Sunday, July 1, 2007

Watermelon Lantern, Watermelon Flower Vase & Melony Drinks!

“A watermelon was once thrown at Roman Governor Demosthenes during a political debate. Placing the watermelon upon his head, he thanked the thrower for providing him with a helmet to wear as he fought Philip of Macedonia” (Source)

For many of us from India, the thought of watermelon may perhaps bring back the memory of a familiar sight…….during the summer season, truck-loads of watermelon floods the nook and corner of every streets…..Watermelons mounded on pavements and highway road-sides, and the seller sitting there under a black umbrella, tied to his wooden chair to escape the blistering sun…..and sometimes talking to the nearby fruit stall guy or enjoying a light moment with the tender-coconut vendor :) Sometimes the vendor’s creativity can be seen when he tries to carve flower petals on the edges of the halved melon or when they display halved watermelons, showing its red succulent fruity part, pulling those waiting at the bus-stop and the passers-by to grab one of those summer fruits! Watermelon juice is another temptation to the pedestrians in that scorching heat.

As kids we used to eat the melon as it is, sucking the crescent slice and its juice dripping all over our clothes….and I don’t know , probably that is one of the reasons why I was never a great fan of watermelons and sometimes I feel its too bland and watery! But this Melony Mocktail did capture my attention and it was my friend, SM who shared the recipe with me, almost two years back…Whether to make a Mocktail or Cocktail, that is purely your choice :)




Melony Mocktail: Make puree from de-seeded watermelon chunks and freeze the puree in ice trays. In a glass, pour some freshly squeezed orange juice and some Sprite or Mountain Dew or any similar soda and throw in some frozen watermelon cubes too and you are ready with your mocktail. If the orange juice is too sour, then add some sugar to the orange juice. There is no hard and fast rule to make this drink. The taste of the drink really starts evolving when the pureed-melon cubes starts to dilute. Add less orange juice and more of soda.

Melony Cocktail: Follow the same method above and add Vodka. Please make sure that orange juice is not too sour.

Just when I was about to finish my photo session, another idea struck me. How do you keep the pureed-melon cubes frozen, when served to a group at a dinner or party? Citric/herbal/floral ice bowl comes to your rescue! Click here to learn to make your own ice bowls.


Well, now since you have hollowed out your melon, the next item in the agenda is probably to throw them into the trash can. Hold on! Create a beautiful and unique flower vase and use it as a centerpiece for your table.


To make the Flower Vase: Instead of using perfectly halved melons, it’s better to use melons that are cut off only ¼th from the top, to make the flower vase. Slice off a very thin piece, around ½ inches from the bottom so as to provide a flat base to the vase. Scoop out watery fruit fully and pat dry the interiors with a kitchen towel. Make your fresh flower arrangement in a glass jar or vase and place them inside the melon vase and you are all set to receive compliments from your guests :)

Here’s another fun-centerpiece idea which will be a great addition to your night-time, open air parties, Watermelon Lanterns! It’s Halloween in Summer!! :)


To make the Watermelon Lantern: Use melons that are cut off only ¼th from the top. Slice off around ½ inches from the bottom to provide a flat base. Using a pencil, draw the outlines of a smiley and darken the outlines using a marker. With a pairing knife, cut out eyes and mouth. Also clean up the interiors by scooping out the watery flesh of the fruit thoroughly and pat dry with a kitchen towel. Keep a small candle inside the melon and close it with the top portion, cut off earlier, which looks like a lid to your lantern. For more carving and fun ideas, click here.

Janelle of Talk of Tomatoes is the host and creator of the blog event, Centerpiece of the Month, an excellent idea to encourage the fellow bloggers to come up with novel and unique centerpieces every month and Watermelon Vase and Watermelon Lanterns are my contributions this month!

The entire post goes to the fruity blog event, AFAM, hosted at Jugalbandi for the month of July.

Luv
Shn

No part of the content ( articles, photographs, recipes) of this blog may be reproduced without my written permission.Copyright © 2007-2010 Kitchenmishmash.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.

44 comments:

  1. Too good.
    I loved the mocktail. The centre pieces are so beautiful. No one would mind Halloween in summer:)

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  2. wow! u really went all out with the watermelon.. i liked the halloween one.

