Sweet Summertime Snack Ideas
(Family Features) In the warm summer months, nothing beats spending time together creating fun snacks that promote healthy eating and a little creativity.
The summer boasts a wealth of fresh fruit to draw inspiration from — especially everyone’s favorite — watermelon. Its cool, juicy flavor speaks to your senses. Plus, it’s packed with key vitamins and minerals, so it’s a snack you can feel good about serving to your family.
Fabulously Fresh Ideas
Kick off this fun-in-the-sun season and make memories with fresh ideas that get the whole family involved. Create a splash at your next barbeque or summer party with this adorable Mermaid Tail. Fashioned from watermelon rinds, your family will love to help you create this masterpiece as well as devour it. Need to perk up lunch? Your family will love mixing and matching their own flavor combinations with Watermelon Sandwich Wraps. These healthy, edible creations are sure to bring about many smiles.
You can find more sweet summertime recipes and ideas at www.watermelon.org.
Wacky Watermelon Facts
—The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred in Egypt some 5,000 years ago.
—Watermelon is the most consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
—Early explorers used watermelons as canteens to store liquids.
—To date, the world’s heaviest watermelon was recorded in 2005 and weighed in at 268.8 pounds.
—Watermelon is made up of 92 percent water.
Mermaid Tail
- Cutting board
- 1 large oblong seeded or seedless watermelon
- Kitchen knife and paring knife
- Large bowl and spoon or scoop
- Green dry erase marker
- Channel knife
- Dowels and toothpicks
- Optional decorations (found at any craft store): Edible turquoise shimmer powder/disco dust, mermaid cookie cutters, light blue or turquoise fabric or mermaid decorations.
- Wash watermelon under cool running water and pat dry.
- On cutting board, place watermelon on its side and cut off 4 inches from one end of watermelon to provide a sturdy base. Cut remaining watermelon in half lengthwise.
- Hollow out both halves of the watermelon with spoon or scoop, reserving watermelon pieces to dice up for serving or cutting out mermaid shapes.
- Use dry erase marker to trace mermaid tail freehand lengthwise across one entire half. With knife of your choice, carefully trim away to form the outline of mermaid tail. Use the channel knife to form scales and details.
- For added detail, brush on edible turquoise shimmer powder/disco dust (purchased at cake decorating store or craft store).
- Use pencil-sized dowels to secure the mermaid tail to top of base. Decorate with watermelon cubes or mermaid watermelon cutouts and serve.
Tip: If using the mermaid watermelon cutouts as topper for cupcakes, as shown, add watermelon cutout with toothpick or small dowel first and then ice around it.
Source: Watermelon Board