Make an Elegant Fruit Centerpiece for the Holidays

1 lg pineapple

1 quart fresh strawberries

1 cantaloupe 1 honey due melon

1 small watermelon

1 bunch large red or green seedless grapes

1 jar pitted marachinomarachino cherries

2 heads endive or some other fancy leaf lettuce

1 box fancy toothpicks, one lg serving tray (round works best) sharp knife, spoon

Step1: Pineapple

With a sharp knife cut about 1 inch off the bottom end of your pineapple. Cut the top off about 1 inch into the pineapple and put top aside for later use. Now cut pineapple in half lengthwise, and cut each half lengthwise in half again. Starting at one end, carefully slice meat along the husk of each section until it is detached, but leave it in the husk. Use your knife to trim out the core. Cut down the middle of the pineapple meat only to the core (not through it) and then crosswayscrossways evenly so that you have 8-10 chunks in husk. Place on plate, cover and refrigerate.

Step 2: Melons & Watermelon

Cut each melon lengthwise in 1/2 and each half lengthwise in half again. Scoop out seeds. Using knife cut lengthwise between the melon meat and rind until separated. Now cut melon meat into about 1 in bite size chunks. Separately place each kind of melon into quart size baggies or covered container and refrigerate.

Step 3: Strawberries, Lettuce and Grapes

Rinse in cool water, drain and set aside to dry. Rinse maraschino cherries till the water runs clear.

Step 4: Putting tray together

Place lettuce along the outer end of tray, so that curly leafy sides drape over the outer edge of tray slightly. Place pineapple top in center of tray. Now section off the tray into quarters with your 4 pineapple sections placing them lengthwise in tray making equal sections between them. in one section place the honeydew and in the next section arrange strawberries leaf side down in tiers. Put cantaloupe in the third section and watermelon in the fourth.

Step 5: Garnishing tray

Cut maraschino cherries in half. Pierce each half in middle with fancy toothpick skin side up , and stick them to pineapple quarters making 2 rows lengthwise with them down center of each. Now take the bunch of grapes and drape over the pineapple topper in center of tray. secure if needed with toothpicks