Fruit Carving Ideas Including Pineapple Flowers
Whether you are hosting a summer luncheon, a Sunday brunch, or an evening picnic, fruit carving is a great way to create an inexpensive, beautiful centerpiece which will be sure to delight your guests. While some of the techniques involved in carving more intricate designs can be a bit more difficult to master, there are many fruit shapes that beginners can easily create. Yet whatever kind of design you choose, it is important to make sure that you work with sharp tools which can cleanly cut through fruit skin. And because the fruit creations will have exposed fruit skin, it is also important that you wait to begin the process until one or two days before your event. Does this Spark an idea?
Watermelon Basket
To create your watermelon basket, you will need one medium or large watermelon, a spoon, sharp knife, non-toxic water ink marker and a fruit salad which will be used as the filling. After rinsing off the watermelon, cut a thin slice across the bottom so that it can lay flat on a tabletop. Use the marker to draw the outline of the handle of the "basket." The handle will extend around the top of the watermelon, down either side to the "base" of the basket (between 1/3 and 1/2 of the height of the watermelon). Use the knife to cut along the outline. Use the spoon to remove the remaining bits so that you are left with a free standing handle. Hollow out the interior of the basket with the knife and spoon (the watermelon can then be saved and used to create the fruit salad which will fill the basket). To create a more decorative rim, use the knife to cut "v" shapes from the top. Finally, fill your basket with the fruit salad you have prepared.
Mango Moon Flower
To create a mango moon flower you will need a mango, a carving knife and a sharp knife. Make sure you choose an unripe (green) mango which can be more easily carved into a delicate flower. After rinsing the skin, cut the mango along its length into two pieces. Use the carving knife to make a circular cut in the mango flesh of one side. Then use the carving knife to cut eight petals radiating from this center circle, and remove the mango flesh beneath each petal. Create a second layer of pointed petals by centering them beneath the first layer of petals. Remove the layer of fruit beneath these petals as well. Now you should be able to gently lift the flower from the rest of the mango. Depending on the size of the flower you chose, you may be able to make two to three flowers per mango half. These are great as plate garnishes or as cake adornments.
Pineapple Flower
In order to make pineapple flowers, you will need one medium sized pineapple, one sharp cutting knife and one flower cookie cutter. After rinsing the skin, lay the pineapple on its side and cut along the circumference to make slices that are about 1-inch thick. You should end up with 6 to 10 individual disks (depending on the size of the pineapple). Use the flower cookie cutter to cut the flowers out of each individual disk (1 to 2 depending on the width of the pineapple and size of the cutter).
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