First thing’s first: Yes, I competed in a watermelon-eating contest on Friday. Did I win? You’ll have to wait until Wednesday for my recap!
Second, I’m giving today’s entry the “Second Slice” treatment to help everyone with their carvings for this year’s Watermelon Carving Contest. Not that many of you NEED much help. I’ve seen some of the submissions so far, and they all look amazing. Keep ‘em coming!
Either way, there’s still plenty of time left to submit your entry before the August 4 deadline for your shot at the $500 grand prize or one of the first, second and third place prizes in each category. And don’t forget, the first 50 entrants automatically receive a Dexas watermelon cutting board! (That’s mine under the hippo on the right.)
To help with the carving process, I’ve dusted off some tips originally posted here on the blog during last year’s contest.
TIP #1: USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB
Over the course of carving various watermelon animals, I’ve learned that one knife will not get the job done, especially on the more intricate creations. In many cases, even two knives aren’t enough. For most of my carvings, I’ve needed three knives: one long carving knife for the big cuts, one medium-sized steak knife for other tasks, and one small paring knife (or smaller if you’ve got one) for the detail work. Arm yourself with all three tools, and you’re well on your way to creating a winning carving in this year’s contest!
TIP #2: BE PATIENT!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned while carving each of those designs, it’s the importance of being patient and taking your time. Carving a watermelon requires a little extra care and precision. It’s not like carving a pumpkin, which has a more rigid and forgiving surface. Not to mention that my watermelon carvings were much more intricate than any pumpkin carving I’d ever done (most of which were just three triangles and a jagged mouth).
So, take your time with your watermelon carving and think about each step and each cut before you make it. A good watermelon carving might take you an hour or two to create, but it’s definitely worth the time and effort.
Hopefully, these tips help you in your watermelon-carving process. Honestly, though, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the process. Good luck with the watermelon carvings, and remember: Even if you’ve never carved a watermelon, you should still enter this year’s carving contest. Some of the best carvings in last year’s contest were from first-time carvers!