Melon en Surprise (Surprise Melon)

Start this dish at least a couple of hours before you intend to serve it.

Yield: 3 or 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cantaloupe or other small melon
• 2 cups fresh fruit
• Granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup Marsala wine, sweet sherry or 1 tablespoon Kirsch
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Chopped nuts

Instructions

1. Peel the whole cantaloupe, muskmelon, honeydew melon or other small melon. Cut a piece off one end to make a 4 to 5 inch round opening. Scoop out the seeds then remove most of the melon flesh in bite-size pieces leaving a wall thick enough to contain the filling.
2. Toss the melon pieces with about 2 cups of fresh raspberries or strawberries, fresh, frozen or canned pineapple chunks or peach slices, grapes etc.
3. Sprinkle lightly with sugar and 1/4 cup of Marsala wine, sweet sherry or 1 tablespoon of Kirsch.
4. Fill the center of the melon with the tossed fruit mixture; replace the top.
5. Blend the softened cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of milk and use this mixture to frost the outside of the melon.
6. Sprinkle the chopped nuts over the cheese.
7. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
8. To serve, stand the melon on a plate and surround it with leftover fruit.

Attribution

Good Housekeeping's Around the World Cook Book - 1958