How to Create Edible Bouquets

Meghan: Maybe it is because I was an economics major, but anything that kills two birds with one stone is a good idea to me. You know on Valentines Day becomes so close to getting it right. They have the beautiful flowers and the candy and if they would just combine the two together, then they would have such a dynamite idea. I mean who would not love to get an edible bouquet? They are beautiful, they taste great and the best part is they are unique. I mean they are so unique, I did not even know they existed until I got an email from somebody asking me how to make them and you know when I got that email, I could have just kicked myself. Why did I not come up with that? Oh well, the good news is today we are going to get to learn how to make edible and I am so exited because I do not normally get to play with food. When it comes to cooking, Chef Jason Hill knows what he is talking about. He not only graduated valedictorian from this culinary school but also worked in some of the top kitchens in Chicago and Los Angeles and now he hosts the internet show Chef Tips. Jason: Hi I am Chef Jason Hill Meghan: Where he demonstrates the correct way to cook and select your next meal. But today, I was only concerned with the presentation because Jason was giving me a private lesson on how to make edible bouquets and he claimed it would be easy. Right, easy for a pro to say. Jason: This is going to be so easy. It is going to be to be unbelievable. After we get done with it, you are going to be like “wow that was easy!” Meghan: All right, so where do we start. Jason: Well when we start the bouquet, we want to take the skewers first and we are going to skewer it into our little vase here. Meghan: Oh, I should lead. Jason: Okay. And basically what I do is I just kind of start from the center and work my way out and we will do the same thing as we go ahead and place our fruit on to the skewer as well. Meghan: All right. Jason: So, we have got different size skewers. We want the heighten skewer, so we are going to— Meghan: We started by putting the longest skewer in the center of the foam. Then we will put various size skewers in the foam. Some were short, others stuck out far and in the end the skewers looked like they formed a half orb. You want to make sure yours looks that same way too and once they are all in, the fun begins, or I should say began. Jason: Okay looks like we have got enough in there, so now we will concentrate on getting the fruit cutup. Meghan: You want to cut pineapple or melon into roughly half to an inch slices. Look at that, you make it look so easy. Once the slices are cut— Jason: This is really easy. Meghan: Take a cookie cutter, a flower one preferably and cut out slices of the fruit. Easier said than done, oh my gosh. Okay. This is why I do not do cooking shows. Jason: It was a little thicker than— Meghan: Yes that was my thought, I cut this. After cutting numerous flower shaped, pieces of pineapple and melon, resist the urge to eat them. I mean I find myself tempted just to pick up the pineapple pieces that are scraps and just go. Oh that is really good. They are the finishing touch for the edible bouquet. But before they can be put on the skewers, they need a center. Jason: I just break off the tip of a toothpick. Put it in the center of the pineapple and we will add a little grape. Meghan: Oh that is easy. Jason: Yes. Meghan: Oh that is really easy. Oh and it looks so cute. Once the flowers are finished, it is time to put the fruit on the skewers. Start from the middle and work your way out. First, put grapes on the skewers. You can also use melon balls. Then at the end of each skewer, put one of the fruit flowers. To add some extra color and yumminess to your bouquet, put a few chocolate covered or plain strawberries on the end of the skewers and once every skewer is full, we will be amazed by how good it looks. Does that not look amazing? That is just incredible, looks so good. Jason: It definitely touches the eye. Meghan: Yes I just want to eat it and yes. I am must admit it, Jason was r