"Vegetable Petals"

This is how I arranged the Veggie Petals in the Purple Basket.

I had Thanksgiving Day Dinner at Friends' House in Greenwich Village.  I have been spending "Thanksgiving Day" with them about 10 years now.  They have been hosting "Thanksgiving Dinner" for a long time.  They told me that it started by gathering people who didn't have a place to go for Turkey Dinner.

It was 44 years ago, their tradition started.  I started getting an invitation almost 10 years ago.  I made "Hijiki & Pickled Carrot" for that dinner.  

The following year, they asked me to make something for the cocktail hour,  That is how I started to make Vegetable Baskets.  In the afternoon I would meet with same people year after year.  So, I couldn't make the same Crudite Basket every year.  I had to come up with something different each year.

As I blogged a few posts ago, I had a huge Rose Bouquet on my table weeks before the Turkey Day.  By the time I had to go to the farmers' market, some of those roses were starting to loose their petals.  Even if those colorful petals were on the table, they were still beautiful !  
That became my inspiration for this year's "Vegetable Crudite."

"Inspiration for this year's basket"

I would not decide what kind of vegetable basket I would make each time until I made a trip to the Farmers' Market.  What I can find at the market determents what I can make.  Its all about what is looks good in the morning at the Union Square's Farmers' Market.

I was lucky on Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day.  I could get many colorful Carrots, Radishes, and Leafy Vegetables.  Having an idea helped me to choose which ones to have for the basket in the following morning.  

Here they are, what I chose to make Vegetable Petals from....  

"Vegetable Petal Crudites"

Transportation of the Big Basket is always a challenge.  

But a few years ago, when I start using a round basket I discovered that the "Furoshiki Method" works perfectly.  The only difference for me is that I need to have a Big Cotton Furoshiki.  Some of  "Furoshikis" are Silk or Rayon.  But I happened to have a huge cotton one.  Which I made for picnics in summer.  

You may not know "Furoshiki."  I may have to talk about it sometimes.....

Here I was carefully wrapping the basket with it after covering the veggie petals with damp paper towels.  This double knots will work as a handle to carry it safely.

The Basket sits at the table with Yogurt Dip, Dukkah & Olive Oil.

This year, I also made a New Dip for Eatable Petals.  

A North African Dip called "Dukkah"  Hazelnuts & Sesame Seeds are the base of this dry dip.  You dip petals into simple Olive Oil then to the Dukkah.  The Olive Oil works as a glue, and makes it easier to add Dukkah to your Veggie Petals.

It made the veggie patals even more exotic !  

Some people at the party asked me the recipe for Dukkah.  I guess it was a hit... 

What is for next year ?