New Year Apple Garnish

New Year apple decorations made with Triangle "Gourmet" carving tools

Would you like to have something special for your New Year party food? Why not try these apple garnishes looking like new year sphere decorations?

You will need:

Red apples,
decorative picks,
a nice ribbon.

How-to:

Take a decorative bamboo pick (various cute picks and skewers can be found at Restaurantware.com) and attach a nice ribbon knot to it.

Decorative bamboo picks

Make the pick shorter and pin into a red apple.

Red apple looks like a New Year sphere decoration now!

You can stop at the point or add a little carving work to the apple, it will look much impressive then.
For making the patterns on apples I used riffle cutters from Triangle carving tool set "Gourmet" .

Carving New Year styled apple

Here we go!

New Year apple carving 

Happy New Year!

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Christmas Food Ideas. Gnome Sandwiches

Gnome sandwiches

Cute Gnome sandwiches to make you smiling :)

Ingredients:

bread cut in half,

Hochland cheese,

olives for eyes and mouth,

small cherry tomato/carrot ball for a nose,

bell pepper (red, green, yellow) for hats,

mayonnaise for hat's fur.

See more sandwiches on GarnishFood Blog

Gnome sandwiches and cucumber curl

Shared at 

Hochland Facebook page 

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1 Year Birthday Party, Christmas Theme. Fruit Santa, Fruit Christmas Tree and Macaron Towers.

Last weekend I was asked to make fruit and sweet displays in Christmas theme for 1 year birthday party.

I must say that we have no customs for sweet tables yet here in Sakhalin. The sweet industry is not developed well and it is difficult to find all the sweets, candy and cake pops to organize a sweet buffet. 

After talking with a client we deciced on a large fruit tower to the chocolate fountains, sweet macaron towers and some Christmas fruit sculptures. 

The party was held in a restaurant with about 150 guests including children. The sweet table was organized in a special zone there children could have fun, being face painted and enjoying the games while adults were enjoying their meal. 

Check up more of my Christmas food and sweet ideas

Christmas Theme Birthday Party

Fruit tower 

height 70 cm

the base diameter 35 cm

Macaron towers

height 40 cm

base diameter 16 cm

85 macarons for 1 tower.

Fruit tower and macaroni tower

Fruit buffet and sweet towers, chocolate fountains come later

Fruit sculptures for kids:
Fruit Santa in Sled
Orange Baby Penguins

Fruit Santa in Sled and Orange Penguins

Cute Baby Penguins out of oranges

Macaron tower

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Christmas Soap Carving Ornaments - DIY

Cute Christmas soap ornamnets

Soap carving for Christmas

I got this idea of Christmas soap carving ornaments after reading Soap Carving books of Miho Morita.
Mrs.Miho Morita (http://fruitscarving.wordpress.com) is a famous carving teacher and tutorial book writer in Japan. We have met at Carving Contest Event held in Tokyo in 2011. I took a lesson from Miho-sensei and it was a great impulse for me.

Miho Morita's style is elegant and looks like a lacework carved in melons. She also does cute carvings in soap like soap cakes, flowers and jewelry.
In 2012 Miho-san published a new book on soap carving. I was lucky to get all the books, the first (2009) and the second (2012).

Soap Carving Tutorials by Miho Morita

These books are high quality printed with bright and beautiful photographs of the soap carvings in the beginning and photo tutorials afterward. It is written in Japanese, but understandible pictures make it easy.

What I like about the books is that tutorials have brief schemes showing possible mistakes, so you can awoid them. This made me feeling my teacher is always close by me to help :)

The books gave me a new vision for soap carving art. They are inviting to soap carving and crafting, I am sure they will be interesting for people with basic and advanced carving skills.

You can order the books in Amazon Japan. They have English page and provide international shipping.
Soap Carving, Blue 2009
Soap Carving, Pink 2012

Soap carving books by Miho Morita,  blue (2009) and pink (2012)

Inside the book

Inside the book,
photographs of cute carvings and How-To photo tutorials afterward

Christmas Soap Carving Ornaments

click photo for a bigger size

Though Miho Morita teaches to use a thai knife only with a little help of cutters, I used my Triangle tools for making the soap ornaments. So you will enjoy the soap carving in any case with having tools or not.

Palmolive and Nivea soap bars are good for soap carving

Instruction:
I used Nivea ans Palmolive soaps for the crafts.

Glue soap details with water. Foam a soap surface using a wet cotton bud, attach the details and let them fix.

Santa Boot

1. Slice a red soap bar.

2-3. Cut it in a shape of a boot using a thai knife.

4. Slice a white soap bar.

5. Give it a 'cloud' shape.

6. Make a hole in the boot with a toothpick, insert a thread. After that glue the white details in both sides of the boot.

Christmas Flower

1. Use a red soap slice. Make a hole in the center with a smal U-knife.

2. Make a same hole in the white soap slice. Insert the white detail in the red.

3-4. Make holes around the central one and replace them with the white details.

5-6. Use a goffer U-knife for shaping the flower and cut it out.

