The Freshman Cook: Do I Really Need That?

Today we are considering the necessity of a melon baller. I have had one for a long time. I have used it many times for making melon balls and I have also used it to form balls when making truffles, mini cookies, and once when I needed to form mini balls of cheese. It worked great. Earlier this week I saw a melon baller for sale for only $1.00. I know you can find some that cost more.  The only difference I could see between the $1.00 gadget and the more expensive ones was the quality of the materials used to manufacture them. I don’t remember how much I paid for mine, but it was very much worth purchasing. One thing I might note, is that I don’t keep mine in my gadget drawer. It gets use, but not all the time. So I keep it on a shelf in the pantry, where I can get to it quick enough, but I don’t have to move it a hundred times when I am looking in my gadget drawer.

 Lets Make a Fruit Bowl!

1 Cantaloupe

1 1/2 cups Strawberries

2 Bananas

1 individual size Watermelon

Cut your watermelon just a little north of the half way point.

This one sits evenly. I checked it at the store before I bought it.

If you get one that doesn’t want to sit evenly, just slice a

little off the bottom until you are happy with it.

Start scooping the watermelon. 

Put all the scooped balls in a bowl and refrigerate.

Set the watermelon shell aside.

Cut your cantaloupe in half. 

 Scoop out the seeds and membrane.

I used a Tuscan Cantaloupe. This was the first time I have ever had one,

and it was by far the best cantaloupe I have ever had!

 Scoop the cantaloupe out of the melon.

Place in a separate bowl or in the bowl with the watermelon.

Wash the strawberries.

Trim the top off of each strawberry, 

then cut each strawberry in half.

Slice 2 bananas.

 Start to fill up your watermelon half.

I layered watermelon, the cantaloupe, strawberries, 

and then one banana. 

Then I layered it again until it reached the top. 

There it is. Simple and delicious!!

Thanks for joining me today! 

Tomorrow I will post the grocery list for next week!

Have a great weekend!

See you tomorrow.