Cavaillon Melon With Port Wine Watermelon And Berries Recipes

CHAMPAGNE MELON SOUP WITH RASPBERRY ICE BALLS

Steps:

• In a blender, combine raspberries with 4 tablespoons water. Purée until smooth. Line a strainer with cheesecloth, and set over a bowl. Pour in purée, and twist cloth to squeeze out purée. Stir in 4 teaspoons of sugar, or to taste. Spoon mixture into an ice cube tray that makes round balls or another decorative shape. Freeze until firm.
• Cut honeydew melon in half, and remove seeds. Using a melon baller, remove flesh from melon to within 3/4 inch of peel. Set aside melon balls. Using a large spoon, scrape out and reserve remaining flesh. Discard peels.
• Cut cantaloupe in half, using a straight cut or saw toothed design. Remove seeds. Using a melon baller, remove flesh to within 1/4 inch of peel; reserve any extra flesh. Cut off bottoms of cantaloupes, so they stand securely. In a large bowl, mix honeydew and cantaloupe melon balls with lemon juice. Place an equal amount of melon balls in each melon half, and refrigerate.
• In a blender, purée any honeydew or cantaloupe flesh that has not been shaped into balls. Press through a fine strainer, and add 2 teaspoons of sugar. Refrigerate if desired.
• To serve, spoon 2 tablespoons of melon purée over melon balls in each cantaloupe half. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cut mint leaves into very thin strips, and dust lightly with sugar. Arrange 4 raspberry balls in each melon half, and sprinkle with mint. Set each melon half in soup bowl. At the table, pour Champagne directly into cantaloupe halves, and allow to fizz out and over cantaloupes.

MELON WITH PORT WINE

Steps:

• Cut cantaloupe in half and scoop out seeds.
• Pour ½ cup port into each melon half.
• Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours. Decorate with mint leaves and serve ice cold.

CLASSIC POUND CAKE TOPPING

Steps:

• To make macerated-berry topping, combine berries, sugar, and lemon juice in a bowl. Cover; refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.

PORT WINE DRUNKEN MELON WITH SPANISH CHEESES

Steps:

• Pour the port into the melon 1 to 3 days in advance of the dinner. Chill in the refrigerator with the top put back in place and wrapped in plastic wrap.
• When ready to serve:
• Remove the melon from the refrigerator and take off the wrap and top. Pour out the port from the melon into a bowl. Cut off the rind and cut the melon into pieces. Put the pieces into four cool bowls. Serve with the cheeses on a side platter.
• Note: The port could be poured back over the melon or reserved for another use.
• This is also nice with a bowl of lightly seasoned toasted almonds and some port wine.

CAVAILLON MELON WITH PORT WINE, WATERMELON, AND BERRIES

Steps:

• Cut off top quarter of each melon using a round chisel or sharp paring knife to cut a scalloped edge; scoop out seeds. Working over a bowl to collect juice and using a 7/8-inch melon baller, make 2 cups of melon balls from top and bottom of melon; add melon balls to bowl with juice.
• Working over the bowl to collect juice, make 2 cups melon balls from the watermelon, avoiding seeds. Place watermelon balls in the bowl, and remove any seeds.
• Add raspberries, port, sugar, and lemon juice to bowl, and toss well to combine. Let stand about 15 minutes.
• Spoon melon mixture and juices into carved melons, and serve immediately.