Christmas soap ornaments in Wonder Tree

Palmolive soap bar for Christmas tree 

Christmas Tree

1. Slice a green soap bar.

2. Use small and big U-knives and thai knife for the craft.

3. Cut the soap to point to make a tree top.

4-10. Use smal and big U-knives for modeling the tree.

How to carve Christmas tree in soap

how to make Christmas tree in soap

Soap is a nice material to play with. I am sure you will enjoy it :)

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3D Chocolate - Christmas Tree, Hearts and Eggs - DIY

I have good news.
1. Some of the Carving Contest's winners have recieved their prizes.
2. It is December and it means Christmas Rush is on.

I have a big hope that all winners will get the prizes before December 31. I wish they can use the things for  the Holiday food presentation. 

As for me, I have got new toys too :) I try the new things out. One of them is Lekue silicone mold for 3D chocolate. 

3D Chocolate made in Lekue Silicone Mold

Christmas Tree, Hearts, Hare and Easter Eggs

3D Chocolate Christmas Tree

3D chocolate hearts

Chocolate made in Lekue 3D molds

You need:

Lekue silicone mold (Christmas Tree, LoveMold)

Chocolate (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, orange, green, white and any),

Sugar decorations for cakes (sugar balls, flaked coconut, sprinkle mix).

Method:

Melt chocolate in a microwave/water bath 

I use water bath. 

Fill the mold with melted chocolate and spread the chocolate by shaking the mold. When you shake the mold  you make air ball go out and the chcolate surface becoming smooth and shiny.

Put some sugar decoration on the chocolate surface.

Or you can go other way. Draw an ornament on the mold using a bright chocolate, let it freeze, and after that fill the mold with dark chocolate. 

Let the chocolate freeze. 

Gently demold chocolates and build the sculptures by bringing the parts together. 

Spread the melted chocolate in the mold.
Shake the mold to make the surface shiny and smooth

Easter eggs and hare 3D mold

freezed chocolate ready to be demolded

Easter eggs and Hare looks great idea for Christmas

3D chocolate Christmas tree and hearts

This recipe is submitted to:

No Rules Weekend Blog Party

Lets Cook Edible Gifts For Christmas 1 Dec - 31 Dec

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Savory Corn Crumble with Butternut Squash, Spinach and Feta from Ivy of Kopiaste

What do you do wirh carved fruits and vegetables after they were displayed? I use them for cooking.
Apples, oranges, kiwi, pineapple go to baking and compote (a Russian drink). Beetroot, daikon, bell pepper, carrot, pumpkin and squash go to soups and stews.

Today I am sharing a Savory Corn Crumble recipe by Ive from Kopiaste blog. Kopiaste blog is mainly dedicated to Greek and Cypriot meal. For her Savory Corn Crumble Ivy used a butternut squash which is great for crafting and delicious cooking :)

Savory Corn Crumble with Butternut Squash, 

Spinach and Feta

 This sponsorship is brought to you by GLAM Media who we have partnered with for this promotion.

Savory Corn Crumble with Butternut Squash, Spinach and Feta, recipe by Ivy Liacopoulou of Kopiaste…to Greek Hospitality

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Baking time: 1 hour

Serves: 1 baking dish (about 12 pieces)

Ingredients:

Filling:

• 2 lbs butternut Squash, grated
• 1 lbs spinach, squeezed
• ½ cup olive oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 lbs feta, crumbled
• ½ cup parsley, finely chopped
• ½ cup fennel fronds, finely chopped
• Salt (with caution) and freshly grated black pepper
• A pinch of cumin

Crumble:

• 1.5 lbs corn meal
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 200 ml Greek yogurt 2%
• 4 eggs
• 1 tbsp salt

Additional ingredients:

• 3 tbsp margarine divided (to grease the baking tin and to add on top)

Directions:

1. Grate the pumpkin and mix all the filling ingredients.
2. In a large bowl add the crumble ingredients and mix using your hand until the ingredients are well blended to form the crumble. If you still see corn meal, add more olive oil, if necessary.
3. Grease a 35 x 25 cm baking tin with 2 tbsp margarine. Add half of the crumble on the baking tin.
4. Add the filling on top and sprinkle the remaining crumble on top of the filling.
5. Add the remaining margarine in small pieces scattered all over the baking tin.
6. Preheat oven to 180o C / 350o F and bake for about 1 hour or until the crumble is golden on top.

Serve as a main dish, a side dish or a snack.

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Carving Contest's Result and Winners

Dear friends,

The Contest is over and I am happy to announce the result. It was a hot competition. We met friend's support. Lot of efforts were applied to win. 

I thank ALL OF YOU who participated and who voted! 

At the end of this article you will find statistic data of the contest poll. 

Please meet the top winners!

1st place

Fall Flower Bouquet by Durdana, Bangladesh

Wonder Tree and a nice leaflet with WT decoration ideas is flying to Bangladesh.

I wish the Wonder Tree will bring joy and astonishment to Durdana's family. Thanks for all!

2nd place

Family Day by Rodolfo, Philippines

Watermelon plate is flying to my Philippino friend. 

I hope it will serve well for fruit carving job of Rodolfo. My congratulations!

