Garden

DIY: Ice-sculpture Dishes

Cool ideas for entertaining

By / May 19, 2009

Credit: Terry Guscott

Here’s a cool idea for entertaining on ice in the heat of a summer day.

The next time you plan a garden get-together, bowl over your guests with these stunning ice-sculpture serving dishes, perfect for keeping food chilled on a scorching summer’s afternoon.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Assorted herbs or edible flowers: mint, chamomile, nasturtiums, violets, pansies, roses – whatever you have in your garden that is pretty and safe to eat. For variety, try cut-up fresh fruit or vegetables or any other attractive edible you have on hand that will withstand freezing.

• 1 smaller and 1 larger stainless-steel bowl (or have fun experimenting with other containers where you have complementary sizes)

• Ice cubes

• Freezer tape

• Wooden skewers

HOW TO MAKE AN ICE-SCULPTURE BOWL

Rinse fresh ingredients in lukewarm water and dry between paper towels. Fill the large bowl halfway with water and arrange the floating ingredients to cover the water surface.

Place the small bowl on top of the ingredients and allow it to sink into the large bowl, creating a gap between the two of about 1 to 2 cm (or ½ to 1 in.). (We weighted ours with rice, but this is optional.) Fill the small bowl with ice cubes. Hold the bowls in place with freezer tape and freeze for about 30 minutes or until ice crystals form on the water surface.

Remove the bowls from the freezer and place on a damp tea towel to avoid slippage. Using a wooden skewer, slip additional herbs, flowers or leaves between the sides of the bowls. Return to the freezer.

Periodically check on the bowls, continuing to add or reposition flowers as the water freezes. Freeze overnight.

Remove the ice cubes and tape. Loosen and remove the small bowl by filling it with lukewarm water. Dip the large bowl into warm water and loosen by twisting. Remove your gorgeous garden ice bowl, wrap it in aluminum foil and return to the freezer to await your big event.

Just before it’s time to eat, fill your ice creation with fresh vegetables, dip, punch, cold shrimp, fruit salad and other delicious summer fare best served cold. Enjoy!