Prep: Prep the melon:

Place melon on the chopping board and shave off a wafer of skin to allow the basket to sit without wobbling when it is complete

Imagine putting an elastic band round the melon to mark the cutting line

Take the pointed veg knife because this will only penetrate half way through the melon

Cut following that imaginary line using the point of the veg knife to make a ‘W’ mark

Keep making more ‘W’ cuts as you move round the cutting line

When you reach the first cuts you made you can gently ease the melon apart

Prep the basket and handle:

Scoop out the pips using a large spoon.  Select the half you want to be the basket

And scoop out the melon flesh with a spoon and chop if into bite size pieces

Put this into the mixing bowl

Take the other half and put it ‘W’ cut side down on the chopping board

Using the French cooks knife (longer blade) cut the melon across twice to make a handle.  Remove the melon flesh and chop it up.  Add to mixing bowl.

The remaining melon sections can also have the flesh cut away and diced

You should now have the melon basket bowl, the handle, the flesh chopped up

Prep the other fruits:

Cut the peel from the orange then slice and dice the orange into cubes

Cut the apricots in half, remove the stones and slice the fruit into pieces

Slice the grapes into halves – removing any large pips

Cut any other fruits you want to add into smaller portions

Mix all the fruit in the mixing bowl

Pile it into the melon basket base

Position the handle and decorate the basket with fresh mint or similar

Chill for an hour in the refrigerator