Recipe - Melon And Ginger Basket

1 lg Ripe honeydew melon
One fourth cup Orange juice
2 Pieces stem ginger, thinly
cut or sliced up
2 tablespoon Stem ginger syrup
Fresh grated nutmeg to taste
2 Kiwifruit, peeled, cut in
half, cut or sliced up
8 Lychees, peeled, seeded
8 Strawberries, cut in half
8 Black grapes, cut in half,
seeded
Fresh mint sprigs (opt)
Ice cream

Cut a thin slice off one of rounded sides of melon (not pointed ends), so
melon will sit level on a serving plate.

To form a handle, make 2 cuts about 3/4" wide on either side of a central
strip. Continue cutting halfway down melon, then cut from bottom of handle
around either side of fruit so these two wedges can be lifted away to form
a basket shape. Cut away flesh from inside handle. Remove seeds from melon.
Scoop out balls with a small melon scoop or cut flesh in pieces and place
in a bowl. Smooth edge of melon basket.

Add orange juice, stem ginger and syrup and nutmeg to melon balls and stir
lightly. Add kiwifruit, lychees, strawberries and grapes and mix lightly.
Spoon mixture into melon and arrange fruits attractively. Cover and chill.
Garnish with mint sprig, if desired, and serve with ice cream.

VARIATION: Use fresh fruits such as cherries, pineapple, peaches, figs and
nectarines. Substitute freshly squeezed lime juice for orange juice.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini