Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Baby shark!
Sorry about that. I got a little carried away.
My dad invited all of my siblings over for a pool party recently and when I got there, he said: "Emily, I have a task for you. I need you to slice up the watermelon."
Ok, dad. No problem.
"I need you to slice it up and make it into a shark's head."
Oh... OK... Let me get right on that...
Even though my dad said he was just trying to be funny, I wasn't about to deliver anything less than a shark on a platter after that request.
The thing is, watermelon carving (or watermelon art, as I like to call it) is actually pretty simple. I've done it on so many occasions and always get complimented on it, so I'm kind of afraid to let y'all in on the secret: It's not as complicated as it looks!
Want to get carving? Here's how to carve your own baby shark watermelon, a perfect snack for hot summer days, pool parties, or just any time you want to get an extra squeal of delight out of your kiddos.
Baby shark watermelon carving
What you need:
- 1 ripe, juicy watermelon
- 2 blueberries or black grapes
- Cutting board
- Large bowl
- Large slicing knife
- Paring knife
- Potato peeler
- Melon baller
- Toothpicks
- Serving platter
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The numbers on the diagram correspond to the numbered directions below.
Directions:
1. Set the watermelon on a cutting board with the vine side to the right. Holding the watermelon and starting at the top left, use your slicing knife to cut an acute angle towards the center of the watermelon. This will serve as the base of your shark head, so you will want to make sure it stands up on your cutting board at an angle. (If it falls over, your angle is too sharp, and you need to trim a little off the bottom.) Slice the watermelon from that cut and put it in the bowl; set the rind aside.
2. With your watermelon sitting on its new flat side, find the original center of the watermelon (where it disconnected from the vine) and measure down about an inch. From there, cut a 45-degree angle out to serve as the shark's mouth. Pull out that chunk of watermelon, slice the pieces of watermelon from it, place in bowl and set rind aside.
3. Using your slicing knife, cut out the watermelon from the top and bottom of the shark's mouth. You will have to turn over your watermelon to remove the remaining fruit completely. Place in bowl.
4. By now you should have a watermelon rind that is angled on the bottom with an open gap at the top. Take your potato peeler and use it to remove about an inch of the green rind on the top and bottom of the #2 cut so the area around the mouth is white.
5. Switching over to your paring knife, start at one end of the mouth and cut triangles in your now white rind to make teeth. Repeat for top and bottom.
6. Use the melon baller to scoop out the rind where you want the eyes to go. Break a toothpick in half, stick it in the socket, and slide a blueberry on top. Repeat for other side.
7. Cut a triangle out of one of the rind pieces you set aside. Use toothpicks to attach this as the fin.
8. Place the completed shark head on a platter and fill it up with the sliced or balled watermelon.
9. Deliver it to your children ... while singing and dancing to Baby Shark of course!š¦
10. Enjoy!
Emily Papa is the publisher of Macaroni Kid South Hills of Pittsburgh.
