Honeydew Cantaloupe Ice Recipes

HONEYDEW MELON AND CILANTRO ICE POPS

Steps:

• Bring the sugar and 1/4 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely melted, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the cilantro and stir until completely wilted. Let cool completely at room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
• Put the melon, lime zest and juice and a pinch of salt in a blender. Strain the cilantro syrup into the blender, pressing the cilantro in the strainer with the back of a spoon to extract as much flavor as possible; discard the cilantro. Puree the melon mixture until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender partway through if needed. Transfer the mixture to a large liquid measuring cup with a pouring spout.
• Pour the mixture into the molds, leaving 1/4 inch of space at the top (the mixture will expand). Insert the sticks. Freeze until solid, 5 hours to overnight. Unmold, and enjoy immediately.

CANTALOUPE ITALIAN ICE

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar and water in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.
• Peel and seed the cantaloupes. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Puree in a food processor. Strain through a medium sieve. Mix strained cantaloupe juice, sugar syrup, and lemon juice with a wire whisk.
• Pour into an ice cream machine. Add some cantaloupe pulp, if desired. Freeze to a smooth consistency, according to manufacturer's directions.
• You may wish to place in the freezer compartment of your refrigerator for a few hours to harden. Serve in a dessert glass topped with whipped cream or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

HONEYDEW AND CANTALOUPE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Make the honeydew mousse:
• In a small saucepan sprinkle the gelatin over the Midori and let it soften for 1 minute. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring, until the gelatin is dissolved completely and let it cool. In a blender purée the honeydew with the sugar and the lemon juice and with the motor running add the Midori mixture in a stream. Transfer the mixture to a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and stir it until it is the consistency of raw egg white. Remove the metal bowl from the ice, stir in the yogurt, and let the honeydew mousse stand while making the cantaloupe mousse.
• Make the cantaloupe mousse:
• Make the cantaloupe mousse: In a small saucepan sprinkle the gelatin over the Port and let it soften for 1 minute. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring, until the gelatin is dissolved completely and let it cool. In a blender purée the cantaloupe with the sugar and the lemon juice and with the motor running add the Port mixture in a stream. Transfer the mixture to a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and stir it until it is the consistency of raw egg white. Remove the metal bowl from the ice and stir in the yogurt.
• In a 2-quart glass bowl or 8 dessert glasses layer the mousses, chilling them for 5 minutes between each layer, chill the mousse for at least 2 hours or overnight, and garnish it with the melon wedges.

HONEYDEW & CANTALOUPE ICE

Steps:

• Chop honeydew very fine.
• In a medium bowl, mix honeydew and its juice with lime juice and sugar.
• Set aside.
• Chop cantaloupe very fine.
• In another medium bowl, mix with its juice, sugar and orange juice.
• Freeze honeydew and cantaloupe mixtures separately in small containers, ice cube trays or pans.
• When frozen, break into chunks if necessary and shave in ice shaver.
• Serve side by side or layered in a glass for colorful dessert.
• (Can also use watermelon, lemon juice and sugar.).

HONEYDEW GRANITA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool., Pulse honeydew, sugar syrup and wine in batches in a food processor until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Transfer to an 8-in. square dish. Freeze 1 hour. Stir with a fork. Freeze, stirring every 30 minutes, until frozen, 2-3 hours longer. Stir again with a fork just before serving.

NO-BAKE MELON CHEESECAKE BARS

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: Place the graham crackers in a resealable plastic bag. Close the bag and, using a rolling pin, heavy can or other blunt object, crush the graham crackers into a coarse rubble. To the bag, add the melted butter, sugar and salt, and mix thoroughly.
• Transfer the crumbs to an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan and press into the bottom of the pan with your hands, forming a thick, sturdy base. Place in the freezer to set while you make the filling.
• Make the filling: In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir together 1/4 cup cold tap water and the gelatin. Let sit to bloom. Meanwhile, use a blender to purée the cantaloupe, cream cheese, sugar and salt until smooth.
• Heat the cream in a small saucepan on the stovetop over medium until simmering at the edges or in a small bowl in the microwave until hot to the touch, 45 to 60 seconds on high. Add the bloomed gelatin to the hot cream and stir vigorously until smooth. Transfer the cream to the blender and blend with the cantaloupe until smooth.
• Take the pan out of the freezer and pour the filling over the graham cracker crust. Cover and refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours or up to overnight. Cut into bars and serve, drizzled with honey, if you like.