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  3. That was gr8.The drink is looking so nice,and even the vase and lantern are looking pretty. Good entry :)

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  4. wow what a creative spread! loved all those cute ones!excellent

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  5. So many innovative ideas in one post!
    both the centre piece and lantern looks great.

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  6. I can just look at it Shn. So beautiful. Very neat work and creative too. Admire your interest. Nice post. Viji

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  7. Adorable creations. Bright and beautiful photos too :)

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  8. How cute, love your flower vase just looks perfect !!

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  9. Girl, when I come here, what am I supposed to praise more... your write up, your creativity, the pretty pictures, the recipe, centrepieces or ideas ??? I'm at a loss for words, so just admiring everything. :)

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  10. Shn, you are creative! the vase looks beautiful. Melony drinks perfect for the summer

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  11. My my!!! honest Girl!! u r sooooo creative!!! Looks so beautiful!!!

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  12. thats neat. i liked the flower arrangement!

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  13. How very creative! I'm very impressed! Especially by the ice bowl, which looks amazing. It's so beautiful! The write-up's fantastic, too! Well done!

    The mocktail and the cocktail both sound great!

    I can't believe you don't like watermelon, though! :)

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  14. Hi, this is the first time I am commenting on your blog. I have read your name on many of the blogs but never actually visited your blog. I stumbled upon this through foodblogdesam. Must say loved your presentation. You have a knack for creativity. Loved the icebowl and the mocktail. I am a sucker for artistic mocktails.
    I also don't own a cookbook as you said. Pretty much everything on my blog is traditional recipes from my family passed on to me by my grandmother, mom and relatives.
    I have added your blog to my fav list.

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  15. Shn, that was another mind blowing creation...looooved all of them...spoilt for choice , really...

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  16. everything is outstanding. thank you, shn, for the great entries for AFAM.

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  17. Read Jyothsna's comment again - I second, third and 4th that! Seriously, you are such a food artist.

    Here is one of the standout pieces in the writing that's in that vivid language I keep mentioning:
    Watermelons mounded on pavements and highway road-sides, and the seller sitting there under a black umbrella, tied to his wooden chair to escape the blistering sun…..and sometimes talking to the nearby fruit stall guy or enjoying a light moment with the tender-coconut vendor :) Sometimes the vendor’s creativity can be seen when he tries to carve flower petals on the edges of the halved melon or when they display halved watermelons, showing its red succulent fruity part, pulling those waiting at the bus-stop and the passers-by to grab one of those summer fruits!

    This is a fantastic post Shn. Keep doing what you're doing.

    Hugs.

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  18. Shn, these watermelon treats and crafts are a WOW. Refreshing, colorful and creative.

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  19. Lovely presentation....nice cooler... great pic...

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  20. oh wow, so coool, lovely ideas, i love the mocktail, and the vase... superb...

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  21. Whats going on....jsut i saw watermelon drink at Ashaji's blog././again here.. i can understand how hot this days....i liked ur idea of watermelon flowervase....drinks too..

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  22. Shn!! I can't even begin to think of something worthy to say about how clever you are here -- let that be my comment :):)

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  23. Mishmash!!what to say!!All are excellent!!

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  24. The orange bowl with watermelon cubes looks amazing!! :)

    The vase is a great idea too!! Best out of waste! :)

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  25. I love love the Melony drinks!! Gorgeous color.Enjoy the Watermelon.It is a great summer fruit.Lantern! How clever shn:)

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  26. love that mocktail, lemony ice cup, flower vase and lantern:) is there anything else left? oh yeah!!! love ur creativity too:)

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  27. What a wonderful entry! I love how creative you were with the watermelon and also enjoyed the Phillip of Macedonia factoid. :)

    Ari (Baking and Books)

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  28. mishmash,
    Woh...Adipoli.Good Entry for AFAM.Melony drinks looks so beautiful.I liked the flower arrangement and lantern a lot:)

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  29. Shn... wow I am speechless just once again.... the melony cocktail will be tried out soon :)

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  30. hey this is one cool and awesome post! all of them are so nice. the lantern looks so cute. its really raining watermelons everywhere.

