FRUIT BOUQUET/ARRANGEMENT

FRUIT BOUQUET/ARRANGEMENT
THIS IS MY 100^th POST

EDITED; - This recipe was featured in Hearth and Soul link party on 1st of May 2017. Check here-

I am glad to announce that this is my 100^th post! As I floated joyously that I reached this milestone, my mind said, “Only 100? Oh no! I thought I was way ahead! This means I still have a long way to go!”. I took a deep breath and told myself, “No problem! I am ready for this”. My motivation being, I enjoy writing and sharing my recipes with an audience across the world.

When I started my blog in May 2014, all my near and dear, family and friends appreciated, encouraged and blessed me for this new venture. I still remember a friend who is more like a sister to me said, “Sadhna, you're doing a great job because you're sharing your knowledge with the world”. At that moment I didn't really believe it, but later I realized, what she said was true. This blog has given me the opportunity to share my knowledge with the world, and sharing is caring, so I am really happy. Being a teacher, by profession I did a similar job throughout my life, sharing knowledge with my students. LOL, once a teacher, always a teacher!

Well, now I am not only a teacher but a learner as well. I realised in my blogging journey, apart from sharing I am learning a lot. Not only new recipes, but many creative items and projects made with re-purposed junk since many of my blogger friends have DIY project blogs. Check out the blogs of my friends, Nikki- View from In Here, Michelle- A crafty Mix, and Mary-The Boondocks blog. Linda- Mixed Creations and Cathy-My side of 50. I have learnt so many other skills and aspects of improving my life, made a lot of friends, and am really enjoying this journey.

I believe that a person should never stop learning, no matter what age they are. Here, I would like to share a quote from the late Indian president Dr Abdul Kalaam.

Now after two and half years, I can say, I am really glad to share my recipes with everyone. I never thought this would be so enjoyable, as it gives me a feeling of great contentment. Though blogging is not a joke, a lot of effort is required; like cooking/baking a perfect item, taking awesome clicks of it and if possible of all the steps of cooking, writing the detailed recipe and a post about it. And, finally organizing everything and posting it on the blog. After this, another important task is to share it across different social media platforms to alert my readers about the new post. Now, that's a lot of work, isn't it?

Being my 100^th post, I wanted to make something I could be proud of, something special which would be appreciated. That feeling of, “Wow, I did it so well!”. I thought for a few days and came to the conclusion that I would make a fruit bouquet/arrangement. I made this the first time on my daughter's birthday last year and bookmarked it to make a new one for my blog, so I found a golden opportunity to do so.

In 2009, when I visited the USA for the very first time and stayed with my daughter, on my birthday I got a fruit bouquet as a gift from my son-in-law. I was totally amazed and loved it. I truly appreciated the creativity of this company who made a business out of presenting something edible so creatively in the form of a bouquet. Later when I got an opportunity to make it myself, I couldn't believe that it was my own creation. You know, when you make something from scratch, you get that feeling of great accomplishment and gratification.

                                (This one I made last year for my daughter's birthday.)

Well, today I am glad to share it on my blog with my readers. It's really simple to make, and you only need lots of fresh fruits plus a few tools.

RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• One kg strawberries
• Half kg grapes
• Four kiwi fruits
• Four small sized mangoes
• 100 grams dark chocolate
• 3-4 leaves of kale or any other big green leaves
• You also need 8-10 barbeque sticks, circular cookie cutter, one bowl and some hard sponge.

METHOD

• Fit the hard sponge tightly inside the bowl, so that it can hold the barbeque sticks firm with the fruits.
• Wash all fruits and kale leaves thoroughly in running water.
• Peel and slice kiwi and mangoes and with the help of a cookie cutter cut in circular shapes as shown in the bouquet.
• Cut 5-6 strawberries in circular shapes.
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, and coat around 5-6 strawberries and place in the fridge to set.
• Arrange the kale leaves flat on top of the bowl.
• Arrange all other fruits on the sticks as shown in the picture.
• Right on top arrange the chocolate coated and uncoated strawberries.

This fruit bouquet/arrangement would make an ideal gift for any occasion.

I am sharing this post as my blog post entry for Meatless Monday, Cook blog Share and Hearth and Soul blog hop and with Cook blog share, with Healthy living link party, Sweet Inspiration link party
with I am pinnable and Fiesta Friday with Food bond and Not so creative Cook and with Cook once and eat Twice