Summertime Jack-o-lanterns

I was chatting with a friend and the subject turned to my daughter's summertime birthday activities. She's too young, but we were thinking how fun it would be for kids to make mini fruit jackolanterns - using those tiny watermelons I've seen at the supermarket. Then I got to thinking, what's stopping us from adding candles and using them as decoration at a nighttime party? You know, along a garden wall? Is the rind to soft or something? Would it rot too quickly for a 4 hour party? And, if it could work, why is this not all over Martha Stewart's magazines ... the idea seems *so* her :) Thoughts?

Sasha (Global Table Adventure)
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9 Comments

Sasha (. June 29, 2011
I wish I did, Sam - great idea! They all come out of the ceiling though.
 
Sam1148 June 28, 2011
If you have a home with central AC with floor vents. Store the watermelons over the floor vent. Saves a lot of space in the 'fridge.
 
Sasha (. June 28, 2011
Helen - I did not know the originals were made from Turnips. Interesting!
 
Sasha (. June 28, 2011
I wonder if oranges would be better than peppers. Hmm. Could be outrageously cute.
 
hardlikearmour June 28, 2011
I think it's an awesome idea. You could get the little LED tea lights to put inside the smaller things like bell peppers. I bet the whole peppers would glow, and if you used the reds, oranges, and yellows they'd be gorgeous! I'd not be too concerned about them wilting in a 4-hour time frame.
 
Peter June 28, 2011
I'd be worried that bell peppers might get a little wilted over time. :-/
 
boulangere June 28, 2011
I think it's a fantastic idea. I hope you'll post photos.
 
Helen's A. June 28, 2011
These should work just fine. How about large bell peppers, too!

Did you know the original ones were made from turnips? see:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack-o'-lantern
 
Peter June 28, 2011
Seeing as how I've carved a watermelon into wedges and left it out in the sum for a Summer BBQ for at least 4 hours, I think you'd be fine as long as you kept them refrigerated up until the party started.
 
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