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Thursday, June 20, 2013

USING EDIBLE FLOWERS







 Garnishing 




Grilled Chicken Salad and Rose Petal Ice Tea

For my Tables for Two lunch I served a simple grilled chicken salad. Since I was serving only a salad for lunch I wanted the presentation to be pretty. Using edible flowers from my garden, I tossed a few in the greens and used the prettiest for garnishing. We love our iced tea here during hot months so with the roses plentiful I decided to make Rose Petal Ice tea. 
If you use flowers other than from your own garden make sure no pesticides were used.
We do a lot of grilling and we always prepare meats for two meals. Jim grilled the chicken the night before my lunch. Grilling four skinless, boneless chicken breasts, we had grilled chicken, new potatoes and salad for dinner. The two remaining breast were put in the refrigerator to serve cold on a bed of greens for lunch the next day.


Grilled Chicken Salad

Favorite spring lettuces, add favorite tomatoes




Slice the cold grilled chicken and add to greens





Add Edible Flowers and  favorite Salad Toppings
 your favorite vinaigrette on the side





Rose Petal Ice Tea



Six large Roses


Rinse and Drain Roses






Separate petals

Bring four cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat, add rose petals and cover. Allow to sit overnight in refrigerator.




When you are ready to mix the tea, bring two cups of water to a boil. Add six green tea, teabags. Cover and steep for thirty minutes then strain into a large container. Strain the fresh rose petal water and add to tea. Mix in two teaspoons Rose Flower Water (flavoring), add sugar or preferred sweeteners to taste. If you want more color to your tea add a drop of pink food coloring. Stir and pour into your serving pitcher and garnish with a rose. So tasty and pretty, worth the time. 



I’m using pansies in my salad and to make ice cubes. Rinse flowers in water and drain.




Hold your rinsed flowers in refrigerator





For ice cubes snip stems from flowers 


















Edible flowers are a lovely way to add color and garnish a dish. Be sure you use edible flowers safe for consumption, not all flowers are and some can make you ill so check first. Also make sure your flowers are pesticide free. Here is a helpful link for edible flowers. So tell me please, have you made recipes with edible flowers?



Linking


55 comments:

  1. Your meal looks so delicious! The addition of flowers makes the presentation so pretty...Christine

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  2. I am WOWED !!! I did not know you could eat pansies or roses.They are so gorgeous on your salad.I am going to try this for sure...thank you so much for sharing this.this is a most wonderful post.
    XXOO Marie Antoinette

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  3. Beautiful flowers and photos Emily, I am intrigued with the ice cubes, what a wow factor for a party! Pinned some things to remember, thanks!
    Jenna

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  4. Emily, how delightful! I love edible flowers, and the ice cubes are truly special. I hope you have a fantastic weekend. It's a horse show weekend for us.

    xo,
    RJ

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  5. Emily, I MUST attempt your recipe. Cooking seems to be the creative flavor in my life at the moment. I have made the flowered ice before and it is so beautiful. The colors are mesmerizing, and I spy my favorite glasses from Paris too. ;)
    Loved this.
    xoxo's

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  6. Oh Emily, your lovely presentation of your food and iced tea is absolutely gorgeous! I will have to try the ice cube with pansies. They're just so pretty. Thanks for the inspiration. xo

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  7. Everything looked beautiful AND delicious!!! HPS!! Dana

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  8. YES....that's tea in the Mason Jar. :) Thanks for asking! Dana

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  9. My kind of dining. A very pretty post.

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  10. I don't think I've ever eaten flowers. But your beautiful photos definitely tempt me to give them a try.

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  11. What a delicious looking meal...love the ice cubes.
    Have a wonderful week, Emily...

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  12. I'm always amazed at your presentation and your style!!!Everything looks perfect for a summer lunch. I've never tried edible flowers but it looks so pretty. Love everything.
    Ann

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  13. lovely!
    and I'm imagining, entirely delicious !
    ty for sharing your creative inspy with us
    {and for visiting me at FHC !!}

    HapPy PS =)

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  14. What delightful and delicious looking images! I totally want to try those ice cubes.

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  15. Oh my goodness, this is magnificent!!! Love the salad and the ice cubes!

    Great to have you at Seasonal Sundays!

    - The Tablescaper

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  16. Impressive presentation of salad and tea with edible flowers. Your photographs are g-r-e-a-t too!
    JM Illinois
    U.S.A.

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  17. Everything is gorgeous here, but you really got to me with the ice cubes. I am going to try this and I think I just may need a set of those Fleur de Lis glasses as well!

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  18. Oh wow, your food looks pretty and delicious! I love the idea of using the edible flowers for garnish and the ice cubes. Lovely images! Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!

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  19. Oh my gosh, Emily! Every picture is so gorgeous! And what great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing this post with us. I saw it over at Cindy's "Dwellings" party.

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  20. You've given us a lot to think about! I've never used edible flowers but they are beautiful, especially in the ice cubes! I think that is the prettiest way to use them! You have so many wonderful ideas! And thanks for the link!

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  21. Oh, how pretty! I love your beautiful table settings, and everything looks so delicious! Xoxo

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  22. Very creative and yummy looking photography ~ Wonderful! ^_^

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  23. my goodness! what colourful garnishes! I would have never thought of doing it - although I know you can use nasturtiums like this. My mother used to tell us they used to eat nasturtiums sandwiches as a child.
    Thank you for sharing your glorious table with us.

