Watermelon Baby Buggy:)

Hi everyone. Thanks for stopping by again today!

I wanted to give a little shout out to all the lovely blogging ladies out there who are expecting a little one in their lives. I am having so much fun following your journey to motherhood. Thanks for sharing this special part of yourselves on your wonderful blogs!

I thought of you while making (and enjoying:)) this cute watermelon baby carriage:)

Here are some step-by-step photos to show you how easy it is to make a watermelon baby 'buggy':

1. Cut a thin slice off the bottom of your watermelon to stabilize it.

2. Mark off a horizontal line around the middle, and a vertical line slightly off center as shown. I was using a personal sized:) melon, so I used rubber bands, but you can score a guide line with a knife or pencil. The section on the top right is the part to be removed.

3. Starting at an intersection of your markings, make a horizontal cut around the circumference of the melon ending at the opposite intersecting mark, and then around the top as shown. I used a serrated "V" shaped knife. You can make a straight cut or scalloped edge.

4. Remove and reserve the cut section, part of this piece will be used for the handle.

5. Scoop out the watermelon. I made some melon balls, then scooped out the rest with a large spoon.

6. Cut a handle from the reserved piece of melon. I just eyeballed a "U" shaped piece from the middle. Remove the juicy red melon, leaving just the rind for the actual handle.

The knife is pointing to the part that became the handle.

7. Insert 2 toothpicks halfway into each end of the handle. Use about 3-4 inch wood skewers if you have a very large melon:)

Push the exposed ends of the picks vertically into the rind of the scooped out melon at the end for a handle as shown.

8. Attach 4 slices of orange and limes with toothpicks to the bottom as wheels for the carriage as shown. I covered the end of the toothpick with a raspberry hubcap:) Cut off the point of the toothpick inside the melon if it sticks out.

9. Fill the melon carriage with reserved melon balls and your favorite fruits! I was lazy and just used berries, tiny champagne grapes, fresh currants, and yellow husk cherries.

Wouldn't this be cute for a baby shower?

Or to bring over for a new mom:)

Becoming a mom is the best thing that ever happen to me, so seeing all of you really brings back many happy memories of my own feelings at the time I was expecting. It is such an awe inspiring, magical time. I never felt more beautiful then when I carried my beautiful babies, and I hope you do too:)

Watermelon Basket

Hi everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the summer so far (if it is summer where you are!) Our summers are short and sweet here in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of New York, so I have been enjoying it while it lasts!

Thank you all so much for the great response to my last post, Raw Sprouted Bagels. They hit the spot for me when I am craving something "bready" :)

In today's post, I would like to share with you one of my favorite summertime treats, a watermelon basket. It is the perfect thing to bring to a party, BBQ, or potluck. It is naturally raw, and vegan!

Here are some step-by-step pictures to show you how easy it is to create this lovely basket:)

1.) Pick a melon that has a nice shape, and will sit flat. You can remove a sliver off the bottom to level it if needed.

2.) Make two parallel cuts in the center of the melon about 1 1/2 inches apart, going about halfway down the melon. The melon between the cuts will form the handle of the basket.

3.) Starting on either side of the handle, make a horizontal cut around the melon to the other side of the handle cut.

Be careful not to cut through the handle part. I had a "V" shaped knife, but a straight knife will work as well. You can make a scallop or zig-zag edge, or just leave it straight. If you have a serrated cutter used for pumpkins at Halloween, it works well for watermelon:)

4.) Repeat the cut on the other side of the handle, removing both cut-outs.

5.) Cut the melon around the inside of the handle,

and remove the juicy melon.

6.) Scoop out the melon. I used a large serving spoon.

My mini melon was thin skinned, so I left a little flesh to keep it sturdy. Larger melons can be scraped closer to the green part.

7.) Cut up the removed watermelon and mix it with your favorite fruits. If you follow food combining rules, just use other melons, like cantaloupe or honeydew.

8.) Fill the empty watermelon basket with the fresh fruit mixture. Depending on the amount of other fruit, you should have enough to fill the basket two times. Skewered fruit can be used if you prefer, and looks really pretty. I added some little flag toothpicks, for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday:)


Here is a picture of a straight cut basket:


If you would like a few more ideas for the upcoming weekend, please check out my Fourth of July post from last year,

or my Memorial Day post for more watermelon ideas:)












Thanks so much for stopping by my happy raw kitchen today, and I hope you all have a very happy and safe weekend!

Raw Halloween4...Watermelon Brain!

This is the easiest of raw Halloween treats. The famous Watermelon Brain!!!!! This has been around for a while, but in case you missed it, here are some step by step instructions for creating a brain from a watermelon.

Be sure to check my Healthy Raw Halloween Recipes for more raw party ideas.

If you are short on time, this takes about 20 minutes. It can be made a head (hehe) of time and kept wrapped in a clean damp cloth in the fridge:)

Watermelon Brain

Ingredients:

1 small seedless watermelon
Also needed, a peeler and a knife

1. Wash and peel watermelon. I used my soft fruit peeler.

2. Look at the melon and see which side will make the best looking brain:) I put the narrow oval looking side on top. Cut a small slice off the bottom so it is stable.

3. Using a very thin or sharp knife make the first cut down the middle. Widen the cut slightly by making another cut next to the first one at a slight angle about 1/8 inch away. This will allow you to remove a V-shaped sliver of melon and reveal the red um...flesh..underneath:)

4. Using a picture as a guide, continue to carve out slivers of melon in a brain-like pattern.

Hope you enjoy this healthy raw Halloween treat!

Check back soon for more petrifying party food!

Memorial Day

While looking for a quick and easy treat for this weekend, I stumbled upon a recipe on gone raw once again! This one is from rawleen . Watermelon Mini Cake Delights. If you don't have a lot of time, this one is perfect. I actually whipped some up while preparing dinner for my family tonight! Thanks to rawleen for this recipe.

Watermelon Mini Cake Delights













If you make cut out shapes with the watermelon, here is a mojito idea for the scraps.

Watermelon mojito













Simply blend whatever scraps you have leftover with a few sprigs of mint and some lime juice. Add a squeeze of agave , and a splash of light rum, if you do rum :)

Here is a nut free version for those who want all fruit. If you can find those little flag topped toothpicks, that would be so cute! Simply stack melon, banana sprinkled with lemon juice, and blueberries.

Festive fruit stars






















For a real time-saver, use several mini cakes to decorate a large cake cut from the center of a large watermelon to be cut into wedges.
Here is a link to another cute 'cake' idea, and check out this creation!

There are more patriotic ideas on my Fourth of July post.

O.K., time for someone to come and take the watermelon away from me! Here is a layer cake using slices of melon, layers of cream and banana slices.


























I love this photo of the sky diver unfurling the American flag. I snapped it last fall at a classic car show. It was quite moving to watch this as 'The Star- Spangled Banner' was playing on a beautiful day in upstate New York.

Of course, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.
Many thanks to our troops and their families, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I wish everyone a safe and healthy Memorial Day.