Margarita Melon Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Moisten rim of 1 cocktail glass with lime wedge. If desired, sprinkle salt on a plate; dip rim in salt. Fill glass with ice. In an empty cocktail shaker, combine tequila, melon liqueur, and lime juice. Fill with ice; cover and shake until frost forms on the outside of the shaker, 15-20 seconds. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with lime wedge and, if desired, melon balls.

Steps:

• Use a melon baller, scoop all three melons into balls. All together you need about 10 cups. I like to use equal portions, but if you like pink better than green -- use more watermelon -- you get the idea.
• In a large glass bowl, mix together lime juice, lime zest, tequila, salt, and simple syrup. Add melon balls and mint. Toss until well coated.
• Serve!

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Turn off heat and add shrimp and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain. When cool enough to handle, slice each shrimp in half lengthwise.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, ginger, lemongrass, lime zest and juice, and hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Halve the honeydew and watermelon, cut away from rind, and remove the seeds. Slice the melons into 1/8-inch-thick pieces. Remove the watermelon seeds (it's okay if the slices don't stay intact). Using a cake ring or a glass whose mouth is slightly smaller than a 14 to 16-ounce martini glass or champagne coupe, cut out 16 slices from the watermelon, and 16 slices from the honeydew. Save the best-looking 4 watermelon slices.
• Set out 4 (8 to 12-ounce) martini glasses or Champagne coupes.
• Layer 2 slices of watermelon and honeydew in each glass, lightly sprinkling each melon layer with the lemongrass dressing, chopped basil, chopped cilantro, salt, and pepper. (You may need to trim the melon slices so they fit neatly into the glasses, which should be half-full at this point.) Divide the shrimp among the glasses, arranging them in concentric circles. Season the shrimp with the dressing, basil, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Add another layer of melon in the reverse order: honeydew, then watermelon, seasoning as before. Top each salad with a reserved watermelon slice, and sprinkle lightly with the dressing, basil, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Garnish with 1 basil and 1 cilantro leaf. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving (the melon and shrimp taste best when well chilled).

Steps:

• Prepare the pecans: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and roast until toasted, 10 to 12 minutes; set aside.
• Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Add the vinegar and maple syrup to the skillet and bring to a simmer; cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the pecans and Old Bay. Spread on the baking sheet and let cool, then roughly chop.
• Prepare the salad: Bring the bourbon to a gentle simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until reduced to about 1/3 cup, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in the maple syrup and vinegar; bring to a gentle simmer and cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the shallot and set aside to cool. Whisk in the thyme and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Slowly drizzle in the grapeseed oil, whisking until incorporated.
• Arrange the melon on a platter and season with sea salt. Spoon the bourbon-maple vinaigrette over the melon, then sprinkle with the pecans. Top with the cilantro.

Steps:

• 1) In a large bowl, mix together margarita, orange marmalade and lime juice.
• 2) Add strawberries, oranges, pineapple, honeydew and cantaloupe. Stir to combine and refrigerate for several hours or overnight to allow the flavors to blend.
• 3) Add mint, toss and serve.
• This recipe should not be served to anyone under 21, or the legal drinking age.