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  31. ഞാനും ഈ ബ്ലോഗിന്റെ സ്ഥിരം സന്ദര്‍ശകയാണ്‌

    എനിക്ക്‌ ഈ ബ്ലോഗ്‌ വളരെ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടതാണ്‌. വളരെയധികം രുചിയുള്ള പാചകക്കുറിപ്പുകല്‍ ഇവിടെയുണ്ട്‌.

    ഞങ്ങള്‍ ഈയിടെ ഒരു "മലയാളം പാചകക്കുറിപ്പുകളുടെ" ഒരു വെബ്‌ സൈറ്റ്‌ തുടങ്ങി.

    സൗകര്യം പോലെ അവിടം സന്ദര്‍ശിക്കുക.

    ഞങ്ങളുടെ വിലാസം
    http://www.recipeskerala.com

    നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കിഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട വിഭവങ്ങളുമായി ഞങ്ങള്‍ അവിടെ കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്‌

    വരുമല്ലോ ??.... ഞങ്ങള്‍ കാത്തിരിക്കും

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  32. Hey Shn,
    How are you ? You didn't like watermelon ??? What the...:)
    I simply love it. Your arrangements are just too good. After seeing "Sa re Ga" in Zee TV for last couple of weeks I should say "Mind Blowing" -- Himesh style :)

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  33. Oh, my gosh, Shn, your watermelon lantern is precious! Sort of like a jack o'lantern for July! I just had my first (of many) watermelons this past 4th of July. I just adore them, and will have to try your drink. We're having company next week, and the weather's been hot, so it sounds like the perfect refresher!

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  34. the flower vase idea is too good..get it patented..watermelon was never my favourite fruit ..But the pics make me think whether i took the right decision!!

    I have blog rolled u without ur permission ofcoz!! ;-P

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  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  36. Swapna,Mallugirl,Archana,Roopa, Nanditha, Vcuisine,Sra,Suganya, Sreelu, THANKS A TON girls ...it means a lot :)

    Jyothsna, I am bowled over, dear !! Just come here....if you like something appreciate...if you have any suggestions, pls feel free to share....thats more than enough for me ! :)

    Indosungod,Manasi, thanks so much :)

    The cooker, thank you...sorry I couldnt visit your blog yet...will drop by for sure...let me welcome you to Mishmash!

    InjiPennu, Thanks !

    Maninas,thank you...thank you...:) yes...not my favourite ...mango is my fav :D

    Foodie,Thanks for dropping by and leaving your valuable footprints....A warm welcome to Mishmash! Also glad to know that we share some common ground :) I will surely drop by your page .Once again Thanks!

    A little light, Sunita, Bee, THANK YOU :)

    Cynthia, I really dont know what to tell you ! I am so touched!

    Susan, Sukanya...thanks girls :)

    Dumela, thank you:) Welcome to my blog !

    Usha, thanks dear...its just that everyone is sending their entries to AFAM..Watermelon is the chosen fruit for the month :)

    Linda, Kitchenfairy, Coffee, Asha, Sia, Ari, Prajusha...thanks...thanks..:)

    Sig, I know you guys are cocktail experts...so dont know if this will satisfy you..:) Just make sure that orange is not too sour!

    Sharmi, Girija ...Thank YOU :)

    Sandeepa, I am in good spirits dear, thanks for asking :)I knew I would have to cover my face and hide under the table the moment I wrote that statement....:)))

    Susan,yes it is Halloween in Summer...:)) Let me know if you liked the drink...pls make sure that orange juice is not too sour!

    Mathew, I could have patented it if some smartie had not already done it :D Kurachu vaiki poyee:P You re very much right on your decision about watermelon...it's not my fav too..for me there is only one fav fruit and that is mango :) hehehhe...when I asked your permission to add you to my blogroll you said its an honour to be blogrolled; so now I feel 'honoured' :)) Thanks a lot !

    Shn

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  37. Shn,

    Love the watermelon centrepiece, and the frozen watermelon icecubes are such a good idea!

    Kanchana

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  38. Wow you are so creative. Jumped onto your blog from another blogroll. Great going!!

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  39. Really superb Blog , went through some of your recipes and liked all of them , also liked your citrus ice bowl the best :)

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  40. Mishmash , what an awesome blog u have. I have surfing wild almost half an hour I guess. Really amazing collection of recipes.Nice write up too.

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  41. WOW!!!U have a great blog with wonderful recipes and lots of creativity.

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