3rd place

Tailed Beast of Fire by Jesse, Philippines

The set of 6 carving books is flying to Philippines.

Jesse, I hope you will find them advantageous. 

Looking forward to seeing your new amazing carving!

The Special Awards Winners

The Special Awards are kindly granted by a famous online shop TempleofThai.com. Many times my blogging activity has been supported by TempleofThai Team. Thanks for being with me!

The Special Awards Winners have been picked on by a guest judge, a showman and a creative person, Samsam Bubbleman. You may be wonder to get known that Sam can 'sculpt' with soap bubbles!

The Most Amazing Work

The Spirit Of Freedom, by Roger, USA

Roger is given with a set of carving knives

The Beginner's Award

Rock Melon Centerpiece, by Amy, Singapore

Amy is given with the Fruit Carving How-To DVD

And... TADAAM

We couldn't stop rewarding the participants:)))

The Standing Out Work

Shoes, by Homa, Iran

The Shoes has got lot of feedback as unusual and different work. 

It was also featured by Sam as outstanding work.

Homa is given with a present from me! :) 

My congratulations to all the participants! In the end I'd like to share a message form Jesse about the Contest:

I am happy that I joined that competition  and see my effort was supported by so many people. This event inspires me alot to work hard and practice more in culinary carving. Thanks a lot Selena, my dream is to join the actual international carving competion and meet the best people there and you also.. this event given me one step forward to pursue and continue with this.. a big thanks to you and your team..

The statistic data of the Poll

The poll used anti-cheat algorithms. The system calculated based on geographic location, client info and IP address. Poll service provider is http://www.easypolls.net

The Contest Voting page have had 24994 views in the period from October 25, 2012 to November 10, 2012.

5031 people have voted.

5338 votes were made (multiply selectons were allowed).

Blog views by Top 20 countries (Oct 25, 2012 - Nov 10, 2012):

Poll results (a screenshot)

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Contest's Poll is ending on November 10, 2012

Dear friends,

The Carving Contest is coming to the end. The poll will be closed on November 10, in midnight Alaska (USA) time, 24-00 GMT -9. 

I thank all the friends and visitors for giving support to the Contest's participants! Great job has been done. We are having leaders and they are yet competitive. It is very intriguing. Don't miss the fight and help our participants to win the main prizes, they are 

a Wonder Tree 

a Watermelon plate 

and a set of unique 'How-To' books on carving art.  

The other surprising things will be the Special Awards prepared by TempleofThai.com, the famous online shop of tools, knives, books and DVDs on fruit and vegetable carving art. 

Temple of Thai accepts different payment methods and sends the products worldwide. If you need a good carving knife you are welcome to them! Two of our participants will be nominated for one of the following award and will be given with the wonderful prize from Templeof Thai as

The Most Amazing Work – A set of carving knives

The Beginner’s Award – “FruitCarving How To” DVD

The Special Award Winners will be choosen by my Facebook friend, Mr.SamSam Bubbleman. 

Frankly speaking, a carving artist has the only judge, it is a consumer. And our best award is joy of our family, friends and clients. SamSam Bubbleman will not judge you, and no marks and points will be count. Sam's job is to amaze people and make them happy :) I am glad to have such a cheerful and kind 'judge'. 

Check up the Contest's Voting Page 

and support your favorite artist by your vote.

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Black Cats and Pumpkin Heart

Black cats out of zuccini skin

Black cats out of zuccini skin and a pumpkin heart as a top decoration of the fruit display made for the 1st birthday of a young girl. 

This is my 'Cute Halloween Greeting' to all my readers and friends! 

Fruit display for kids

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Autumn Ikebana Arrangement

We are having Ikebana Sogetsu week here in my hometown. Six teachers from Sogetsu Branch in Sapporo came to Sakhalin to exhibit thier arrangements and teach. Being a student of Sakhalin Sogetsu school I set up my Ikebana arrangement with vegetables (Morimono).

Usually Ikebana arrangements have no names. It lets people to think thier own meaning. The main point of Ikebana is beauty of natural materials (flowers, leaves, branches). Sogetsu is a free styled Ikebana art. 

This time I used whole pumpkins with no carving elements.

The first day of the exhibition

Once done, a master of Ikebana cares for his arangement till the last day of the materials live. You have to refresh and rearrange the components to extend the beauty of the Ikebana. 

The forth day of the exhibition. Rearranged by my teacher.

Learning Ikebana art helps me to see beauty in the simple things. I use some Ikebana principles for making my carving arrangements. 

I also hope that the Carving Contest's participants will take advantage of the Ikebana rule and will care for thier voting results till the last day of the Contest poll. 

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Urgent and Important Note About the Contest Poll

Dear friends,

I recieved messages about the Contest Poll fault, that does not count votes. Indeed, the Google Poll service works incorrectly. It sounds like a Halloween nightmare! I have changed the poll service and restarted the Contest Poll. I am sorry if you voted, but your vote didn't count. Please visit the page back and vote again. 

The Contest Poll is prolonged to November 10, 2012. 

I am so sorry for the mess. Hope you understand, and the situation didn't hurt you.

Thanks and hugs!!

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