Make Your Own Edible Centerpieces

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Make Your OwnEdible Centerpieces
Consumable art for your table
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When you are planning a party or celebration,
how important is the food?
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• Most social gatherings include a meal or
  refreshments.
• Holidays and celebrations are often closely
  associated with food traditions.
• Can you name some holidays or special
  celebrations and their associated foods?

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Valentines Day chocolate Independence day
cookouts, picnics Halloween candy Thanksgiving
- turkey dressing Birthdays - cake with
frosting Christmas - cookies
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An edible centerpiece can be a festive
alternative to high fat, high sugar, high sodium
treats.
Getty Images, used with permission
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U. S. Department of Agriculture, used with
permission.
MyPyramid.gov recommends that adults following a
2000 calorie reference diet consume 4 servings (2
cups) of fruit daily.
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Most Americans consume less than half the
recommended amount of fruit each day. You can
obtain a personalized plan at MyPyramid.gov
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• A diet rich in fruit may reduce the risk of
  developing
• stroke
• coronary heart disease
• type II diabetes
• kidney stones
• certain cancers, such as mouth, stomach, and
  colon-rectum

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The following slides will show the procedure for
making an edible fruit centerpiece.
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1. Select supplies and ingredients
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Supplies and equipment, cont.

• Equipment List
• sharp knives
• wooden skewers
• melon baller
• kitchen shears
• cutting boards
• flower shaped
• metal cookie
• cutter

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Supplies and equipment, cont.

Choose firm fruit that does not turn brown when
exposed to air
Grapes Fresh pineapple Strawberries Cantaloupe Ora
nge wedges
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Supplies and equipment, cont.
Which of these would not be a good
choice for use in an edible arrangement?
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Supplies and equipment, cont.

• Suitable containers should have deep sides and
  be
• Food safe
• Waterproof
• Opaque

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Supplies and equipment, cont.
Avoid using clear containers, as skewers will
show through the glass.
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Supplies and equipment, cont.
Baskets should be lined with food grade plastic
to waterproof.
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2. Wash produce
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Prepare produce, cont.
Wash fruit, lettuce, and kale under cool running
water and gently pat dry. Scrub cantaloupe with
a clean, firm brush under running water.
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3. Prepare the base
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Prepare Base, cont.

• Place a chunk of iceberg lettuce in the bottom of
  the container
• Cover with kale to create a leafy background

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4. Prepare cantaloupe balls and wedges
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Prepare Cantaloupe, cont.
Insert melon baller into cantaloupe and rotate
360 degrees to make melon balls.
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Prepare Cantaloupe, cont.
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5. Prepare Pineapple flowers
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• Pineapple Flower Procedure

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6. Prepare grape and strawberry skewers
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Prepare Skewers, cont.
Place strawberries on short skewers or toothpicks
Place several grapes on skewers
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7. Assemble centerpiece
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Assemble, cont.
Push skewers through kale and into iceberg
lettuce base below in circular rows.
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Assemble, cont.
Add pineapple flowers and grape skewers.
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8. Cover and refrigerate
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Wrap finished arrangement in food grade plastic
and refrigerate until serving.
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9. Serve
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Just two or three skewers from the arrangement
will equal one ½ cup serving of fruit.
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It is simple and fun to encourage more fruit
consumption with a pretty fruit display. Make
one for your next celebration.
Getty Images, used with permission.
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The End
Make Your Own Edible Centerpieces was developed
by Robin Fisch M.S.

• References
• MyPyramid.gov, U. S. Department of Agriculture
• The Health Value of Fruits and Vegetables, Iowa
  State University Extension, July 2000

This program has been supported by the Illinois
Association for Home and Community Education
Support Fund, 2010