Fresh Fruit Platter
- 2 small ripe melons
- 1 "golden" pineapple
- 2 bunches grapes
- 1 pint fresh figs
- 1 pint raspberries
- 1 pint strawberries
- 1 pint blueberries
- 1 red papaya
- I like to begin the platter with a base of ripe, colorful, sliced melons and pineapple--for example, cantaloupe, honeydew, Galia, or Cavaillon melons, plus the new "golden" pineapples.
- Peel the outside of a whole melon, cut it in half through the stem end, and scoop out the seeds.
- Place the melon halves cut side down on a board, and slice them straight across into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
- Fan each half-melon out slightly and arrange it on the platter.
- Next, cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple, peel the outside, and use a sharp knife to remove the "eyes."
- Cut the pineapple in half lengthwise and remove the core by cutting a "V" down the center of each half.
- Again, place the pineapple halves, cut side down, on a board and slice them straight across into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
- Fan the slices out and arrange them next to the melon on the platter.
- Once the base is set, you can add any kind of fruit that's available.
- I like to have one thing that is taller than the rest, such as a large bunch of grapes or a decoratively cut papaya, to give the platter height.
- Then I add raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and fresh figs in casual but organized groups.
- The platter can look like a bowl of M&M's if there are too many colors scattered with no order.
- Visually, your eye needs to have a focal point and to be able to see each type of fruit.
- After all the fruit is arranged, I add flat green leaves around the outside of the fruit, to set off the colors.
- Use lemon and galax leaves from your florist, or fig leaves and grape leaves from your garden.
- Make sure they are pesticide-free and well washed.
- Any kind of fruit will work well on this platter.
- For special occasions, add persimmons, kiwi, passion fruit, Queen Anne cherries, fresh apricots, and mangos.
- Choose whatever is colorful and seasonal.
melons, golden, bunches grapes, fresh figs, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, red papaya
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/fresh-fruit-platter-recipe.html (may not work)