Watermelon Martini

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Chilling time: 20 minutes for the glasses
Serves: 6

12 oz. watermelon juice (made from approx. half a seeded watermelon)*
¼ c. sugar
¼ c. kosher salt
5 oz. premium vodka
4 oz. melon or orange liqueur
2 oz. lime juice
Lime wedges
1 c. fresh mint leaves
Ice

Chill martini glasses for 20 minutes before starting recipe. Combine sugar and salt on a plate. Rub rim with lime wedges and dip in sugar mix. Combine half the watermelon juice, vodka and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with several sprigs of mint. Add ice and shake well. Strain into chilled glasses. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

*To make fresh watermelon juice blend watermelon in a food processor or blender until smooth, and strain into a pitcher. Alternatively, muddle the watermelon in batches in a small pitcher and strain.

By Carrie Hanna, Southern Boating Magazine, August 2015

Celebrate the Holiday Season with this Festive Menu!

Panko-Crusted Mahi with Pomegranate Orange Salsa
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
Serves: 6

½ c. pomegranate seeds
1 navel orange, peeled and diced
1 tbsp. orange zest
1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, diced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. lemon juice
¼ c. fresh mint
½ c. fresh basil
Pinch kosher salt
Pepper to taste
1 c. egg whites (approx. 6 eggs)
6 4-oz. mahi filets
2 c. Panko breadcrumbs
¼ c. peanut or canola oil

For the salsa, combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Then add olive oil, honey and lemon, and gently toss. Fold in mint and basil, season with pinch of salt and fresh pepper. Set aside. In another large bowl, gently whisk egg whites. Dip mahi filets into egg whites then breadcrumbs. Heat oil in large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Fry mahi until golden and cooked through (about 5 minutes per side). Season with pinch of salt and serve with salsa.

Spinach Gratin
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes
Serves: 6-8

4 eggs, lightly beaten
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
10 oz. ricotta cheese
6 oz. crumbled goat cheese
¾ c. shredded parmesan cheese
¼ c. flour
¼ tsp. nutmeg
3 tbsp. fresh dill
1 leek
1 tbsp. butter

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, spinach, ricotta, and goat cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in parmesan, flour, nutmeg, and dill. In a small skillet melt butter over medium heat. Sauté leek until softened, about 6 minutes. Fold into spinach mixture. Pour mixture into buttered 8 x 8-inch baking pan and bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes. Cool slightly, cut into squares and serve.

Pom-Clementini
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4-6

9 oz. orange or citron vodka
3 oz. fresh clementine juice
3 oz. pomegranate juice
3 oz. champagne
Pomegranate seeds for garnish

Pour vodka and juices over crushed ice in a martini shaker and shake well. Pour into martini glasses and top with champagne. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Candied Cranberries
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6-8

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
1 stick unsalted butter
¾ c. sugar
3 large eggs
½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 12-oz. bag frozen or fresh cranberries
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. orange zest
3 tbsp. orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line bottom of 8-inch round baking pan with wax paper and butter the wax paper. Melt chocolate and butter in metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Once melted, whisk in sugar then eggs. Stir in cocoa powder, mixing well. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes. Cool and invert onto a serving plate. Spray rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Toss cranberries with orange zest and sugar in medium bowl to blend. Spread onto baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Stir berries gently. Bake until berries are thawed, about 5 minutes longer. Cool and toss with orange liqueur. Spoon berries onto cake.

By Carrie Hanna, Southern Boating December 2014

Healthy, Hearty Dishes usher in a Flavorful Fall

Grilled Mahi with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Serves: 6

6 6-oz. mahi filets
½ c. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 lemons, thinly sliced
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. dill (6 additional sprigs optional)
2 tbsp. capers
1 tbsp. honey

Heat a grill pan or grill over medium-high heat. Rub mahi filets with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill mahi 4 minutes on one side then turn and garnish with lemon slices and optional dill sprigs on top. Grill another 4 minutes. Whisk together remaining olive oil, lemon juice, dill, capers, and honey. Drizzle over filets and serve.

