Valentine's Day Special by Queenie Mendonca

Valentine's Day is traditionally celebrated on February 14, a day to exchange tokens of affection regardless of age.  Many schools send in a list of student's names to exchange valentine candies and cards.  Over one billion cards are sent on this day in the US each year and women purchase around 85% of all valentines.  In addition to cards, millions of  boxes of chocolates and bouquets of roses purchased (mostly by men) on this special day.

First thing comes to our mind when you talk about Valentine's Day is Love, which symbolizes Red Heart and a cupid. So, my hunt began in search of a watermelon, the perfect fruit for carving a Valentine Day card.

Following are the fruits and vegetable I used for the carving: 
One watermelon
One apple
One grapefruit
One red bell pepper

As usual, I washed the watermelon and towel dried.  Using a pencil, traced the outline of hearts, cupid and letters.  Then carefully scraped the skin around the letters, cupid and hearts.  Carved the top heart on the watermelon carefully starting from around the 'I Love U'.  Then slowly spooned the watermelon to give a red color appearance to the heart.

I carved three heart shapes each from an apple, grapefruit and bell pepper.  Finally, using toothpicks, I arranged the apple hearts on top of the Watermelon and the other hearts on heart shaped grapefruit.

Here is to all Valentines: "Wishing you A Very Happy Valentine's Day".  Love be with you always.