As summer winds down and the kids are complaining they have nothing to do, here is the solution. Create a sailboat out of a watermelon. Perfect for cottage and outdoor picnic table fun, carving will engage children and adults alike.
An adult or teenager should do the carving, but young children can help with the assembly and decoration.
Watermelon Sailboat Carving
1 oblong watermelon (at room temperature for easy carving)
Honeydew and cantaloupe balls
Swedish fish candies, for garnish
Tools/Decoration: Pair utility gloves, chef’s knife, green dry erase marker, paring knife, melon baller, dolphin- or fish-shaped cookie cutters, rubber bands, toothpicks, 1 wooden skewer, triangle-shaped piece of paper
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Wash watermelon and place it on its side and cut 5 mm (1/4 inch) to 1 cm (1/2 inch) off the bottom with chef’s knife.
Use a dry erase marker to draw a cut line for the top of the boat and a trim line on the watermelon rind.
Remove the top of the watermelon by following the cut line.
Use a paring knife to cut around a square piece of flesh to leave as the boat’s transom (surface that forms the stern or back of the boat).
Scoop melon balls out of the rest of the watermelon flesh.
Using a piece of rind that has been removed, carve the ship’s wheel.
Cut flesh into wave shapes. Use cookie cutters to make dolphins.
Assemble by filling the watermelon sailboat rind with watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe balls. Put a large skewer into the transom flesh and attach the sail using rubber bands to secure. Attach the ship’s wheel.
Use toothpicks to attach fish candies and dolphin cutouts to the waves that surround the carving. Place waves and dolphins on platter under watermelon or on table, surrounding the sailboat.
Let the kids help themselves to the melon balls and other goodies in the sailboat.
Source: National Watermelon Promotion Board, http://www.watermelon.org
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