Melon Mousse
I know. Summer is almost over. Everyone is moving onto leggings and boots and pumpkin lattes and I'm over here hanging on. I want to suck every last minute of warmth out of the season. Because winter is coming, friends.
And fall just means I'm one step closer to freezing to death.
That's what this melon mousse is designed to do. Give us all one last taste of summer. It's a three layered cup of marvelous with watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew mousse. Before this, I was not a melon aficionado. Berries are my thing. Now, I'm team melon- succulent and bright and sweet to the last drop.
We begin this mousse with just a handful of ingredients. A little fruit, a little sugar,and some cream. But just wait and see the magic that melon can bring.
You'll soak the gelatin in water and then add the pureed fruit to a pot on the stove along with the sugar. Bring to a boil and then plop that gelatin in and start whisking. You can take it off the heat when it seems to be fully incorporated, but don't let up on stirring until it's smooth.
Micheal Jackson doing the moonwalk smooth. When it comes to mousse, consistency is everything.
Next you'll cool the fruit mix a bit. Add the vanilla and then whip the cream into stiff peaks. You fold the fruit mixture in last. To make these layers, you need to be patient. Or you can be me and just hack it by setting them up with five minutes in the freezer.
What? I can't wait for anything. This is why we can't have nice things.
Ta da! Grab your taste of summer before it's gone, friends. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, peeps and we'll see you back next week.
I promise I'll be ready for fall y'all by then. Maybe.
Melon Mousse
Inspired by In A Blue Moon
For the watermelon mousse:
1 cup watermelon puree
1 1/2 tsp powdered gelatin
1/8 cup cold water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup cold cream
For the cantaloupe mousse:
1 cup cantaloupe puree
1 1/2 tsp powdered gelatin
1/8 cup cold water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup cold cream
For the honeydew mousse:
1 cup watermelon puree
1 1/2 tsp powdered gelatin
1/8 cup cold water
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup cold cream
Directions:
Prepare each mousse by following this process:
Place gelatin and cold water in a small bowl to soften. Place melon puree in a medium saucepan with sugar and lemon juice and heat on low until the sugar dissolves.
Add softened gelatin to the mixture on the stove, heat, and stir until the gelatin dissolves.
Remove from the heat and chill mixture in fridge until it thickens.
Whip cream in a large mixing bowl to soft peaks. Add vanilla to melon mixture and then fold whipped cream until all the lumps are removed.
Pour into 4-6 individual serving glasses and chill in the fridge until set, at least 45 mins. Layer each mousse, chilling between each one to produce a firm set so the lines will be well defined. Garnish with mint and enjoy this last taste of summer.