Petite Watermelons

Hello, Jell-O! by Victoria Belanger

"After seeing these little creations on various foodie blogs around the Web, I was inspired to make my own version of these treats," says Hello, Jell-O! author, Victoria Belanger. "A sweet strawberry puree encased in a lime ring and sprinkled with tiny black seeds, these tiny watermelon slices will have people fawning over their inherent adorableness."

Note: Serve this recipe within a day of preparation, as the lime rinds will make the gelatin bitter, if stored for too long.

Ingredients:
1 cup boiling water
1 (3-ounce) package 
strawberry-flavored gelatin
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen and thawed strawberries
1/2 cup cold water or vodka
5 limes, halved, pulp scooped out and discarded, and rind halves reserved
1 teaspoon black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or basil seeds

Directions:
1. In a bowl, add the boiling water to the gelatin and stir until the gelatin is fully dissolved. Transfer the gelatin to a blender.

2. Add the strawberries and cold water and blend until liquefied. Refrigerate until thickened. Skim off any foam that has risen to the top of the gelatin mixture and stir to evenly distribute the strawberry puree. Spoon into the lime rind halves. Refrigerate until firm.

3. Carefully halve the gelatin-filled lime rinds again. Sprinkle with the seeds and serve.

Makes 20 fruit slices.

Excerpted from Hello, Jell-O! ©2012. Reprinted with permission of Ten Speed Press. Recipes by Victoria Belanger, photographs by Angie Cao.