Fresh Flowerherb Blossom Ice Cubes For Summertime Entertaining Recipes

FRESH FLOWER/HERB BLOSSOM ICE CUBES FOR SUMMERTIME ENTERTAINING

Steps:

• Gather and gently rinse all of your pesticide-free blossoms.
• Boil water for 2 minutes for all the air trapped in the water to escape. Then leave to cool till room temperature. This will ensure that the ice cubes are crystal clear.
• Place each blossom at the base of each individual compartment within an ice tray (or more trays if you have a large party).
• Fill each compartment half full with the cooled boiled water and freeze.
• After the water is frozen solid, fill each ice cube compartment the rest of the way to the top with the remaining boiled water.
• Refreeze and allow it to remain in the freezer until you are ready to use them (store in the freezer in zip lock bags).
• NOTE: You can also freeze a large ice ring for the punch bowl, with a variety of blossoms. Don't use the glass punchbowl or it will expand and burst in the freezer. Instead, use a ring-shaped cake tin and fill it with flowers and water. Follow the same procedure as above (filling halfway, then freezing), but you can add additional blossoms to the second layer so that the blossoms are throughout the large ice ring.
• Use the ice cubes in pitchers or glasses of lemonade, iced tea, juices, punches and cocktails.

FLOWERS AND POSIES FROZEN IN TIME! FRESH FLORAL ICE CUBES

Steps:

• Cut small, colourful flowers from your garden. Some types you might select are: pansies, violas, wallflowers, lobelia, and miniature roses. For larger flowers, simply use the petals instead of the whole flower. You can also use flowers from fresh herbs.
• Fill an ice cube tray half full of water. Place the tray in the freezer until the water freezes.
• Remove the tray from the freezer and place one flower or several petals in each of the individual ice cube cups. Top off with enough water to cover the blossoms.
• Return the flower-filled ice cube trays to the freezer until the cubes are frozen.
• Remove the cubes from the trays and either store in the freezer in zip lock bags or use in beverages straight away.
• Some more ideas for these ice cubes: drop them into soups or chilled soups; add to the punch bowl; line a glass salad bowl with them and then serve your salad in the middle; use them to chill wine and champagne in clear coolers -- or just drop them into any cold drink!