DIY
warm up winter with
W TERMELON FUN
STORY AND PHOTOS BY FAMILY FEATURES
SNOW: IRINA GUTYRYAK; WATERMELON GRAPHIC:
MARIUS AUZELIS/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS
T he cold chill of winter may have
you feeling trapped indoors with
nothing to do and nowhere to go,
but fun activities fit for the whole family can
add excitement and chase away those winter-
time blues. Paired with an appetizing snack,
at-home crafting provides a relaxing way to
keep your mind and body moving.

Warming up with family-friendly activ-
ities starts with a versatile (and delicious)
option like watermelon, which can be your
sweet superstar all year long. As a center-
piece for evenings at home or gatherings
and get-togethers, its versatility creates
zero food waste with endless creative uses
in the kitchen, from rind-smile snowmen to
handheld snacks.

When this year’s first snowfall offers a can-
vas for creativity and entertainment, gather
your loved ones to make this Watermelon
Snowman. Fresh-cut and personal-sized
watermelons are the predominant options
in wintertime, and they’re perfect for putting
together this festive work of art. All you’ll
need is a collection of kitchen knives, an ice
cream scoop, melon ballers, skewers, some
decorative “clothing” and blueberries for a
fruit salad served right out of the snowman.

While you’re hard at work, ease your
appetite with a quick and easy snack like
Watermelon Glazed Meatballs. Start with a
homemade watermelon puree mixed with
barbecue sauce. Then, saute frozen meat-
balls and top with the sweet glaze for a
perfect wintertime treat. Along with its deli-
cious taste, watermelon is also a nutritious
hydration source, which is just as import-
ant in winter as it is during warmer months,
and provides an excellent source of vitamin
C with 25% of the daily recommended value
in each 2-cup serving to support immunity.

These tasty morsels also make for a simple,
shareable appetizer while hosting through-
out the season. Just lay them out on a serving
tray and pop toothpicks into each meatball so
guests can grab and go while mingling.

To find more family-friendly crafts and
sweet snack ideas, visit watermelon.org.

4 U sing mini melon baller or paring
knife, scoop out holes for nose and
mouth. Carve one piece of water-
melon into triangle for nose and fill
mouth holes with blueberries.

5 6
7 On platter, using large wooden skewers,
connect all three watermelons.

Insert y-shaped sticks in middle
watermelon for arms.

Fill bottom sections with fruit salad of
melon balls and blueberries. Decorate
with scarf and hat.

WATERMELON SNOWMAN
kitchen knives
1 round seedless watermelon
WATERMELON GLAZED
MEATBALLS Servings: 8
2 personal-sized watermelons, one
larger than other
watermelon purée:
ice cream scoop or large spoon
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
melon baller
24-36 frozen prepared mini meatballs
mini melon baller or paring knife
1 cup prepared barbecue sauce
blueberries 1 cup watermelon purée
1 fresh watermelon
large wooden skewers
y-shaped sticks
scarf hat
1 U sing knife, cut 1/4-inch slice off
bottom of round seedless watermelon
and both personal watermelons to
provide stable bases. Use smallest
melon for head, second largest for
torso and largest for lower body. Set
aside smallest watermelon.

2 C ut tops off large and medium
watermelons to create bowls. Using
ice cream scoop or large spoon,
scoop out flesh.

3 U sing melon baller, scoop eyes out of
smallest watermelon. Invert melon
balls and reinsert.

TO MAKE
WATERMELON PURÉE:
1 2
3 4
R emove seeds from watermelon and
cut into large chunks. In blender,
process until smooth.

I n large, heavy saute pan over medi-
um-high heat or electric skillet set to
325° F, heat oil.

Saute mini meatballs until browned
and hot. Reduce heat to low.

M ix barbecue sauce and watermelon
puree. Pour over meatballs and
simmer 2-3 minutes. Serve hot. T
Source: National Watermelon
Promotion Board
WashingtonFAMILY.com 9