inside the shell of the watermelon. Scoop cantaloupe and honeydew in the same manner, removing as much flesh as possible, and discarding the rinds. Refrigerate fruits separately until ready to assemble.
• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat, and continue stirring until sugar has completely dissolved. Add lemon zest, and set aside to cool.
• To serve, place watermelon balls, cantaloupe, honeydew, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, and grapes, in a large mixing bowl. Pour syrup over, and toss thoroughly. Transfer mixture to watermelon bowl, and serve. Set aside any fruit mixture that will not fit. There will be enough fruit to refill the bowl.

WATERMELON COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Combine the flour, salt and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Remove 1 cup of dough; set aside. Add enough red food coloring to tint remaining dough deep red. Roll into a 3-1/2-in.-long log; wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. , Divide the 1 cup of reserved dough into two pieces. To one piece, add enough green food coloring to tint dough deep green. Leave remaining dough plain. Wrap each piece separately in plastic; chill until firm, about 1 hour. , On a floured sheet of waxed paper, roll white dough into a 8-1/2x3-1/2-in. rectangle. Place red dough along short end of rectangle. Roll up and encircle red dough with white dough; set aside. , On floured waxed paper, roll the green dough into a 10x3-1/2-in. rectangle. Place log of red/white dough along the short end of green dough. Roll up and encircle log with green dough. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight., Unwrap dough and cut into 1/8-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Lightly press miniature chocolate chips into each slice to resemble watermelon seeds; if desired, add sesame seeds. , Bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes or until cookies are firm but not brown. While still warm, cut each cookie in half or into pie-shaped wedges. Remove to wire racks to cool.

COOK'S NOTE: WATERMELON BOWL

Steps:

• Fresh Fruit Quantities 18 1/2 pounds of watermelon (16 cups cubed) 4 pounds of pineapple (5 cups cubed) 3 pounds of honeydew or cantaloupe (4 cups cubed) 1 pint of strawberries, blueberries or raspberries (2 cups) 1 pound of green or red grapes (2 to 3 cups)How to Carve a Melon BowlSelect and wash a uniformly shaped melon. Cut off the top 1/3 of the melon. Cut a thin slice from the bottom so the melon sits flat (do not cut into the red pulp). Scoop out the melon pulp, leaving a 1/2 to 1-inch shell.Trace around a 1 to 2-inch star-shaped cookie cutter or adhesive-backed, vinyl-coated paper pattern placed at the edge of the melon. Space the stars as desired. With a sharp, small pointed knife, cut 3/4 of the way around each star, cutting out three star points.The bowl can be carved, wrapped in plastic and refrigerated up to two days before the party.Fill watermelon bowl with fruit just before serving. Garnish with mint leaves, if desired.