Watermelon Shark Recipes

Steps:

• Using a large sharp knife, cut off one end of the watermelon so that watermelon stands at an angle. Using a razor blade or small knife, score an opening for the mouth. With knife, cut out and remove mouth. Cut out triangles for teeth; remove rind from teeth., For shark fin, cut a triangle from removed rind; attach to shark with toothpicks. For eyes, attach two grapes with toothpicks. , Remove fruit from inside watermelon; cut into cubes. In a large bowl, combine watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries and remaining grapes. Finely grate peel from oranges and squeeze juice. In a small bowl, mix preserves, orange juice and peel; add to fruit and toss gently., Stand shark on a platter. Fill opening with some of the fruit mixture; add a few Swedish Fish if desired. Serve with remaining fruit.

Steps:

• Using a large chef's knife, cut both watermelons in half lengthwise through the stem. With a melon half flesh side up, cut vertical lines into the flesh (leaving rind intact) 1 inch apart and about 2 inches deep along the length of each half, leaving a 1-inch border of flesh on both ends. Repeat this process with the lines going in the opposite direction. Use a spoon to scoop out the watermelon pieces into a large bowl (it's okay if some of the spears break in half as you are doing this.) Repeat with the remaining melon halves. Use the spoon to remove as much of the flesh left in the watermelon halves as possible and save for another use.
• Cut 1 1/2 inches off both ends of 2 of the watermelon halves (these halves will become the middle parts of the bowl). Cut 1 1/2 inches off one end of the 2 remaining halves (these will become the bookends of your bowl). Use the flesh left in the watermelon ends to stamp out sharks with a 3-inch shark cookie cutter and set aside.
• Use a metal skewer to outline waves along the top edge of each watermelon half. Then carefully cut out the wave pattern using a sharp paring knife. Take one middle piece and one bookend piece and place the flat sides together to create half of the large bowl. Thread the metal skewer through the bottom of the watermelons to secure them together. Repeat this process with the remaining watermelon halves and another metal skewer to create the other half of the large bowl. Place both halves on a large platter with the two middle pieces pushed together (these parts do not need to be secured with a skewer as they will stay together on the platter).
• Fill the assembled watermelon bowl with the reserved watermelon chunks. Mix the berries and grapes together and scatter on top of the watermelon, covering it as much as possible, then add the melon sharks.

Steps:

• Make diagonal cut at one end of watermelon to cut off bottom fourth of melon. Stand watermelon, cut side down, on work surface. Use marker to draw the shark's mouth on watermelon as shown in photo. Use paring knife to cut along lines. Remove watermelon cutout and reserve for making the shark's fin.
• Scoop pulp from large watermelon piece into large bowl, reaching into mouth to scoop out the flesh and leaving a 1-inch-thick shell on bottom and sides. Blend removed pulp, in batches, in blender until smooth. Pour watermelon purée through strainer into separate bowl, pressing strained solids with back of spoon to remove as much juice as possible. (You should have about 6 cups watermelon juice.) Discard any remaining watermelon pulp or reserve for another use.
• Pour 2 cups watermelon juice into saucepan; bring to boil. Remove from heat. Add dry gelatin mixes; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add to remaining watermelon juice in bowl; mix well.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until thickened, stirring every 15 min.
• Meanwhile, invert watermelon shell to drain juices from shell. Use tip of vegetable peeler to cut shallow outline 1/2 inch around mouth opening, piercing the green rind but not going through the white rind of the watermelon. Use paring knife to cut out triangles for the teeth. Cut pulp from reserved watermelon mouth piece; discard removed pulp or reserve for another use. Cut trimmed watermelon rind into fin shape; secure to back of watermelon shell with toothpicks. Use melon baller or paring knife to scoop out 2 small rounds for the eyes; fill with blueberries, securing each berry to watermelon with additional toothpick.
• Pour thickened gelatin mixture into watermelon shell. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.
• Decorate with gummy candies as shown in photo just before serving.