Roasted Fingerling Potato Salad
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6

2 tbsp. + 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1½ lbs. fingerling or small red potatoes, halved lengthwise
2 scallions, thinly sliced
¼ c. parsley
2 tbsp. tarragon or basil
1½ tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tbsp. coarse-grained mustard
2 hardboiled eggs, peeled, chopped
1 bag fresh arugula

Place potatoes in large baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss. Roast in 400-degree preheated oven until potatoes are brown on one side (about 30 minutes) turning once while roasting. In a small bowl combine scallions, parsley, tarragon, vinegar, mustard, and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Transfer potatoes to dish. Spoon chopped eggs on top and toss with herb dressing. Season with salt and pepper, and serve over arugula.

Apple Galettes with Caramel Sauce
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Chilling time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 16-18 minutes
Serves: 6

1 17-oz. package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg yolk
1/3 c. apricot jam
7 tart apples, thinly sliced
¼ c. lemon juice
4 tbsp. sugar
½ c. prepared caramel sauce
½ c. confectioner’s sugar
Vanilla ice cream

Roll puff pastry to ¼-inch thickness. Using saucer or 5-inch round stencil, cut dough into 6 circles. Prick bottom with fork. Chill 30 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk and 2 teaspoons water. Brush pastry with egg wash. Spoon about 1 tablespoon apricot jam into each pastry and spread evenly. Arrange about 25 thinly sliced apple slices on top of each puff pastry circle and fold the edges up to partially close. Brush with lemon juice and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Bake until light golden brown, 16 to 18 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Pear-Vanilla Martini
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6

16 oz. pear nectar
8 oz. vanilla vodka
¾ tsp. vanilla extract
1½ tbsp. fresh lemon juice
6 lemon wedges
¾ c. sugar
Ice

In a large shaker, combine pear nectar, vodka, vanilla extract, and lemon juice with ice and shake. Rub rim of glass with lemon and dip into sugar. Pour cocktail into martini glasses and garnish with lemon twist.

By Carrie Hanna, Southern Boating October 2014

Surf & Turf to Impress Your Guests

Dirty Martini

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

6 oz. premium vodka
2 oz. dry vermouth (optional)
1/4 c. olive juice
12 olives
Toothpicks

Combine vodka, vermouth and olive juice over ice-filled shaker. Shake vigorously. Serve in martini glasses. Place 3 olives each onto toothpicks to garnish.

Surf and Turf with Fresh Herb Sauce
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 6-8

6 4-oz. filet mignon or 3 8-oz. New York strip
1 1/2 lb. tuna steaks
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c. + 2 tbsp. olive oil
2 c. fresh basil leaves, packed
2 c. fresh parsley, packed
1/4 c. fresh chives, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp. lemon rind

Place beef and tuna on separate platters. Season steaks with salt and pepper. Rub olive oil on tuna and season with pepper. In a blender or food processer combine herbs, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon rind. Pulse until herbs are coarsely chopped. Keep blender running and add olive oil in stream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill beef steaks over medium-high heat on preheated grill about 8 minutes per side or as preferred. Grill tuna steaks 2 minutes per side or as preferred. Serve each with dollop of sauce.

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Couscous
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Serves: 6

2 pints cherry tomatoes, rinsed
4 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
Fresh pepper to taste
1 box couscous
1 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
1/2 c. fresh basil, chopped

Place tomatoes in large baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in preheated 400-degree oven for 25 minutes or until just blistered. Remove from oven, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and toss with basil. Cook couscous according to package instructions. After couscous sits 5 minutes, toss in tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Tropical Fruit Foster
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 7 minutes
Serves: 6

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. mango nectar
1 tbsp. dark rum
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. pineapple, cubed
2 bananas, peeled, split and halved
1 c. mango, peeled and cubed
Vanilla ice cream
Toasted sweetened coconut (optional)

In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar, nectar and rum, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until syrupy, about 4 minutes. Mix in nutmeg, then add pineapple, banana and mango, and sauté until heated through, about 1 minute. Let cool 2 minutes. Scoop ice cream into bowls and spoon warm sauce over top. Sprinkle with coconut if desired.

By Carrie Hanna, Southern Boating June 2014