Watermelon Jalapeño Cooler Food

WATERMELON, MINT AND JALAPENO SALSA

Steps:

• Combine the olive oil and lime juice in a bowl. Add the watermelon, mint and jalapenos and toss with the lime juice and olive oil mixture. Season with salt and eat with your favorite chips.

WATERMELON WINE COOLERS

Steps:

• Stir together 16 ounces chilled dry rosé, 8 ounces each blood orange soda and watermelon juice and 1 ounce lime juice in a pitcher with ice.

WATERMELON COOLER

Steps:

• Spread out the watermelon chunks on a cookie sheet and freeze it. Place the watermelon, sherbet and lemon juice in a blender and blend until smooth.

WATERMELON JALAPENO LEMONADE

Steps:

• In batches, combine 12 cups water, the lemon juice, sugar, jalapeno, watermelon and mint, if using, in a blender. Blend to a puree.
• Allow the puree to steep for 10 minutes before straining it through a fine mesh sieve. Chill well.
• Serve chilled, with ice and a lemon slice floating at the top.

WATERMELON-JALAPEñO COOLER

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 cup each sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Add 1/2 stemmed jalapeño (remove seeds for less heat) and 2 sprigs thyme and let infuse, 5 minutes. Discard the jalapeño and set aside the thyme. Puree the simple syrup with 5 cups chopped seedless watermelon in a blender. Serve over ice and garnish with pieces of the reserved thyme.

WATERMELON MARGARITA

Steps:

• Prepare the salted rim, if using: In a small shallow bowl or plate, combine the sea salt and Tajín. Set aside.
• In a shaker filled with ice, combine the watermelon juice, tequila, Cointreau (if using), lime juice and jalapeño (if using). Shake to combine. (Note: The watermelon flavor shines brighter without the Cointreau, but the liqueur takes the drink into more traditional margarita territory. If you'd like to compare, first try the mixture without, the liqueur, then add 1 ounce of it per serving.)
• Using one of the squeezed lime halves, run it along the rim of two rocks glasses, then dip the rims into the salt mixture. Fill the glasses with ice, then strain the margaritas into the glasses and enjoy immediately.