Fresh fruit on a stick is a big hit

The Beaverton Farmers Market was particularly amazing last Saturday. Luscious berries and peaches, beautiful blooming plants, shiny green zucchini and baskets full of ripe melons.

We had more to do than ogle the fresh goods, however, because we were going to a neighborhood get-together that evening and had signed up to bring a kid-friendly appetizer. I was already making teriyaki chicken skewers, so I thought I would also put fresh fruit on skewers.

We bought blackberries, blueberries, watermelon and cantaloupe. I cut the melons into cubes and washed the berries. Then I rounded up the kids and put them to work skewering the fruit in any pattern they liked.

My daughter, who ate a piece of fruit for every one she skewered, was into patterns. Blackberry-watermelon -cantaloupe, blackberry-watermelon-cantaloupe. My son, not the fruit lover, put together a few all-watermelon skewers because he will actually eat watermelon. I did a few, too, because it looked like fun (especially compared to skewering chicken).

The result was quite beautiful -- and popular. Kids at the party finished off the plate in record time, grabbing a skewer and heading off to play outside. (Small kids got a warning about the sharp end of the stick.) They were easy to make, easy to eat while mingling, delicious and healthy, too. Plus, my kids got to brag about making them.

I wonder what else I could skewer?

Comments

[Heather]

I do believe my daughter would eat ANYTHING if served on a stick. I watched her devour some shrimp skewers the other day and wondered what she would do with veggie kabobs. Love your fruit skewers!

[JillyBean]

If my daughter is dubious about eating something, I cut it up and put it on a toothpick. I've had almost 100% success with this approach. On a slightly more adult note: skewer up tiny tomatoes, feta or boccancini, kalamata olives, mint and/or basil, cucumber, marinated mushrooms (even artichoke hearts) and have Salad-on-a-Stick! Melon & Proscuitto (or other thinly sliced ham) with Arugula. It's a glorious time of year for this! OH! And it's fresh fig season, too!!!