82-Uncast<r Farming, Saturday, August 26,1989 These cantaloupes are not just spectacular centerpieces, they also are consumable delicacies. Chef Harvey Rosen recently demonstrated melon jgarnlshlng in several BY LOU ANN GOOD In his book on melon gamish- DOYLESTOWN (Bucks Co.) —lf you’re looking for a spectacu lar centerpiece, try a melon. A melon can be carved into a basket, ship, fish, dove, baby bug gy, hearts, love birds, parrots, turk ey and other creative shapes. Harvey Rosen, a leading author ity on food presentation, said, “Watermelon and cantaloupe can be dressed up to set the theme for birthdays, anniversaries, dinner parties and other happy occa sions.” He has authored a comprehen sive series of garnishing books. “Melon Garnishing,” “How to Garnish” and “Apple Garnishing.” What’s New Under The Sun At The Flower And Vegetable Gardens BY LOU ANN GOOD UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Ever wonder how new plant varieties receive a stamp of approval? Visit Penn State Trial Gardens where new plant varieties are grown for testing. The judges com pare their results with other trial gardens located across the U.S. This determines whether or not a plant does better in cold or warm climates. What does best in one climate or soil type may not do as well in another. The growing patterns, plant health, and vegetable flavor are rated throughout the different stages of plant growth. Research entries are inters persed among the garden flowers, vegetables, and bedding plants that include All America Selection Trials and America Rose Selections. These entries are coded but the college does not know the name of the company that developed them in order for them to give an unbiased report Vegetable Gardens Dr. Peter Ferrctti, professor of vegetable crops, explained that vegetables not only need to taste Melons To Brighten Ariy Occosion ing, Rosen offers more than 30 themes for sculptures and center pieces, including love birds for anniversaries or engagement, par ties, a baby buggy for a baby show er, a melon ship with "Happy Birthday” written on the sail, and swans to add elegance to a dinner party. “You can pick almost any theme and build on it with a melon carv ing. The advantage of using water melon and cantaloupe is that they are not just centerpieces; they are consumable delicacies,” says the chef. Melon sculptures can be created easily with help of a v-shaped food good but also the plant must be vigorous. Beans plants do not pass the test if their stalks have a ten dency to collapse. Fcrrctli is impressed with the purpje bean that grows at the top of bean bush so that it doesn’t get dir ty on the ground. As soon as it is cooked the purple beans turn green. The beans are good for eat ing and in flower arranging. Some bean plants offer good fla vor, long pod, but poor bush stand. This shows that something is wrong with seed quality. Another variety is tender and juicy, but not flavorful. Ferrctti also tests vegetables taste by cooking them in a variety of ways. He discovered that Ten der Bead broccoli offers the best flavor when microwaved and a good flavor raw unlike other var ieties, which have a skunky flavor.” In the gardens, Jalapeno peppers are grown that offer a sweet, spicy flavor without being too hot to be eaten raw. The market demand for special ty and gourmet vegetables con tinues to expand from their public ity as nutritional vegetables. A scallop squash that can be eaten (Turn to Pago B 7) Phlladelphla-area grocery stores. He said, “Melons can set the theme for birthdays, anniversaries, dinner parties and other happy occasions.” decorating tool. Buying and storing tips To begin, choose firm melons for carving. Cantaloupe should have a slightly golden undercolor and netting that stands out promi nently and covers the entire melon. The stem end should be smooth, well-rounded and slightly soft when ripe. A ripe cantaloupe also will have a distinctive, sweet aro ma. One sided of the cantaloupe may be slightly bleached from resting on the soil. Avoid canta loupe with irregular shapes, scuffs, -bruises, soft spots, or a dull green background color. Unripe melons require cool, but not refrigerated The Summer Pastel collection Is a dwarf yarrow with the mature plant reaching about 2 feet tall and 18 Inches wide. They flower In four months from seed. The flowers provide an improved color range of pinks, apricots, cream, reds, lavenders, purples and pure white. Superior performance except does not dry as well as the tall yarrow. * i temperatures. Ripe melons can be refrigerated, but should not be held at extremely cold temperatures. ,/ A A , ,‘rC J-, ,' , • xS* - -• V /<«' *■ I*'. MELON BASKET Select a round melon. To provide a stable base, cut a thin slice Grom the bottom of the melon. Draw the lines of the basket on the melon r before you start cutting. Draw one line horizonally around the center of the melon. Draw the handle by drawing two lines a few inches apart at the top of the melon. . y,j - 1 £,< ’ ':?t nVj* Cut an X through the rind in the sections to be discarded to reduce the chances of splitting. Use a v shaped food decorating tool to make the zig zag pattern along the edges. Insert the point of the tool at least half way into the melon along the line that was just drawn. Con tinue making v-shaped cuts along the line being sure they connect. Be careful not to cut through the handle. When the cutting is completed, lift the top quarter sections off carefully. Use a knife to remove the pulp of thexantaloupe from the rind. A melon ball scoop may be used to rform balls to fill the basket. Also fruits such a s grapes, cherries, strawberries, pineapple and various melons may be used to fill the melon, if desired. Decorate the handle with citrus slices, melon balls and cherries attached with toothpicks to give the basket a pro fessional touch. C • / (Turn to Pago B 4)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers