Americana Watermelon Basket

Stars (or simply chunks) of red watermelon, "white" honeydew melon and fresh blueberries create an easy, patriotic-themed fruit basket.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 large red seedless watermelon
1 honeydew melon
Fresh blueberries

Cooking Directions:

1. Using an oblong watermelon, slice 1/4 inch off the bottom lengthwise to provide a stable base.
2. Use a pencil to draw lines for handle placement and basket opening. Cut the handle first, wide enough to hold stars, then make zig-zag cuts with a paring knife, all the way through the rind (be careful to not cut through handle base on either side).
3. Carefully remove sections, pull out large chunks of flesh, and cut them into 3x3-inch squares.
4. From squares, trim off 3/4-inch thick slices to use for cutting out stars. To cut stars use 1 1/2 to 3-inch star shaped cookie cutters.
5. Next, cut out 5 large star shaped pieces from the left-over rind, (use a paring knife if necessary), for the handle. Trim off red flesh and attach to basket handle with white side out with half toothpicks.
6. Use an ice cream scoop to remove flesh from inside of basket and cut scoops into quarters for the fruit salad. Place in bottom of the basket.
7. Use a white fleshed melon such as ripe honeydew to cut out white "stripes" for salad.
8. Garnish top of fruit salad with watermelon stars, melon stripes, and blueberries.

Makes 12 servings.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of the National Watermelon Promotion Board.