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  24. Wow! You have made me hungry. The food photos are great but the flowers in the frig. just take my breath away. Your ice cubes are wonderful. Lots of inspiration, thanks for sharing. Kathy

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  25. Such a wonderful post! I can't decide which photos are more beautiful- the flowers or the food! Love the pansy icecubes - how pretty for a summer party or barbeque.

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  26. Oh my, this is such a special post! I think the salad is fit for a 5 star restaurant, & the ice cubes are inspiring. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

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  27. The flower ice-cubes are so pretty. It's a great idea... I'm off to pick flowers in my garden to make some!

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  28. Oh wow! I eat salads almost every day. I'm going to add edible flowers now too. Your pictures are stunning!!!

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  29. Quite beautiful! I was recently reminded of edible flowers via The Splendid Table on NPR. What a great way to add some summer color to a plate. And I will definitely be stealing the pansy ice cubes idea! Brilliant!

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  30. A delightful table and yummy looking lunch.

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  31. Emily,
    What a delicious luncheon. That rose petal tea , well everything sounds divine. I'm glad to find your beautiful blog!
    Bises,
    V

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  32. Hi Emily, I stopped by for a sec to grab your URL because I am actually making my own visited blogs list before Google Reader shuts down July 1st. I had no clue so just in case it affects my blogroll, I just want to be ready. Maybe this will help with the feed. I moved all of my google reader subscribers to Bloglovin with just one click. As far as feedburner, I've read feedly is a good choice. I do hope all these changes taking place soon will help with your blog feed.
    xoxo's

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  33. The table looks so pretty! Such lovely presentation!
    Thanks so much for linking to Let's Dish!

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  34. Oh, sweet Emily...you are SOOO good at making PRETTY !!!

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  35. These are just gorgeous. I love it all, but want to try the ice cubes.

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  36. What a beautiful dish! The flowers are wonderful! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  37. Emily, I read this post earlier on my phone, but couldn't comment. Visit with Susan and John was great, but left me with little time for the computer. This post is amazing. Your presentation is worthy of a grand restaurant. It's truly stunning! Thanks for sharing this beautiful meal and your talent as an incredible entertainer.

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  38. Wow! Using flowers makes the whole dish look more interesting - and pretty :) Awesome presentation! ~Pernilla

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  39. The edible flowers make for such a dynamic presentation!

    Wonderful to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  40. Everything sure looks wonderful. You did a great job with the instructions and the presentation.

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  41. Hello lovely friend. I stopped by to let you know that I'm hoping that Google Reader's termination will help with your linking troubles. Funny, but today when I entered your web address, the page opened without the warning I was getting last week that the link was broken. I hope this means it is now resolved. Fingers crossed. :)
    I wrote a little note on Bloglovin on my sidebar that may be of help to you if you'd like to transfer the pages you follow via Google Reader in just one click. I did it a couple of days ago and it was AMAZINGLY EFFORTLESS. If you need any help, feel free to email.
    Wishing you a lovely weekend.
    xoxo's

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  42. Emily, your meal looks too pretty to eat. Almost, that is. Yum, yum, yum! I have only used flowers for garnish. I have froze pansies for ice and love they way they look. The rose tea sounds so wonderful! Have never tried that before. Thanks for sharing the recipe with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  43. What wonders! Great ideas, it is always good to be here and look at these wonders!
    Kiss and beautiful week to you!

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  44. GORGEOUS presentation!!! I wouldn't want to eat it, too pretty! Your photos are amazing, can only imagine how beautiful this meal and tablescape was in person! Thanks so very much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  45. Hi Emily, Thank you for sharing this at the Open House party. The food looks wonderful and your table is table is beautiful!
    xx,
    Sherry

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  46. I'm still amazed about the edible flowers. this post is so wonderful. I loved coming back to visit. I hope you had a wonderful Fourth. Mine was just fantastic. You take care...LOL...Please don't eat the daisy's...
    Happy Fourth,
    Marie Antoinette

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  47. I love this post, Emily! The first or second year Rick and I dated, I filled the top of his birthday cake with nasturtiums. He was impressed indeed! (The kids thought it was very weird, but what can you expect from 10 and 12!) I don't do this now as often as I'd like -- thanks for the extra motivation.

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  48. Hello sweet Emily, I've missed visiting with you.
    I hope you're off vacationing somewhere beautiful and come back to share pics with us. If not, any of your pics are always like a vacation so either will do. :)
    Enjoy the rest of your summer.
    xoxo's

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  49. Such a beautiful way to display your meal. Your table is decorated so nicely.

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  50. Just stopping by for a visit. You are surely enjoying your summer. When you get a chance let us know what fun you have been having,
    May God Bless,
    Marie Antoinette

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  51. How are you, dearest Emily? I thought I'd stop by today to see if you've posted and to let you know I've missed you. I hope you are enjoying your summer to the fullest.
    I thought of you this weekend when I finally got around to purchasing my French glassware. I have long admired yours.
    Sending much love your way, friend.
    xoxo's

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  52. Aaaahhh,.....so lovely...such a beautiful salad and setting too...wonderful on a summer day. Thank you for your inspiration - it's the little things in life, isn't it? Catherine

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  53. I see you have been taking a nice break. Hope all is well with you and yours.
    Thanks for coming by.
    Bet Connor has enjoyed the summer. :)
    xo bj

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