Floral Garnish Without The Flowers Dedicated To Bergy Recipes

FLORAL GARNISH WITHOUT THE FLOWERS (DEDICATED TO BERGY)

Steps:

• Do not peel the cucumber. Start by cutting off 1 tapered end of the cucumber & discard it. Cut 3 segments (3/4 in wide) from the cucumber & halve each thru the center. You now have 6 segments.
• Place 4 of the segments (center cut side down & rind side up) on your cutting board & cut ea diagonally so you have 8 segments that will form the petals of the flower.
• Use 1 of the last 2 segments to thinly slice the half-moon pieces that will form the stem of the flower & trim them as shown in the pic.
• Using a vegetable peeler, peel 1 or 2 strips of cucumber rind & cut into several leaf shapes as shown in the pic.
• Using a 1-inch diameter cookie cutter (rd or scallop-edged), cut cheese slices for the pieces that will be the center of your flower. Assemble the garnish on your platter as shown in the pic or as desired. All done!

GARNISHES OF FRUITS & VEGGIES PART #1

Steps:

• FOR THE CANTALOUPE OR ORANGE, using a V shaped tool, insert tool about middle ways cantaloupe all around fruit till you reach your original starting point. Scoop out seeds and fill with fresh strawberries, or grapes, or blueberries or other fruit of your choice.Add a maraschino cherry to the orange half.
• For the RADISH ROSETTES, with a small paring knife, cut off a small bottom and top of veggie, and beginning as the base of veggie, using a paring knife, cut thin peel away from veggie but not all the way through. With next cut cut into first cut, and do this all around veggie as you work your way to the top, and then put in a large bowl of ice water, and allow cuts to open up like a flower.
• For the ACCORDIAN RADISH, cut off base, and top & using a paring knife make thin slices into the vegetable but not all the way through length wise, then place in bowl of ice water and allow to open up.
• TOMATO ROSE: Peel tomato with a sharp knife being sure to make one continuous long strip. When finished starting at the end roll up into a curl fashion and insert an olive, or piece of carrot. Place on bed of kale, lettuce, or use around a pot Roast or other meat item.
• GREEN ONION FLOWER: With a sharp knife, cut half of green top of onion away, chop that portion into small circles, and use on top of other food items, with the remaining portion, take a sharp paring knife, and cut each blades into 3 or 4 strips , and then place in a large bowl or glass of cold ice water, and watch them bloom and curl use as garnish on veggie tray, or other dishes of your choice.
• BABY DUMB BELLS: Take baby carrots, and place a black olive on each end of carrot to make the dumb bells. Add to a relish or vegetable tray. With a regular carrot, & using a vegetable peeler, cut long strips from carrots, and take each strip and form it into a circle, and stick a tooth pick in it, or thread it alternately on to a tooth pick, the put an a bowl of cold ice water and allow to get crisp.
• You may not use all of these ideas, but at least it lets you know some of the things you can do to make your food more appealing and perhaps encourage your kids or grandkids to eat it. God Bless, & I hope you like these ideas.