When you create a sculpted fruit centerpiece for your dining room table, you are making both a colorful eye-catching center of attention and a delicious addition to your party menu. Without a lot of work, a watermelon basket and pineapple boats will make a festive statement the minute guests walk in the door. And what a bonus for health conscious partygoers to know they can partake in those appealing treats with a clear conscience.
Instructions
1. Select the watermelon, the pineapple, and the various fruits you will use as the "filling" for your centerpiece. When choosing a watermelon, you want one that's long rather than round and, ideally, flat enough on the bottom so it won't roll. The pineapple should be large. For fresh fruit, choose whatever fruits are in season, but try a variety of colors. For example, you might select kiwi and green grapes, bananas, cantaloupe and purple grapes.
2. Use a marker to draw the basket shape onto the watermelon. (See Resource section.) You are simply cutting away the top section of the watermelon and leaving the "handle" on top. Using a carving knife, cut out the basket. Next, cut the pineapple in half; cut completely through the length of the pineapple. Make sure you leave the greenery on the pineapple intact.
3. Scoop the pineapple out of the pineapple "boat," cutting it into bite-size pieces. Set aside. Scrape out any remaining pineapple to give the deepest depression possible. Use a melon ball scoop to make balls from the watermelon. Set aside. Scrape out the remaining watermelon from the bottom of the basket.
4. Slice or cube the other fruits, except the grapes. Kiwi is best cut into fairly thick slices to keep it from falling apart; cut bananas thickly as well. Remove the skin from peaches and plums before slicing; you don't need to peel apples and pears. Leave berries (strawberries and blueberries are good choices) whole. Cube the cantaloupe or scoop out balls, just as you did with the watermelon.
5. Mix together the pineapple cubes, the watermelon balls, and all the other fruit in a large bowl. Add some maraschino cherries for a bright-colored accent. Spoon the fruit into the watermelon bowl and the pineapple boats. Center the watermelon basket in the middle of the table flanked by a pineapple boat on either side.
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