SPICY CANTALOUPE COCKTAIL/MOCKTAIL
If there’s a kitchen appliance of summer, it has to be the blender. The wonderful things it can do with summer produce—salty fresh tomato juice, watermelon granita, strawberry syrup, and all the good things that make up gazpacho. And then there’s cantaloupe—-the sweet, juicy sunshine of summer. Whether you make this recipe as an adult beverage aperitivo or a mid-morning treat for the kiddos, it’s an ice-cold pick-me-up—for just a few, or double or triple the ingredients for a batch.
- 2 nice ripe cantaloupes—seeded and cut into 1” pieces
- 2 oz. Ginger Syrup (purchased, or make your own—see below*)
- Juice of 1-2 limes—to taste
- vodka or gin, for Cocktails OR
- ½ cup pineapple or orange juice for Mocktails
Blend cantaloupe until liquid and no fruit pieces remain. In pitcher, add cantaloupe juice, ginger syrup, lime juice—and gin, vodka or fruit juice. Stir well, pour over ice into glasses and garnish with lime wedge or slice.
*Ginger Syrup—In small pot add 1 cup sugar to 1 cup water and 1” fresh chopped ginger and bring to boil. Boil briefly and stir to make sure all sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain and chill in glass jar.
The Kitchen Hive
