How To Carve A Watermelon Hedgehog

I don't often make posts centered around recipes or making things - but this I HAD to share! I made this cute Watermelon Hedgehog for a party last summer and it was a wild success. I didn't invent this idea but I had a lot of fun making it. The entire process took about an hour.

Here's what you'll need:

• A medium/large round seedless watermelon
• Blueberries
• Cutting Board
• Large cutting & pairing knives
• Toothpicks
• Large bowl & spoon
• Towels (you may be more tidy than I, but juice got all over my counter tops!)

So first you'll want to either pick a watermelon that either has one flatter side to it OR after washing the melon, you'll want to slice about 1/4" off the ground spot to create a flat foundation for your critter. Take care not to cut too deep into the rind or this will allow juice to leak out the bottom... no bueno!

photo source: whataboutwatermelon.com

Next you'll want to cut the top off as shown above. Remove this large piece and set aside. Taking the large spoon, scoop out the lush fruit from said removed portion and the rest of the melon. Chop into cubes, drain and set in the large bowl.

photo source: whataboutwatermelon.com

Now grab your pairing knife and cut small ridges along the cut line. The more uneven and irregular the better - this will resemble the hedgehog's spiky coat.

photo source: whataboutwatermelon.com & yours truly

Using the removed rind, cut out a small nose as shown above. To attach it, place toothpicks just above the stem spot on both sides and slide the nose over the other end of the toothpicks. Then stick a toothpick on the tip of the nose and place a blueberry on the end.

For the eyes, simply stick two toothpicks a little above the nose and place a blueberry on each end.

To make the ears, draw two curved upside-down "V"s that come to a point somewhere on the outer area of the face, wherever you like. Carefully cut with a pairing knife. Using your finger, GENTLY push from the back (inside the melon) until the ear is slightly protruding - not too hard or they will break off. To help them stay this way, I wedged a toothpick inside, behind the ear.

Using the remainder of the removed rind, cut four rectangles of equal size for the feet. The photo above cut them slightly more angular than I did - I just stuck with rectangles to keep it simple. I also, later ended up only using two feet for the front, as the back two would not cooperate with me! Attach with toothpicks, rind side down, to the bottom edges of the hedgehog as shown.

Finally, fill your hollow creature with the cubed watermelon, sticking toothpicks in for the hedgehog quills. I later added more toothpicks for a more authentic look.

Voila!

Le Hedgehog

I am

Olli

Michael & MariKate Wilson

Nearly two months later! Although to be fair, the wedding pics were only recently posted.

Sleepy Hollow Farm

The wedding party! 14 bridesmaids & 14 groomsmen!

This was an ALL OUT wedding, folks. The feast, the catering service, the props and decor, the band, the millions of tiny tea light candles adorning every available surface... (and yes, that is a small canoe loaded down with fresh shrimp from the gulf).

Ya'll, Mike & Marikate set out to thoroughly bless their friends and family. As we waited for the wedding party to finish with photos, I meandered through hay bale after hay bale that had been adorned with fine cheeses, deli meats & fruit - on top of catering staff offering delectable, silver-trayed appetizers every few minutes! Peanut's Mom made the rounds of introducing me to close family friends, the food was incredible, including this bubbling pot of cheesey grits at the end of the line they were dishing out into hollowed plastic martini glasses. Now, I have never been the biggest fan of grits (essentially mushy cornmeal), but lord have mercy... not only did I lick that glass clean, but I found a shish kabob stick and dug out the remnants of what had fallen into the stem of the hollowed martini glass... Somebody baptize me and call me a convert!

There was a live band and boy, did that woman have some pipes! They were a prime example of why I have always wanted live music at my wedding. They had contagious personality and pzazz and got even the most reluctant of dancers (*ahem*...Peanut) to get up and tap their toes. 

The ceremony itself was gorgeous and I'll admit, I got a little weepy when I saw Michael openly crying and covering his face as Marikate walked down the aisle. During communion a few of the groomsmen got up and played a song, a light breeze passed through the branches of the tree they were married under and I sat comfortably between Peanut's mother & sister, Hannah. And even though there were so many in attendance who did not know me... I was part of a family. I belonged right there between those two beautiful women. If there was anything God shed light on during that trip, it was that I have found a family in the Etheredges. 

And that grits and I can be friends now :)

I am

Olli