Spiked Watermelon Food

SPIKED WATERMELON POPS

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the watermelon, sugar, and vodka. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Add the mint and pulse once to combine. Pour the mixture into the pop molds. Insert the wooden sticks all the way down the inside the molds. Freeze for at least 10 hours or preferably overnight.
• To unfreeze the ice pops, insert the molds in hot water for 5 to 10 seconds. Serve immediately.

WATERMELON CRAWL- AKA SPIKED WATERMELON

Steps:

• Sneaky and Underhanded: Use any size syringe - or several- and inject the alcohol into the melon. Smaller needles will leave the least detectable marks! lol Refrigerate or pack in ice to get it really cold. (Very hard to do with champagne).
• Open and Honest: Remove rind from melon. Cut edible flesh into pieces, place in a huge bowl and douse with the alcohol. Refrigerate or pack in ice to get it really cold.
• Whole Melon: Cut a hole in the melon big enough to insert a funnel. SAVE the piece you removed to reinsert after all the alcohol has been absorbed. Pour alcohol into the melon through the funnel. We usually put the melon in a cooler and surround it with ice, place the funnel and fill it with alcohol- return several times to refill funnel.
• Note: We usually spike in the morning and let it sit until we are ready later that day. If leaving the rind on, don't let it sit too long as the outer rind of the melon will absorb much of the alcohol and the inner fruit will be a little weaker.
• PS I LOVE lots of the 'flavored' or infused alcohols they have available now BUT SAVE THEM for a drink. When I used them in this they were really gross with the melon. The exception being Coconut Rum. Steer clear of all those other flavors like banana, mango, etc -- .

WINE SPIKED WATERMELON

Steps:

• Cut a hole in a ripe watermelon and insert a funnel.
• Pour in as much wine as possible, and let it sit in the fridge, adding more wine every three to four hours as it's slowly absorbed. (A 10-pound melon can soak up one standard bottle overnight.)
• Slice the watermelon for a refreshing chilled party nosh, or freeze the flesh as a terrific base for blender drinks.

TEQUILA SPIKED WATERMELON SOUP

Steps:

• Make tequila syrup: Combine all syrup ingredients. Place on medium heat until sugar dissolves. Chill until cold.
• Make triple sec whipped cream garnish: Combine whipped cream ingredients and beat to stiff peaks. Pipe rosettes on waxed paper-lined pan. Freeze.
• Make soup: In a food processor place 3 cups of watermelon. Pour out excess juice and reserve. Puree watermelon until smooth. In a bowl combine the melon puree, the reserved juice, 1 1/2 cups tequila syrup, 1/4 cup tequila, juice of two limes and chill. In another small bowl combine 4 tablespoons diced melons for garnish, 1 tablespoon triple sec, and lime zest and chill. To serve, place whipped cream garnish in the bottom of a Kosher salt-rimmed bowl or glass. Pour 6 ounces of soup into the bowl or glass. Garnish with 1 tablespoon of the diced melons and sprinkle with salt.

SPIKED WATERMELON

Steps:

• Cut a hole in the top of the watermelon, wide and deep enough to insert a funnel.
• Pour as much vodka through the funnel as can be absorbed (1/2 cup to 1 cup), remove the funnel and replace the watermelon plug, Let sit for 4 hours and again, pour is as much vodka as can be absorbed, Repeat the process until all the vodka has been absorbed, (eventually all the vodka WILL be absorbed).
• Refrigerate and serve well chilled.
• When it's time slice it up and enjoy.
• NOTES: You can also use a food injector, this works well or you can cut a hole big enough to hold the neck of a fifth of vodka, allow it to sit 6-12 hours, 24 being better, serve with the bottle sticking out of the watermelon, You can experiment with liquors, I have heard rum works well too.

SPIKED WATERMELON DAIQUIRI WITH CITRUS-GINGER INFUSION

Steps:

• Place the pineapple in a plastic container in the freezer until completely frozen, at least 3 hours. In a blender, combine 1 1/2 cups spiked watermelon, 6 tablespoons frozen pineapple, and 1/2 cup Citrus-Ginger Infusion. (Amount of infusion may be increased or decreased according to individual taste.) Blend on high speed until well combined. Add enough ice to fill the blender, 3 cups, and additional vodka, as desired, and blend until smooth. Pour into tall chilled glasses or a pitcher. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, to make about 10 blenderfuls. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve with a long straw.
• Cut a hole in the top of the watermelon, wide and deep enough to insert a funnel. Pour in as much vodka through the funnel as can be absorbed (1/2 to 1 cup). Remove the funnel and replace the watermelon plug. Let sit for 4 hours.
• Again, pour in as much vodka as can be absorbed. Repeat the process until all the vodka has been absorbed. (The watermelon flesh gradually will absorb all the vodka.) Refrigerate until well chilled. When ready to make the daiquiris, cut the watermelon in half and scoop out the flesh.
• Combine the water, sugar, lemon grass, ginger, and lemon juice and zest in large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean container and reserve for the daiquiris. (Infusion will keep for 2 weeks, refrigerated and also may be used to flavor dressings or drizzle over fresh fruit.)

LEMON-MINT VODKA SPIKED WATERMELON

Steps:

• Dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice. Pour out 1/4 cup vodka and add the lemon mixture and the mint sprigs to the bottle. Cap, shake, and let sit from 1 hour to overnight for the flavors to develop.
• Cut a plug from the watermelon about 3-inches deep and as big around as the top of the bottle. Upend the bottle into the hole and let it sit for a couple of hours or until most of the vodka lemonade has been absorbed into the watermelon. Re-plug the watermelon and refrigerate it for a few hours. Slice and serve.

WATERMELON COCKTAIL WITH TEQUILA-SPIKED ICE CUBES

Steps:

• Make simple syrup: Bring granulated sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. When boiling, add thyme and stir for 1 minute. Let cool.
• In a blender, put 3 cups watermelon, 1 cup of water and the ice, and blend for 2 minutes until finely pureed. Add syrup and blend for 1 more minute. Serve.
• MAKE TEQUILA-SPIKED WATERMELON ICE CUBES AT LEAST 2 HOURS AHEAD (See below):.
• To add tequila-spiked watermelon ice cubes: Place 3 cups watermelon cubes on a large baking sheet. Bring tequila, 1/2 cup water, orange liqueur and regular sugar to a boil, stirring constantly. Let cool to room temperature. Brush watermelon with mixture and freeze for 2 hours.

SPIKED WATERMELON SALAD

Steps:

• Place watermelon in large bowl. Whisk fresh lemon juice and sugar in medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Whisk in vodka and crème de cassis. Season mixture to taste with salt. Pour mixture over watermelon. Cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint and serve.