To Garnish or Not to Garnish...That is the Question

Mother's Day is tomorrow and you may be preparing to pamper your mother with a lovely brunch and tea. My favorite way to display and serve finger sandwiches and sweets is on a tiered serving plate. Here are a few tips to make your "plain" tea time instantly into something memorable, simple, and creatively beautiful. Let's take a moment to talk about garnishing your tea tray.

Shape, Color & Type
* One way to dress up a tray is to use different breads and sandwich shapes. This way you can enhance the appearance of your tea tray even without garnishing. Squares, long rectangles, triangles (I use a cookie cutter for making cute kids sandwiches, heart shapes, etc.) and a variety of breads - white, pumpernickel, rye, herb, and mini croissants (great for chicken & tuna salad).

Sandwich Garnishing Ideas
* My favorite is growing my own herbs and edible flowers (nasturtians). Right now I have pots of violas on my back porch waiting to be snipped and added to the tea tray for today's tea. Flat parsley leaf is nice too - place one leaf on an open-faced sandwich.
* Dried parsley mixed with sesame seeds/basil/lemon zest - sprinkle on edges of the chicken salad.
* Pecan halves - just place one on an open-faced sandwich.
* Cucumber - can be shredded, sliced, diced, quartered or triangle shape, sprinkle with lemon pepper. * Watercress.
* Olive slice - green or black olives, sliced and sprinkled with lemon pepper or paprika.

Dessert Garnishing Ideas
* Drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over dessert bars, cookies and cake slices. It adds a touch of pizazz with very little effort or heavy frosting.
* Dip half a cookie into melted white chocolate.
* If you use whipped cream on your dessert, sprinkle a little cocoa, turbinado sugar, cinnamon or lemon zest curls on top.
* Use a raspberry or blueberry in place of frosting.
* Try dusting a piece of cake or mini bundt cake with powdered sugar instead of frosting.

Flowers & Leaves for Garnish
* Wash all flowers and leaves well. Use them sparingly. Some of my favorites are geranium leaves, lemon leaves, rosemary, lavender, violas & nasturtiums from my own garden.
* Mini carnations, statice and baby's breath add a bit of color and turn your plain tray into WOW. Place a mini carnation on top of a geranium leaf and place that combo around the sandwiches. Use 2 or 3 for best effect.
* Just remember to let your guests know which are edible or inedible flowers and foliage. If a flower is on top of a sandwich, it is best if it is edible. It's amazing how well-placed flowers and foliage around the sandwiches and desserts adds class and beauty to your tea tray.

Enjoy and Happy Mother's Day!