READER'S ROCK LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 2 ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2014 Vol. 1 Issue 8 Feb. 2014 | Page 68

Lips and Love Basket 1 to 2 long, oval-shaped seedless watermelons Cutting board Green dry erase marker Kitchen and paring knives Melon baller Assorted cookie cutters (X, O and heart shapes), if desired Wooden skewers Toothpicks Strawberries Fruits to make fruit salad filling Large bowl and spoon Wash watermelon under cool running water and pat dry. On cutting board, place watermelon on its side and cut off 1/4 to 1/2 inch from stem end being careful not to cut too deep into white part of rind to provide sturdy base. With marker, draw scalloped line around width of middle of watermelon. Use paring knife to cut along marker line, then separate the two halves. Use melon baller to scoop out watermelon for your base. Cut top half of watermelon in half and use dry erase marker to draw large set of lips on one half. Use paring knife to cut out lips. Once you have general shape, carefully carve away rind. Use paring knife to shape lips into more finished look. Cut remaining 1/4-inch-thick slices and cut hearts, X’s, O’s or other shapes, discarding rind. Attach lips to top of base using wooden skewers and toothpicks. Slice strawberries lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices, keeping strawberry tops on for decoration, if desired. Attach slice of strawberry with green top to center of each scallop using toothpick. Use rest of strawberry slices in fruit salad for fruit bowl. Place fruit bowl on serving platter, fill with fruit salad and garnish with slices of fruit cut into hearts, X’s and O’s, if desired. Bonus benefits Your sweetie will love that they can indulge in the sweetness of the holiday without the guilt or inflated waistline caused by traditional Valentine’s Day treats. A naturally low-calorie option, watermelon also boasts the following benefits: n Vitamin A: Known to enhance eye health and boost immunity by enhancing the infection-fighting actions of white blood cells. n Vitamin B6: Helps the immune system produce antibodies which fight diseases. n Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system’s defenses against infections and viruses. It also protects the body from harmful free radicals which accelerate aging. Watermelon Petit Fours Yield: 12 servings 12 (3-inch) cubes of seedless watermelon 3/4 cup frosting 12 candied almonds Sugar in the Raw, for sprinkling Arrange watermelon cubes on serving platter. Place frosting in zipper bag and trim off bit of one bottom corner. Decoratively pipe frosting onto each watermelon cube. Place almond at top of frosting on each petit four. Sprinkle with raw sugar and serve immediately.