These last days of August and beginning of September have brought out
the full crop of melons to our area and are in great supply at the
Farmers' Market.
It's a short season when the summer melons with netted skins and the smooth skin melons of "winter" are both around. This timely season should be appreciated for all its worth. Who doesn't like watermelon (a summer melon despite the dark smooth skin)? Then there is the wonderful sweet, firm taste of cantaloupe, or muskmelon, honeydew, and the lovely French/Persian melon and Christmas melons. Whichever is your favorite, enjoy it now as the grocery store melons never taste like the ones ripened in the local garden.
Think sharing melon for the gatherings this Labor Day weekend. The famous watermelon basket looks great and tastes even better! It may look complicated but it is actually very easy and is loved by young and old alike. Follow the easy directions below. Most of the fruit is in season and can be found at the Saratoga Farmers' Market Saturday morning.
Ingredients:
1 large watermelon
2 medium cantaloupes
2 honeydew or other melons
2 cups strawberries, cleaned and
stems removed
1 cup blueberries or other in
season berries
Optional (and not local): grapes,
3 bananas, sliced; 2 cups
pineapple, diced, coconut
Directions:
1. Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise. Set one half aside and cut a thin slice off the bottom to stabilize - be sure not to cut through the rind. Using a melon baller, remove 2 cups of flesh from the watermelon. If you need more than the one half supplies, go to the other half. (Any extra watermelon can be cut up and stored in the refrigerator for later use). Put watermelon balls in large bowl on ice.
2. Cut all the other cantaloupes/ melons in half and remove middle area full of seeds. Use the melon baller to scoop out melon balls and combine in bowl with watermelon balls.
3. Wash strawberries and blueberries and remove stems. Combine with the melon balls, mixing very gently.
4. Add any optional fruit to the bowl you would like, mixing gently.
5. Take the scooped out watermelon half and scallop the edges with a sharp knife. Add the bowl of chilled mixed fruit to the melon half. Serve immediately. Note: if making the melon boat a few hours ahead, its best to chill the scalloped watermelon and bowl of fruit separately, combining just before serving.
If you want to make it a bit more decadent for the over-21 crowd, offer a little rum to mix in.
Think sharing melon for the gatherings this Labor Day weekend. The famous watermelon basket looks great and tastes even better! It may look complicated but it is actually very easy and is loved by young and old alike. Follow the easy directions below. Most of the fruit is in season and can be found at the Saratoga Farmers' Market Saturday morning.
Ingredients:
1 large watermelon
2 medium cantaloupes
2 honeydew or other melons
2 cups strawberries, cleaned and
stems removed
1 cup blueberries or other in
season berries
Optional (and not local): grapes,
3 bananas, sliced; 2 cups
pineapple, diced, coconut
Directions:
1. Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise. Set one half aside and cut a thin slice off the bottom to stabilize - be sure not to cut through the rind. Using a melon baller, remove 2 cups of flesh from the watermelon. If you need more than the one half supplies, go to the other half. (Any extra watermelon can be cut up and stored in the refrigerator for later use). Put watermelon balls in large bowl on ice.
2. Cut all the other cantaloupes/ melons in half and remove middle area full of seeds. Use the melon baller to scoop out melon balls and combine in bowl with watermelon balls.
3. Wash strawberries and blueberries and remove stems. Combine with the melon balls, mixing very gently.
4. Add any optional fruit to the bowl you would like, mixing gently.
5. Take the scooped out watermelon half and scallop the edges with a sharp knife. Add the bowl of chilled mixed fruit to the melon half. Serve immediately. Note: if making the melon boat a few hours ahead, its best to chill the scalloped watermelon and bowl of fruit separately, combining just before serving.
If you want to make it a bit more decadent for the over-21 crowd, offer a little rum to mix in.
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