Summer Thirst Quenchers - Watermelon Mocktails, Shooters, Punch and Coolers - 4 recipes in one

Wow! So this was an incredibly exciting make. I had an hour to do it all including prep the ingredients. Why? Well let's just say I decided to start out on it when day light was almost running out!

I thought about posting each recipe one by one but since they are simple makes I decided to include it all in one post as it features one main ingredient across the board - Watermelon! A definite summer fruit!

I made all 4 recipes with 3/4 of a medium sized sweet and juicy watermelon.

Recipe # 1: Margherita Style Watermelon Mocktail

This one was relished by my toddler, especially cause of the sugar on the rim and the kind of glass from which she was allowed to drink :)

For this recipe,

You need:

• 1 cup fresh watermelon, chopped and pureed
• 1 tbsp sugar, granulated
• 1/2 tsp grenadine (Optional- I didn't add this)
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1 tsp grenadine syrup (optional -  I did not use it)

The Make:
Preparation time: 5 minutes | Mixing/Serving time: 10 minutes | Serves 2





1.Blend all the ingredients in 10-15 seconds.

2. Strain the ingredients and pour into sugar rimmed martini glasses.

Recipe # 2: Cucumber and Watermelon Coolers

If you do not fancy too sweet a drink, then this is the perfect summer cooler for you!

You need:

• 1 cup of watermelon juice (pureed and strained)
• 1 large cucumber, skinned, cut into chunks and juiced (reserve the skins for garnish if you like)
• A few mint leaves
• 2 tbsp of natural honey
• 2 tbsp of lemon juice
• 1 cup ice cubes

The Make:
Preparation time: 10 minutes | Serves 2

1. Mix the watermelon and cucumber juice.
2. Combine the honey and lemon juice in another bowl.
3. Blend the watermelon-cucumber juice with the honey-lemon and ice cubes. Taste if more honey is required.
4. Pour into two tall glasses and garnish with the mint leaves and cucumber shavings. Serve cold

For the cucumber shavings, you can use a toothpick to hold it into a design.

Recipe # 3: Ginger-Celery Watermelon Shooters

I promise you that this drink would give you a rejuvenated kick and stay hydrated to beat this low due to summer heat.

You need:

• 2 cups of watermelon , diced
• 1/2 cup of diced celery
• 1/2 tsp of grated ginger
• 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar
• Ice cubes (optional)
• Celery sticks- chopped to garnish

The Make:
Preparation Time: 5 mins | Serves 2

Pumped with Vitamin C, this is a perfect pick-you up drink in the summer.

1. Blend the ginger, vinegar and celery for 20-30 pulses.

2. Combine the watermelon and blend for another 20 seconds until smooth.

3. Chill and serve cold or over ice.

4. Garnish with celery sticks

Recipe # 4: Melony Mango Cooler Punch

Your kid(s) would love this one! Sweet and cool to beat the summer dehydration. Pulpy or can even be strained if you do not like pulp.

You need:

• 1 cup watermelon chunks, pureed
• 1 cup of mango juice
• 1 cup of cranberry juice (optional)

The Make:
Preparation Time: 5 minutes | Serves 1

1. Combine the watermelon puree and mango juice. Strain if you want to avoid pulp.

2. Chill (in a bowl for larger quantities) for 20 minutes before you serve.

3. Put in a funny straw for kids.

Tip: For kids make sure you make more than you feel they would normally drink. It is kids' party success drink :)

This would make a perfect party drink for kids.

Spicy Lamb Sausage with Cucumber and Tomato Salsa

This recipe is inspired by Masterchef Australia's Poh Ling Yeow. This amazing treat from Poh makes for an excellent breakfast meal. I used the remaining mix to make a new treat which I will share with you once G'Gina's Kitchenette's Theme Breakfast week completes.

You need:

For the sausage:

• 2 tablespoons toasted fennel seeds
• 2 tablespoons toasted coriander seeds
• 500g lamb or beef mince
• 500g pork mince * for those that do not use pork, you can also make this only with lamb mince or include chicken mince
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon sugar
• 2 - 3 cloves garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 ½ tablespoons smoked paprika
• ½ cup chopped coriander leaves, reserve the stalks
• ½ cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon dried red chilli flakes
• 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• 3 - 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• Eggs - 4 to 6

For the Salad

• 1 large ripened tomato, diced
•  1 large cucumber, sliced or diced
• 1 tablespoons chopped mint
• 1 tablespoons finely chopped coriander stalks
• 1 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Tip: Make sure all the leaves/herbs are finely diced as they would break the doughnut mince or would be difficult to mould. Also make sure that once the leaves and herbs are washed and cleaned, that they are well-dried as well to make the perfect rounded doughnut mince.

The make

Serves 4 to 6 adults | Preparation time: 5-6 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Source: Poh's Kitchen (http://www.abc.net.au/tv/pohskitchen/stories/s3322745.htm )

Spicy Lamb Sausage

1. Toast fennel and coriander seeds until fragrant and smokey (do not burn). This takes about a minute. Grind the toasted ingredients to a fine powder.

2.This is an important step. Combine all the ingredients and hand mix for about 5 minutes.  In mixing the ingredients, you can even throw mixture at high speeds towards the bowl, but make sure you do not miss! Tip: Make sure that your cleaned and rinsed mince is free of any water content.

This process of massaging the mince will bind the ingredients together in the absence of a binding agent such as egg. It will also develop the proteins, an important, handy technique for sausage making. The result would be a really sticky mince mixture. At this point you may choose to shape the mince into hand shaped sausages, a kabab sphere shape or a doughnut shape. Poh suggests if you are having some trouble handling the stickiness, wet your hands a little. She is right!

3. Place the doughnut meat on a medium hot, lightly greased skillet.

4. Brown one side and then flip it on the other side.

5. Next, immediately crack an egg into the center of the doughnut. Cook completely and serve with  toasted bread of your choice and fresh tomato and cucumber salad.

This quantity makes about 10 burger patties, 20 sausages and about 12 doughnuts. In case you have any leftover mince, shape to preferred size and shape and freeze in an airtight container with plastic sheets separators between the mince shapes.

Salad

Combine all ingredients and toss lightly. Serve on the side of the Spicy Lamb Sausage.

Bon Appetit!