Grocery List
- 3 large bunches
Broccoli
- 2 large Broccoli flower
- 1 large Cauliflower
- 1+ Red Bell
Pepper
- 1+ Yellow
Bell Pepper
- 1
package cherry tomato
- 1 jar cocktail onions
- 1 bag of baby
carrots
Craft List
-
Styrofoam cone - 8x3"
- small disposable
veggie tray (you will need to glue the cone to the tray)
- hot glue gun &
glue sticks. I use this to keep the tree/cone sturdy.
- round
toothpicks
- round wooden skewers
- Linzer tart cookie cutter (for tiny
star shape cutter)
- wire cutter or strong scissor (to cut skewers)
Veggie Tree Assembly
Wrap your Styrofoam Cone with food
plastic wrap first. This prevents your veggies from contacting the foam
directly.
STEP 1 - Hot glue your Styrofoam cone
to your plastic tray (optional). This makes a stable base and makes
transportation very easy.
STEP 2 - Cut your Broccoli, Cauliflower and
Broccoli flower into dipping sized pieces. Sizes should vary but shouldn't be
too large or too small.
STEP 3 - Attach your Broccoli and Broccoli flower
to the cone with ROUND toothpicks, grouped in clusters, with larger pieces at
the bottom and graduating up to the top. Don't worry if there are small holes in
your design, they will be filled in later with carrots and other
decorations.
When you get to the top, and toothpicks are not long enough
cut skewers with a wire cutter or strong scissor to pick your veggies into place
until you achieve a perfect tree shape.
STEP 4 - Cut 1 red pepper and 1
yellow pepper into dipping size strips. Tuck the ends of those strips into the
tree, in a spiral, starting at the top and spiraling down to the bottom. Tuck a
carrot in next to them to hold them in if needed. No toothpicks needed,
here.
STEP 5 - Poke carrot sticks intermittently in holes between the
broccoli and broccoli flower florets. No toothpicks needed.
STEP 6 - Use
FLAT toothpicks to secure cherry tomatoes and cocktail onions to the tree. Poke
small side all the way through onion or tomato. Press tomato or onion into
tree.
STEP 7 - Cut out stars with small lintzer tart cookie cutter from 1
Yellow pepper or piece of Cheddar or American Cheese. Save 1 large piece to hand
cut 1 larger star for top, or make a paper stencil or use a larger cookie cutter
if you'd like for large star.
Secure stars with toothpicks poked and
secured right in broccoli pieces.
STEP 8 - Fill tray base with
cauliflower.
STEP 9 - Serve with your favorite veggie dip or refrigerate
until serving. If it doesn't fit in your refrigerator, I have had good luck
leaving it out on the counter overnight when the house wasn't too hot. I spritz
it with water and cover with saran wrap and it still looks completely fresh the
next day!
