How to Make Edible Vegetable Bouquets

Turn boring into bouquet

Healthy and attractive appetizers do double duty as decor to make entertaining easier on the budget. Bamboo skewers and a vase can turn a boring vegetable tray into edible vegetable bouquets that will be a talking point at your next gathering. Ingredients can be chosen by season, imagination, or the amount of time you are willing to spend.
Have dip in small bowls scattered throughout the room to make it easier for your guests to munch while they mingle.

Things You'll Need

• Leaf lettuce
• Spinach
• Radishes
• Fresh broccoli
• Fresh cauliflower
• Carrots
• Baby carrots
• Grape tomatoes
• Parsley
• Celery
• Fresh asparagus
• Green olives with pimento
• Small pitted black olives
• vegetable peeler
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Colander
• Large bowl of ice water
• Paper towels
• 12-inch bamboo skewers

Instructions

Prepare the Vegetables

1. Cut away wilted or brown spots on vegetables.

2. Wash vegetables and place in colander.

3. Cut cauliflower and broccoli florets from stem and place in ice water.

4. Cut the ends off the celery and make several lengthwise slits to within 1 inch of the bottom on the stalk. Place in ice water to fan.

5. Trim ends from carrots and peel. Thinly slice the thin ends of the carrots and place in ice water.

6. Trim ends from radishes.

7. Wash and trim the parsley and let dry on paper towel.

Radish Roses

1. Carve a hole in the center of the radish.

2. Slice 3/4 of the way down the sides of the radish, making it open up.

3. Cut the stuffed the olives in half.

4. Tuck the olive piece in the hollow at the center of the radish.

5. Skewer spinach leaves near the stems.

6. Push the skewer into the bottom of the radish rose.

Broccoli Flowers

1. Skewer light colored lettuce leaves at the strongest part of the leaf. Use several leaves to contrast with the broccoli.

2. Gently skewer carrot curls to arrange a fanned, not layered, effect.

3. Push skewer through the bottom of the broccoli floret.

Cauliflower Flowers

1. Hollow out an area on top of the floret with a paring knife.

2. Insert sliced olive into the hollow.

3. Skewer lettuce and spinach leaves at the strongest point.

4. Push skewer through bottom of cauliflower "flowers."

Carrot Flowers

1. Form carrot curls by slicing down the carrot with a vegetable peeler.

2. Gently roll 3 carrot curls from one end to another, inserting each completed curl into the center of the one before.

3. Skewer several pieces of lettuce at the strongest part to form the leaf of the flower.

4. Skewer through the center of a carrot slice to form a base.

5. Roll a lettuce into a cone shape.

6. Trim lettuce cone to 1 inch high.

7. Fold bottom of the cone and push folded cone onto skewer, bringing the point back to the inside through one side of the leaf.

8. Place carrot curl flower into the lettuce cone.

9. Skewer a black olive into center of the carrot flower.

Accent Veggies

1. Skewer 3 to 5 grape tomatoes, one on top of the other.

2. Skewer 3 to 5 black olives, one on top the the other.

3. Skewer the base of the celery fan.

4. Skewer a baby carrot from the bottom.

Assemble the Edible Vegetable Bouquets

1. Arrange vegetable flowers into a vase.

2. Add accent pieces.

3. Fill bare areas with parsley sprigs.

4. Trim asparagus and add as needed for height variation.

Tips & Warnings

• Bamboo skewers aren't a good idea for a kid party.

Resources

• Great Ideas for Casual Parties