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A rough storm on Thursday afternoon has lead to my home nearing its 3rd day without electricity or running water. Rumor has it, it may be Monday or Tuesday before power is restored. On a brighter note, I’ve become quite skilled at brushing my teeth with bottled water in the dark, and the ever so elegant “dump-a-bucket-o-water down the toilet to flush thingy”.

How to Make Food Topiaries for Your Twin Brother’s Wedding Shower
(August 5th 2007)

Strawberry Mint Topiary

What You Will Need:

1. Lots of fresh strawberries

2. A bunch of fresh mint leaves
3. Three large Styrofoam balls
4. One large dowel or bamboo rod
5. A roll of green floral tape
6. Plastic wrap
7. 1 Large terracotta pot
8. Glue gun and sticks
9. Imitation moss
10. A ton of toothpicks
11. A helpful friend
12. Some workin’ music (on shuffle) playing in the background

Assembly:
1. Wrap 2 of the large Styrofoam balls with plastic wrap
2. Insert the dowel rod though the center of the 2 Styrofoam balls leaving some space between the 2 balls.
3. Wrap any exposed dowel rod with green floral tape.
4. Securely glue the remaining Styrofoam ball into the terracotta pot
5. Jam the long end of the rod into the Styrofoam ball-pot combo
6. Line the top of the pot with imitation moss

At this point it should look something like this...

7. Clean and remove the tops of the strawberries
8. Starting at the top of the first ball, stick one toothpick halfway into the ball
9. Spear the strawberry into the exposed toothpick
10. Repeat steps 8&9 in a circular direction until you almost cover the ball

11. Toothpick mint leaves onto the bottom of the ball to cover any exposed white areas
12. Repeat steps 8-11 using the second ball.
13. Serve immediately

Tomato-Mozzerella Topiary

What You Will Need:
1. Lots of fresh grape or cherry tomatoes
2. Lots of grape or cheery sized fresh mozzarella balls
3. A bunch of fresh basil or cilantro (we found cilantro to be easier to work with)
4. One large Styrofoam cone.
5. Plastic wrap
6. A ton of toothpicks
7. Same helpful friend as before
8. Some workin’ music (on shuffle) playing in the background

Assembly:
1. Wrap the cone with plastic wrap
2. Clean the tomatoes
3. Starting at the top of the cone, stick a toothpick halfway into the cone
4. Spear a tomato into the exposed toothpick
5. Repeat steps 3&4 as you continue down the cone in a vertical fashion

6. Intertwine basil or cilantro to cover any exposed white areas
7. To start the second row, repeat steps 3-6
8. To start the third row, repeat steps 3-6, only this time using mozzarella
9. Continue this pattern until you completely cover the cone
10. Serve immediately

Host/Hostess Notes:

1. Accompaniment ideas: Melted chocolate or whipped topping with the strawberries. Olive oil with the tomatoes and mozzarella.

2. During the party remind your guests to kindly remove food from the topiary in a Jenga like fashion to prevent tipage.

3. While disposing of any food topiary, be careful to not impale yourself with exposed toothpicks.
4. Don't forget to show-off and brag about your beautiful creations to all your guests!

'Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity"-Voltaire