The Spirit World

4th of July. Picnics. Fireworks. Sunshine. Never-ending summer.

Yes we are at the long holiday weekend! Although the 4th isn’t until Tuesday, Monday is a pseudo holiday and folks will be making the most of their time off with all kinds of picnics, parties and poolside plans. And our neighbors to the North will be celebrating Canada Day this weekend, too!

When I was young sometime during July both sides of my family would have big gatherings up on the North Santiam River outside of Salem, Oregon. Although my Dad’s side of the family is German and my Mom’s is Italian the food at those picnics looked very similar. Fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, and jello salad were the core elements. And there was watermelon. Lots and lots of watermelon. We ate it in the carefree way that summer allows - eating it on the run, biting into big wedges or slices, leaning slightly forward so the juice would drip to the ground instead of down our front, spitting seeds as far as we could! To clean up we’d take a dip in the river and then start again.

To replicate those summmer days I present to you a recipe I first saw Oprah’s chef, Art Smith make on one of her shows. And I’ll add my modifications based on what I had in the liquor cabinet the first day I wanted to make these drinks! Both recipes are great and bring a true taste of summer to a martini glass!

Watermelon Martinis

Created by Art Smith
Makes 6 large martinis

• 4 cups of watermelon (with the rinds, seeds removed)
• 1 cup lemon vodka
• 1/2 cup cointreau or triple sec
• 2 limes, squeezed
• 1 cup of ice cubes
• 1 tablespoon sugar (or sugar substitute)
• Garnish; pieces of watermelon, lime, sugar cane

In a blender, combine the watermelon chunks and puree. Remove pureed fruit and pour into a pitcher and keep very cold, even a little frozen to make it icy.

For two generous martinis, add one cup of watermelon puree, 1/4 cup of lemon vodka, and one tablespoon of cointreau or triple sec to the blender with three ice cubes and blend. Pour into a nice festive glass, garnish with watermelon chunks, limes and a stick of sugar cane.

For those that do not want alcohol, just omit it, and add ice cubes, a splash of cranberry juice, and a splash of lime juice. Don’t forget the festive party garnish!

Brenda’s Slightly Modified Version

Makes 2 Cocktails

• 1 cup pureed watermelon
• 1/4 up Mandarin vodka
• 1/2 lime squeezed
• 1/2 lemon squeezed
• 1 tsp sugar
• 5 or 6 ice cubes
• Garnish: Lime slices and small watermelon triangles

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Divide between 2 chilled martini glasses. Garnish with the lime and watermelon.

And to have with these drinks? Fried chicken, of course! Make a batch early in the day before the house gets too warm. Keep the chicken chilled until you are ready to eat it. Then pull it out, grab a stack of napkins and have at it!

While you may have your favorite recipe here’s one that my cooking club really enjoyed!

Tyler Florence’s Double Dipped Fried Chicken