Creating a watermelon basket is fun and easy.
Watermelon baskets are a creatively beautiful way to display fresh fruit. Fill with an assortment of your favorite fruits and serve at picnics, parties or festive gatherings. The best part is that there is little mess to clean up -- the whole thing can be tossed into the trash afterward. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Mark a line along the watermelon for the handle and basket. Start in the middle and draw two lines about 2 inches apart over the top of the melon for the handle. From the base of the handle mark, draw another line along the middle of the melon to the tip and then around to the other side. You should have a 90-degree section to cut away. Repeat on the other side of the handle mark.
2. Slice a thin section off the bottom so the watermelon will sit flat. With the tip of your knife, starting from the top of the handle line, begin cutting down to the basket line. Be sure to cut into the flesh so each section will pull away easily. From the edge tip of the melon, cut inward horizontally toward the base of the handle. Repeat on other side. Pull both sections away and set aside.
3. Cut away watermelon flesh from the inside of the handle. With a large spoon, scoop fruit out from bowl until only the whitish-green rind is left. Try to scoop in big chunks so it can be cut into squares and replaced in the basket later. You can also use a melon baller if you would like ball-shaped pieces. Shave the rind skin from the handle with a peeler, if desired.
4. Using a paring knife, cut small triangles, waves, or rounded scallops to decorate the basket's edging. If you're a bit more daring, you can cut decorative edging or designs into the handle and the base.
5. Fill the basket with pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and banana. You can use any fruits that are in season and are pleasing to the eye. Cover with plastic and keep chilled until ready to serve.
Tags: other side, base handle, from handle, handle mark, line along, Repeat other, Repeat other side