I love going to summer picnics and seeing all the variety of dishes that arrive. One that was always neat to see was the watermelon that was carved into the fruit basket (what a lot of work). Well, this fruit treat makes a great summer picnic bring along too. I was so excited to come across it one day because its unique presentation, although not as elaborate as the fruit basket, but quite different.

Summer Melon Treats

• 1 large cantaloupe
• 1 3 ounce package of gelatin (strawberry banana, cherry, or raspberry)
• 1 cup of boiling water
• ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

Directions:

Lengthwise cut the melon in half (from bud to stem), remove all seeds. Next cut a thin slice off the bottom of each have so the melon sits flat (or find a small bowl to set each half in securely). Take applesauce and strawberries and stir into gelatin. Next pour into melon halves. If there is any leftover gelatin, discard or pour into a separate mold. Refrigerate over night after covering with plastic wrap. Right before you are ready to serve, slice each melon half into three wedges. This makes 6 servings.

To lighten up this dish I would suggest getting sugar free gelatin or for a tasty treat add some lite non-dairy whipped topping.