Watermelon boat

 
                              Watermelon Boat
 
 Recipe By     : Taste of Home, June/July, 1997
 Serving Size  : 32   Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Salads                           Taste Of Home
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1      cup           lemon juice
    1      cup           sugar
    2      teaspoons     all-purpose flour
    2                    eggs -- beaten
    1      cup           whipping cream -- whipped
    1      large         watermelon
    1      large         honeydew melon -- cut into cubes/balls
    1      large         cantaloupe -- cut into cubes/balls
    2      pints         fresh strawberries -- sliced
      1/2  pound         green grapes
 
 Combine lemon juice, sugar and flour in a saucepan; bring to a boil.  Reduce
 heat to low.  Stir 1/4 cup into eggs; return all to pan.  Cook and stir for
 15 minutes or until mixture coats a spoon (do not boil).  Cool.  Fold in
 whipped cream; cover and chill until serving.  For watermelon boat, cut a
 thin slice from bottom of melon with a sharp knife to allow it to sit flat.
  Mark a horizontal cutting line 2 in. above center of melon.  With a long
 sharp knife, cut into melon along cutting line, making sure to cut all the
 way through.  Gently pull of top section of rind. Remove fruit from both
 sections and cut into cubes or balls; set aside. To cut decorative edge,
 place melon on its side.  Position a 2-1/2-in. 8-point star cookie cutter
 against inside edge of melon, allowing only half of star to cut through
 melon.  Insert a toothpick into flat edge of removed piece.  Attach piece
 onto melon edge where last cut ends.  Repeat cutting and attaching pieces
 until; entire melon edge is completed.  Combine honeydew, cantaloupe,
 strawberries, grapes and watermelon; spoon into boat. Serve dressing on the
 side.  Yield:  32-36 servings (about 2 cups dressing).  Editor's Note:  Any
 star or petal cutter with an even number of points may be used.  Or serve
 this salad in an 8-qt. serving bowl. 
 
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 NOTES : "'Wow!' is what folks will say when they dig into this lovely fruit
 salad piled high in an eye-catching watermelon boat, relates Ruth Seitz of
 Columbus Junction, Iowa."