Port Wine Drunken Melon With Spanish Cheeses Recipes

SPANISH CHEESE BOARD

Steps:

• On a large serving board, arrange the olives and almonds next to the soft cheese, the jamon next to the mild cheese, and the quince paste next to the blue cheese.
• Serve with crackers on the side.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the almonds, olive oil, paprika, rosemary and salt on a rimmed baking sheet and toss until evenly combined. Bake until lightly browned and fragrant, tossing halfway through, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the almonds to a bowl and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

RAVIOLI WITH POTATO, WATERCRESS, AND CHEESES

Steps:

• Wash and peel the potatoes, put them into well-salted, boiling water with the garlic and cook until the potatoes are just tender (it is very important not to under- or overcook them). Drain them and let them sit for about 5 minutes to enable the excess water to evaporate (if you overcook them or don't drain them correctly they'll be too moist and your filling will be too wet).
• When the potatoes have cooled slightly add your butter and your chosen cheeses. Stir and mash with a fork to mix and break the potatoes up (I like to leave the mixture slightly chunky). Add the nutmeg and seasoning to taste. Stir in the watercress, half finely chopped and the rest coarsely chopped. Stuff the ravioli with a good heaped teaspoon of this mixture and cook in boiling salted water for about 3-4 minutes, until tender.
• Serve with some extra olive oil or butter, some more of your chosen cheese grated over the top and some torn watercress.

DRUNKEN WATERMELON

Steps:

• Place the melon in the bottom of the cooler. Using a sharp knife, or apple-coring tool, carve a 1 1/2-inch hole in the top of the melon through the center of the melon. Open the vodka and place the neck of the bottle in the hole. Use rolled towels to keep the bottle upright in the melon.
• Fill the cooler with ice and cover the ice with aluminum foil and newspapers to keep the cold inches (This is assuming the cooler will not close because of the bottle).
• Leave overnight for vodka to be absorbed into the melon.
• Remove bottle and cut melon in half, then cut flesh into chunks (or use melon baller if desired). Mix in large bowl with sliced lemons and cilantro if desired.
• Note: Leftover "water" in the serving bowl makes a refreshing cocktail; serve over ice.

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.