Watermelon Margaritas

My favorite summer drink hands down is fresh watermelon juice. No wait, I meant to say margaritas. Oh but, the juice is so refreshing... but summer needs tequila... WAIT! There's no need to decide is there? How about watermelon margaritas served IN mini watermelons. Yes, as I was saying, watermelon margaritas are my favorite summer drink...

Ingredients:

mini watermelons (one per drink - I got mine at Safeway)
2 tbsp lime syrup (make this first so it has time to cool)

• 1 tbsp lime zest
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water

2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp triple sec liqueur
1/2 cup 100% agave tequila (I used Espolon)
1 lime wedge
course salt
ice

Tools:

sharp chef's knife
cutting board
medium sized mixing bowl
immersion blender
measuring spoons and cups
zest grater
citrus juicer
small saucepan
small sieve
fun wide straws

Zest 1 tbsp lime rind* and juice enough limes for 2 tbsp per drink you are making. Also cut enough lime wedges so you have one for each drink.

*the zest will be used for making a sugar syrup that will be enough for several drinks

Combine the sugar, lime zest, and water in a small saucepan on the stove. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain out the lime zest.

While your lime syrup is cooling, it's time to make your watermelon cups. (Ok, goblets. Ok... drinking bowls.)

Cut a small slice off the bottom, doing your best to keep the knife steady so that you end up with a perpendicular and flat surface on the bottom for steady upright cup sitting. Test your cut and tweak if necessary.

Flip your melon around and cut a slightly bigger slice off the top. You want the hole left by your cut to be JUST bigger than the outside circumference of the immersion blender head.

IMPORTANT: Try and get the top cut right the first time. The part you cut off will be used as a lid for shaking the drink - and if you try and slice a second bit off the lid will no longer fit and you'll have to go with a boring ol' stir instead of a shake. Which is why it's better to err on the slightly bigger side for the hole.

Using a big cutlery-style tablespoon, scoop out the top third amount of watermelon and set aside. (Use this in a fruit salad, or as a snack to keep up your crafting strength.)

The reason you need to remove some of the watermelon is so that there's enough room to get the immersion blender in there and so that there's room to then add the other ingredients once the juice is blended.

Place the watermelon in a medium sized mixing bowl. Gently insert the head of the immersion blender into the watermelon opening. Blend until you've liquified most of the watermelon flesh. Remove from the bowl and wipe the outside clean with a paper towel.

Repeat for as many watermelons / drinks you're making.

Add the 2 tbsp lime syrup, lime juice, triple sec, and 1/2 cup tequila to the blended juice.

Replace the watermelon 'lid' and holding it on tightly, SHAKE IT!
(Mr. Bond would be so proud)

Set it back down on the table and remove the lid. Give a lime wedge a squeeze to release the juices and run it around the rim of the watermelon cup. Sprinkle on some course salt (like you'd do on the glass of a classic margarita - without turning it upside-down of course) and add the lime wedge to the edge. Finish it off with a fun wide straw and a little umbrella if you have one. (Sadly I did not.)

These will for sure be a hit at your summer luau. Just remember that there's a lot of alcohol in each one, so please be sure to make, shake, and drink responsibly.

Happy making! And if you do try these at home, please click on the 'I Made It' button at the end of this Instructable and post a picture in the comments. I'd love to see it. Thanks!