Decorate your serving trays, plates with a few of these ideas:
Cucumber Spirals Materials:

  • English cucumber

  • Chopstick or skewer

  • Sharp paring knife
 
Step 1: Cut the ends off the cucumber, insert the chopstick or skewer into the entire length of the cucumber.
Step 2: Using a sharp paring knife, start at the top and cut into the cucumber until you reach the chopstick or skewer.
Step 3: Continue cutting in a spiral motion all the way down the cucumber. Be sure the knifepoint stays against the chopstick or skewer.
Step 4: Leave about 2 or 3 cm of skin between each spiral.
Step 5: Use for a platter garnish. For a plate garnish, use a pickled cucumber.
 
Fruit Fans Materials:

  • Strawberries (other fruits may be used)

  • Sharp paring knife
 
Step 1: Be sure the fruit is in good condition with the green stem intact.
Step 2: Hold the strawberry with the green cap toward you, then cut parallel lines along the fruit toward the cap.
Step 3: Fan strawberry out on a dessert plate or salad plate. Sprinkle lightly with icing sugar.
 
Plate Painting Materials:

  • Raspberry sauce (frozen raspberries, sugar, cornstarch)

  • Vanilla sauce (egg yolks, sugar, scalded milk, vanilla, light cream)

  • Plate

  • Toothpick
 
Raspberry Sauce:

  • Puree 3 cups of thawed frozen raspberries in a blender.

  • Add sugar to taste (approx. 125 ml)

  • Place in a saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves.

  • Continue heating and stirring until the mixture is translucent.

  • Add a pinch of cornstarch to thicken, if necessary.
 
Vanilla Sauce:

  • Whip 2 egg yolks and 60 ml sugar until fluffy.

  • Slowly pour 180 ml scalded milk into egg yolk mixture.

  • Wait until it doubles in volume. Pour it back into the milk saucepan and cook slowly, stirring continuously until mixture thickens.

  • Mix 3 ml vanilla and 125 ml light cream together in a separate bowl.

  • Add to heated mixture. Refrigerate with plastic wrap on the top to prevent a film from forming.
 
Step 1: Pour enough raspberry sauce onto the plate to cover. Roll the plate around to spread the sauce thinly and evenly, covering the plate.
Step 2: Place the vanilla sauce in a plastic bottle with an applicator tip and swirl the white vanilla sauce over the raspberry sauce.
Step 3: Use the toothpick to draw lines from the centre outward to the edge of the plate, creating an almost spider web image on the plate For a different look, alternate that stroke and pull the toothpick from the outer edge inward.
Step 4: To make hearts, dot the vanilla sauce on the raspberry sauce and draw the toothpick through the centre of each dot.
Step 5: Gently place your favourite dessert on top and enjoy!