Watermelon Sours in a Watermelon Keg

This post is a twofer. It is a mix of Friday’s 5 o’clock somewhere cocktail recipe, and a fun How-To tutorial on making your own watermelon keg. Sounds fun to me and brings a whole new meaning to throwing a watermelon bash! This is definitely on my two do list once I get back to the states. First lets learn how to make the keg…

Supplies

• Whole watermelon
• Apple Corer
• Shank and faucet

Directions

Prepare your watermelon by cutting a lid from the top and scooping out the fruit (save the fruit to use later to make the drinks). Use an apple corer to drill a hole just slightly smaller than the keg shank. Attach the shank and faucet and you’re ready to add your cocktail.

Ingredients

• 4 cups watermelon chunks, pureed
• 4 oz Alizé Red Passion, or any other fruit-flavored liqueur
• 8 oz gin
• 2 cups sour mix
• Sparkling rosé
• Lime slices, for garnish

Directions

After pureeing 4 cups of watermelon chunks, strain. Stir in your fruit-flavored liqueur, gin and sour mix. Chill. Add sparkling rosé before serving. Garnish with lime slice and enjoy!

• Source: The Food Network Magazine
• Recipe Yields: 10-12 servings

Dragon Fruit Salad

Yesterday I posted about some  delowcious dragon fruit and how awesome it is. Well today I made a fruit salad out of it with some pineapple and it tasted fantastical. The pineapple was so sweet and juicy that it really gave the dragon fruit the kick it needed to make it taste as good as it looks. I will definitely be making this again and will probably add some other types a fruit to add a little more flavor and a lot more color to the mix. Maybe some grapes and definitely some watermelon. Ohhhh I’m so excited, I may have to go jump on the train and go to grocery store right now! On second thought, never mind, I can wait until tomorrow.

Delowcious Dragon Fruit

Before arriving in Singapore I had never seen or heard of a Dragon Fruit. I know I lead a sheltered life, but I am working on it. On our first trip to the grocery store we did not buy much… We were sorta just checking things out, but we did buy a Dragon Fruit just because it looked so cool. The Hubby is a sucker for anything weird-looking and I am a sucker for anything pink. Dragon Fruit definitely fit the bill. When we got cut that sucker open and were very surprised with what we found. When you first cut into it looks like cookies and cream ice cream, but don’t be fooled by its appearance, it definitely does not taste like ice cream. The texture is like that of a kiwi. The taste is also similar to the kiwi, but much milder and more subtle. It actually does not have much flavor at all, but would be great in fruit salad. It’s spongy texture would soak up and compliment any fruit you combined it with. Plus it’s health benefits are endless and quite unbelievable.

Dragon Fruit Health Benefits

• High in Antioxidants
• Lowers Blood Glucose Levels
• Controls Blood Sugar Levels
• Rich in Minerals and Fiber
• Aids in Digestion
• Neutralizes Toxic Substances (heavy metals and chemicals)
• High Levels of Vitamin B3
• Helps Lower Bad Cholesterol
• Smooths and Moisturizes Skin
• Good Source of Phosphorus and Calcium
• Reinforces Bones
• Aids in Tissue Formation
• Aids in Healthy Teeth
• High Levels of Vitamin C
• Aids Healing of Cuts and Bruises
• Enhances Immune System
• Full of Vitamin B1 and B2
• Increases Energy
• Aids in Metabolizing Carbohydrates

How to Cut a Dragon Fruit

Notes: You can find Dragon Fruit at your local Asian market or at Whole Foods between the months of August and December. You can also peel the skin after you’ve made the initial cut. Surprisingly it is very easy to peel and it ensures not wasting any of the delowcious fruit. Enjoy!

Very Berry Fruit Salad

This picture does not do this recipe justice. I just saw Ina Garten make this on TV, and it looked spectacular! Plus she served it in adorable martini glasses, which made it look that much better. You know, when the Hubby and I were registering for wedding gifts, I thought to myself, “What the hell do we need 12 martini glasses for? I don’t even like martinis. Plus the glasses suck, because liquid spills out of them so easy. Whoever invented them is an idiot” Well, this recipe right here makes up for it. This recipe gives purpose to the 12 martini glasses collecting dust in my garage. Someday I am going to have a party (with 12 people or less), and I am going to serve them Very Berry Fruit Salad in a perfect little martini glass. BTW, Sorry to the person who bought us our martini glasses. It is not your fault that we registered for them. Thank you very much though and we love them… Now.

Ingredients

• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and cut in half, or smaller if preferred
• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 pint raspberries
• 1 tablespoon good balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup sugar
• Fresh mint, for garnish

Directions

Place 6 glasses in the refrigerator.

In a large bowl, combine the berries, vinegar and sugar. Stir gently. Cover securely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Spoon the berries into chilled glasses. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Notes: Can be used as breakfast or dessert. Ina says not to wash your raspberries, because it makes them tough. Also, try serving the fruit salad in a fun martini glass for the ultimate presentation!

• Source: Ina Garten
• Prep Time: 5min
• Cook Time: 30min
• Total Time: 35min
• Recipe Yields: 6 servings

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients

• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 12 long-stemmed strawberries

Directions

Melt the chocolate and cream together in a bowl set over simmering water until just melted. Stir and remove from the heat. Dip each strawberry in the chocolate and set aside on waxed or parchment paper to dry.

Notes: So I am from the school of thought that more is better than not enough. Not in this case. As I added the ingredients in the bowl I thought, “Well, that’s not a lot of chocolate. Let’s double it.” Needless to say, I had a lot of chocolate left over. It was not that big a problem because I just put it in the fridge and had a nice little chocolate candy ice creamish dessert the next night. Also make sure you cook until fully melted. I got nervous that some of the chocolate was burning, when really it was just melting at different rates since I doubled the recipe in the middle of the cooking process. consequently, my strawberries and bits of mini chocolate chips on them. It was still delicious!

• Source: Ina Garten
• Prep Time: 5min
• Cook Time: 5min
• Total Time: 10min
• Recipe Yields: 12 berries