Cantaloupe Juice

As I walk down the grocery aisle, I always notice the abundance of readily-available fruit juice varieties, but none of those which I grew up drinking such as cantaloupe, watermelon, or pineapple juice. So since it is summer and cantaloupes are on sale at Publix, I decided to make my own cantaloupe-ade.


What you need:

• 1/2 of a cantaloupe, seeds removed
• 1 - 2 cups of water
• 1/2 cup sugar

What to do:

Using the other seed of a melon baller (the one with those sharp holes), scrape the meat of the cantaloupe and put it in a blender. Pulse (or grind) for 5 seconds and repeat until the fruit is blended to your desired consistency. I find it better to leave some coarse pieces so there is a bit of texture when you drink it.

The "primitive" melon baller that I use

Pour the blended fruit in a pitcher, it would yield approximately 2 to 3 cups of juice, depending on how big your cantaloupe is. Add 1 - 2 cups of water, according to your preference. Don't add too much though, cause the cantaloupe flavor will be diluted. Add about 1/2 cup of sugar and stir well.

Put in the fridge to cool for about 15 minutes and serve. Perfect for these sweltering summer days, while you lounge by the pool in your cabana. ;-)


Tips, Tricks and Tweaks:

1. Add some cantaloupe strings - do so by using the end of the melon baller and NOT putting the pieces in the blender.
2. If you don't have a melon baller, cut the cantaloupe meat in big chunks and grate it with a cheese grater. Or use a fork.
3. To tell if the cantaloupe is ripe, give it a whiff. If it has a musky sweet smell, then it is ready. Also, with your thumb, press the bottom part of the cantaloupe (the one opposite the stem). If it gives a little bit, it is ripe. Remember though that if it gives a lot, it might be over-ripe.
4. Add a bit of Sprite to give it a zing (as suggested by a friend).
5. You might want to make this drink on top of a flexible cutting board, as there might be some juice spillage.