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.
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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.
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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)