Like last year, my plan this month is to feature a new recipe each Friday. The goal, of course, is to arm my fellow watermelon lovers with ideas for dishes to create on Thanksgiving (whether you’re a host or a guest). Today’s recipe is an appetizer, which is one of my favorite parts of the Turkey Day menu.

My in-laws make legendary Thanksgiving appetizers. So legendary, in fact, that I practically fill up on the apps before the meal is served. But I’m a trooper, and I manage to find my second wind in time for turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. If they served this appetizer, though, I’d probably polish off the entire thing and have to skip right to dessert.

WATERMELON CHECKERS

INGREDIENTS

• Seedless watermelon
• Your favorite cheese

DIRECTIONS

Cut equal size 1/2-inch-thick square shapes from watermelon and your favorite cheese. Arrange as a checkerboard on a serving tray. Cut small circles of the watermelon and cheese as the “checkers.” Enjoy, and try to resist the temptation to yell “King me!” every time you eat a piece from the last row.

When I saw the name of this recipe, I knew I’d love it. The only thing I love more than watermelon is lasagna, and I’ve also been known to indulge in breakfast from time to time, so that makes this creation a culinary dream come true for me.

The National Watermelon Promotion Board website describes this recipe as “an easy breakfast in 1-2-3,” which is good because my morning often allows only enough time for coffee.

WATERMELON BREAKFAST LASAGNA

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups cornflakes
• 2 cups minced watermelon
• 2 cups fresh blueberries or sliced strawberries
• 2 cups vanilla yogurt

DIRECTIONS

Place 1/3 of the cornflakes in an even layer in the bottom of an 8 X 8 serving dish. Mix together the watermelon, blueberries and yogurt and spoon half of it over the cornflake layer evenly. Sprinkle another layer of the cornflakes over the yogurt and then layer the remaining yogurt over that. Sprinkle the remaining cornflakes evenly over the top.

I decided to have a little fun with this entry by creating a watermelon crossword puzzle. Almost all the answers can be found on the National Watermelon Promotion Board website (a few might require some digging elsewhere if you don’t know the answers). The first person to send me an e-mail at watermelonexperts@gmail.com with all the correct answers will win the watermelon paper plates pictured on the right. Good luck!

A few years ago, something called the Cow Parade made a stop in my area. For those who don’t know, the Cow Parade is a traveling public art exhibit that asks local artists to paint a hundred or more life-sized fiberglass cows, which are then displayed throughout the region, both indoors and out. The Cow Parade has appeared in cities all over the world and dozens of major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Houston and Atlanta.

It’s really fun to see the different designs that are painted on the cows, but one thing I’ve noticed is that there have been several watermelon-themed cows created over the years.

Cow Parade – Tokyo, Japan (2006) – “Suica” (watermelon)

This is the only watermelon cow I could find of the “lying down” variety, but I like this one because of the incredible attention to detail, including the realistic stripes and stem spot on top.

Cow Parade – Atlanta (2003) – “Watermelon Helen and Crazy Crow Cousins”

This design includes a cowbell. The “Crazy Crow Cousins” can be seen perched on Watermelon Helen’s back.

Cow Parade – West Hartford, CT (2007) – “MelonCOWly”

I don’t know much about this cow, except that it’s one of the better watermelon-themed cows I’ve seen.

Recently, not one but two readers e-mailed me to ask about the story behind J. Slice and what the “J” in his name stands for. For those who don’t know, J. Slice is the skateboarding cartoon character designed to educate kids about the benefits of eating watermelon. He was created by the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) and is a member of our “Ask the Experts” panel.

According to the folks at the NWPB, J. Slice was developed using feedback from focus groups made up of adults who have daily interaction with the youth market and elementary school-aged children. The response was very positive by both groups who felt the character represented the energy and vitality of a healthy lifestyle that includes eating lots of fruit and vegetables, especially watermelon.

As for the “J,” that part of his name is a little more of a mystery, but a friend at the NWPB speculates that it stands for “juicy” as in “Juicy Slice.” That makes way more sense than “Joe,” which was my first guess for the name behind Mr. Slice’s first initial.

First, there was the kitten playing with a watermelon. Then there was Gus the bulldog eating a watermelon. Now, the third in an ongoing series of watermelon videos that make you go “Awwww!” I give you “Baby Sitting Inside a Watermelon.” Actually, he’s not just sitting inside it, he’s eating it, too. In other words, he’s living my dream, which will come true as soon as someone grows a watermelon large enough for me to climb into.

I’ve noticed some discussion online lately about seedless watermelons and claims that they are “genetically modified,” which somehow makes them a black sheep in the world of produce. I’d like to take this time to set the record straight and restore dignity and honor to the great seedless watermelon by making this declaration:

Seedless watermelons are NOT genetically modified. They are hybrid watermelons that have been grown in the United States for more than 50 years and are safe and delicious in every way!

Allow me to explain. Actually, I’ll let the National Watermelon Promotion Board explain, because they do a good job of it on their website. Here’s what they have to say:

“A seedless watermelon is a sterile hybrid which is created by crossing male pollen for a watermelon, containing 22 chromosomes per cell, with a female watermelon flower with 44 chromosomes per cell. When this seeded fruit matures, the small, white seed coats inside contain 33 chromosomes, rendering it sterile and incapable of producing seeds. This is similar to the mule, produced by crossing a horse with a donkey. This process does not involve genetic modification.”

So there you have it. Seedless watermelons are just regular watermelons, albeit a relatively younger relative of the traditional seeded watermelon. Despite being the new kid on the block, the seedless watermelon actually outsells its seeded peers by a significant margin. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, only 16 percent of watermelon sold in grocery stores has seeds. In 2003, that number was 43 percent.

Oh sure, sometimes I miss those little black seeds, but it’s mainly for nostalgic reasons. Sort of the way I miss shopping for new clothes before the start of a new school year. Does it mean I want to spend an entire Saturday in the mall with my mother telling me I’ll “grow into” the five pairs of pants we just spent three hours trying on? Not a chance.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedge of watermelon in the fridge with my name on it. Seedless, of course… and my pants fit me just fine.

Our last finalist in the National Watermelon Carving Contest is Joanne E. from Fairfax, VA. The boy in the photo is Jared, who made the helmet which includes his initials carved into the front. I like this entry because it takes the concept of the traditional watermelon carving (an attractive centerpiece) and turns it into a very functional article of headgear!

The third finalist in the National Watermelon Carving Contest was created by 13-year-old Taylor I. from Sterling, IL. According to Taylor’s proud grandmother, “Taylor loves to make different centerpieces and fruit bowls for summer parties.  This past week-end was her grandpa’s 60th birthday party.  They are both musicians and play the guitar, so she came up with the design, drew the pattern for it and carved it herself.”

The guitar took about two hours to create and is modeled after a Fender Stratocaster, so Taylor named her creation “The Stratomelon.” Rock on, Taylor!

Check back here on What About Watermelon on Friday to vote!

Finalist #2 in the National Watermelon Carving Contest is Jeff W. from Glenview, ILL. Jeff created the carving to fit the whale theme of his son Owen’s 5th birthday party. According to Jeff, it was only his second watermelon carving and “very fun for all of the kids to see & eat!”

Check back here on What About Watermelon on Friday to vote!