This recipe got raves, and honestly the "BBQ" is so darn cute. We will probably have to make it again. You can't see the celery "legs" to the BBQ here, but they add a lot of charm. This great idea has spread to a lot of cooking sites, but I think it originated at SheKnows.com.
Ingredients
- 1 round watermelon, on the small side
- 3 sturdy stalks of celery (soak in cold water in the fridge overnight for more strength)
- 1 pack of fresh blackberries (these become “charcoal”)
- Various fruits for kebabs, washed and patted dry: we used two colors of grapes, strawberries,, cantaloupe, and the the watermelon. You can also try blueberries, star fruit, kiwi, mango, and pineapple
- 8″ wooden skewers
- Melon baller (or you can use a knife to hollow out the watermelon and cut the fruit into chunks.)
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon crosswise, with the bottom piece slightly larger than the top piece.
- Using an apple corer or a pumpkin carving tool, bore three small holes in the bottom for the celery stalks, which will later form 3 legs. Make the holes a little smaller than the celery so they will allow a very tight fit.
- Use a melon baller or knife to hollow out the watermelon halves. Save the fruit for the skewers.
- Create the grill grate by gently pushing wooden skewers through the top edge of the watermelon bowl, in parallel lines. Trim the excess with clippers.
- Drop the washed blackberries through the “grate” to make the charcoal. Remove a skewer if necessary, and replace.
- Push the celery, cut into three matching lengths of about 6-7″, into the holes to form the legs. If needed, insert skewers inside the celery for stability. You could even use small dowels and hide them with the celery stalks.
- Let the kids go wild making the fruit kebabs with the watermelon balls and whatever fruit you have chosen. They can “BBQ” their skewers on the grate.
- Enjoy!
More Information
My last question to the kids was, when you’re in the grocery store, can you imagine other things that could be made with vegetables, fruit, bread, or other raw ingredients that would be cute like this? For instance, you could carve a loaf of unsliced bread into anything (let’s say, a couch) and you could make creatures out of vegetables to sit on it. Great centerpiece, no? I will give a prize to whomever comes up with a great idea we can make! And, hopefully, eat.
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