Create 'boo-tiful' Halloween carvings with watermelon

This Halloween, why not put a fun twist on pumpkin carving by making some Jack O'Melons? Watermelons carve up boo-tifully, and you can eat the fruit right away, making it easy to scare up some delicious Halloween fun.

Watermelons are a healthy addition to any Halloween party. They're the lycopene leader among fresh produce, are an excellent source of vitamins A and C and contain 6 percent of the daily value for vitamin B6 — all of which boost your immune system.

Carving tips

• Have the watermelon at room temperature when you carve. The cuts will be easier to make. You can chill the watermelon in the refrigerator after cutting and before serving.

• After you've drawn the design on the rind, insert toothpicks in key places to use as guides for your cuts.

• Use a sharp knife with a pointed tip — the sharper the knife, the easier and cleaner the cuts will be.

• When attaching cut pieces on the watermelon to make your design, use round toothpicks or skewers. Flat toothpicks will often break due to the weight of the piece or the thickness of the rind.

BAT JACK O'MELON

Supplies

2 round watermelons, preferably yellow, for the body

Kitchen and paring knives

Cutting board

Green dry-erase marker (preferably washable)

Large bowl and spoon

Candy corns

4- to 6-inch wooden skewers

Toothpicks

Candle or light

Putting it together

Wash watermelons under cool running water and pat dry.

On a cutting board, place the roundest watermelon on its side and cut off 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch of the stem end, being careful not to cut too deep into the white part of the rind. This will provide a sturdy base.

Using dry-erase marker, draw two eyes, an oval for a nose and a smiling mouth that would resemble a bat. Draw two ears and an outline of a forehead, continuing the line around to make the top for the bat that will be removed.

Use a knife to carefully cut away inside of the eyes, nose and mouth and also around the top of watermelon. Remove top and hollow out watermelon with spoon, reserving fruit to use in a fruit salad or punch.

On the second watermelon, use dry-erase marker to draw two bat wings (the top of the wings will have two points and the bottom of the wings will have two points).

Use knife to carefully cut wings out, reserving inside of watermelon to make fruit salad or punch.

Attach wings to side of watermelon bat with wooden skewers, and use toothpicks to attach candy corn as fangs.

Insert a candle to light up your bat and enjoy.