Flower Recipes - Festive Fruit and Veggie Vases

Festive Fruit and Veggie Vases - Recipe and Photos by Jill Slater

Thanksgiving has become one of our Nation's most important holidays and is steeped in tradition. Customary symbols of food and Mother Nature's riches reign supreme. Small fruits and vegetables are such earthly delights and can be transformed into small flower vases. Individually or grouped together as a collection, these festive vessels become the center of attention. In the spirit of abundance, decorate your home to reflect the holiday and the season's harvest. Materials:
	1 persimmon, eggplant, bell pepper, orange or apple all available at the grocery store. Sharp pointed knife. Pointed vegetable peeler. Flowers (see below). 1 or 2 stems of fall foliage as accent. 1 water tube (water tubes are available wherever you buy your flowers or at craft stores). Floral preservative. Floral Clippers. The Following Flowers Create Festive Fruit and Veggie Vases: Yellow, white or orange alstroemeria Orange, yellow or peach Gerbera Daisies Orange, yellow or burgundy miniature spray roses Peach or yellow stock Yellow, white or burgundy freesia Burgundy, green, orange or yellow chrysanthemums Yellow, orange, peach or burgundy lilies Purple lisianthus Purple larkspur Add seasonal berries, grasses and fall foliage to any of these "vases"
Directions:
	Step 1 - With the pointed knife, make a small slit on the top of the fruit or vegetable. Then with the pointed vegetable peeler, make a deep hole in the veggie or fruit for the water tube.
	Step 2 - Fill the water tube with water and replace the plastic cap back on the tube. Now, insert the water tube into the fruit or vegetable.
	Step 3 - Cut the flowers at varying heights. One "vase" may hold a couple of tall flowers, while another may hold just a single bloom cut extremely short. Of course the flowers are inserted into the water tubes in each fruit or vegetable. Now arrange the 'vases' as a group, throwing a few fall leaves on the table for accent. Or, set one vase by itself, perhaps by the bedside or on a small end table. This makes for seasonal, quick and fall decorating flair.
	Note - Fruit and veggie vases look terrific when arranged on a footed cake plate or on a utilitarian tray. For additional sparkle, try adding a few short votive candles to the grouping.

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