Do you love Chocolate Covered Strawberries? They are super easy to make.

Decorated Chocolate Covered Strawberries in Edible Arrangement

Here are several short videos in this article that will show you  exactly how to make chocolate covered strawberries. You’ll also see how you can easily decorate them and how you can use them in pretty and delicious chocolate covered strawberry edible arrangments. And if you have leftover chocolate, you can easily and quickly make some chocolate bark candy and other chocolate covered goodies, too.

You may find these yummy edible arrangements ideas useful for Valentine’s day or for any upcoming potluck, or party. Chocolate Covered Strawberries arranged into bouquets make welcome hostess gifts, too. For an anniversary or birthday, you could make one strawberry for each continue reading…

Today, I’d like to share a clever vegetable art idea created by one of my readers, Cindy Halferty. This will be especially interesting if you have children in your life.

Cindy Halferty’s charming Vegetable Garden House

You may have built and decorated a Gingerbread House with your kids during Christmas laced with cookies, icing sugar and candy. Well, here’s a healthy twist to this old holiday favorite: We’ll call it  a Vegetable Garden House.

Isn’t is quaint and inviting? and completely edible, too. Look at all the vibrant colors of this edible Garden House, lent from the deep red tomato, pink watermelon, bright green broccoli and cucumber and purple radish, just to name a few. There are so many details in this vegetable art creation by Cindy and I invite you to take a closer look! continue reading…

A carved pineapple eagle served with dinner on Jesse's cruise through Halong Bay, Vietnam

Today I’d like to invite you to go on a trip to Vietnam to see some exotic fruit carvings.

My nephew Jesse and his fiancee were recently traveled to Vietnam and had some pictures of amazing fruit carvings to show me.

Although I’m sure that seeing fruit carvings wasn’t the main high point of their trip, I’m glad they thought of me!

Actually, it was the 3 day “junk boat” tour through Halong Bay that was the real highlight.

Take a look at their photos and go on a mini-vacation without having to leave your home! continue reading…

Phung made a mango rose using the rose carving techniques taught in my "Carving Watermelons - Roses, buds and Leaves" video lesson.

In a recent post, I showed you photos of  melon roses that students carved after learning rose carving techniques from my lessons. Now, I’ll show you how these rose carving techniques are versatile when applied to other types of fruits and vegetables.

Rose Carving Techniques Applied to Tropical Fruits

I teach these rose carving techniques in my Carving Watermelons – Roses, Buds and Leaves lessons.

Once you learn these rose carving techniques, you can get creative with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Here is an example continue reading…

In this article, I want to the carvings and lovely edible arrangements made by one of my student /customers, Simon Muscat in Birzebbuga, Malta. Simon created all of the edible arrangements and fruit carvings on this page after viewing my Vegetable and Fruit Carving 101 Course for beginners. What a beautiful job he has done!

Edible arrangement of Carved Vegetable Flowers by Simon Muscat

And you can make beautiful edible arrangements, too. Whether it’s for a special occasion or a simple meal at home, impressive edible arrangements, such as vases of carved vegetable flowers, are a great addition to complete your table settings.

Another thing that I really like about these photos of edible arrangements that Simon sent to me is that the photos themselves are so well done. Simon clearly took the care to artistically arrange his  edible arrangements using attractive design and color combinations. He then used very good lighting and composed his shots well. The results are very very nice clean attractive photos of his beautifully carved edible arrangements. I simply had to share them with you.

By the way, I was interested to learn that Malta is in Europe and that Birzebugga, where Simon lives, is a seaside town known for its sandy beaches and archaeological sites. Sounds like a great place to visit! continue reading…

Valentines day will be here soon and so I want to share with you some ideas for Valentines Day.

Beet salad with goat cheese with sliced beets cut into the shape of hearts for Valentines Day

In past blog posts, I’ve shown a ideas for Valentines Day that you can use to dress up your Valentines Day dinner. You can make roses carved from root vegetable like beets, turnips, daikon or golden beets. You can dress up your table with pretty napkins folded into heart shapes. You can make delicious fresh roasted beet salad. Or,you can take a shortcut by making a your salad with canned sliced beets cut into the shapes of hearts. Another idea for valentines Day – you can make quick tomato roses to garnish your plates.

In this article you will find links to recipes, photos and videos that continue reading…

Watermelon carvings on The Bachelor?

OK. I hate to admit it but I watched The Bachelor TV show last night. It’s kind of like watching a train wreck. I don’t really want to look but I can’t take my eyes off of it.

It’s like eating junk food. I know it’s not good for me but I sometimes eat it anyway.

At the end of last night’s show they showed a clip of what is coming in next week’s show. The Bachelor and one of the bachelorettes were bathing in a big tub of liquid chocolate. And they had whip cream to play with, too.

Hmmm, now that’s an idea you can recreate at home for your Valentine’s Celebration…. continue reading…

I’ve received many e-mails and photos from students who have succeeded in carving their first watermelon rose. I thought you might like to see them since Valentine’s Day is coming up and roses are a favorite symbol of love and romance.

I started talking about ideas for Valentine’s Day in my last post when I showed pictures of beautiful beet rose carvings by beginner students.  

You may have seen different watermelon rose carvings while on vacation at a resort or in pictures and thought, “Oh, that’s too hard” or “The carver must have had years of experience”.

Well, read on to see what these students were able to achieve with their very first watermelon rose carving, through my video instructions alone!

Beginner Watermelon Rose Carvings

One of my readers, Tahir Ali Butt, has really impressed me with his carvings. Look at this lovely watermelon rose that he made and decorated:

Ali’s first watermelon rose carving taught in Nita’s Carving Watermelons – Roses, Beds and Leaves Video Lessons

continue reading…

This beet rose was one of Ali Tahir's first rose carvings.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I’d like to share photos that some of my students have sent me of their first carved beet rose. There is something about a deep red rose that just feels so romantic, don’t you think? What I like about these beet roses is that not only do they make a beautiful centerpiece, they are also delicious when cooked and added to a meal.

The best part is that making a beet rose is easier than you think!

Beet Rose Carvings by First Timers

After Christmas, a new student named Judy sent me a photo of her first attempt at carving beet rose. continue reading…

This sassy Senorita, carved from eggplant, looks like she's ready to go out on the town

I recently learned about a fascinating Food Trade Show that takes place in Brazil, featuring amazing food sculpture. Have you ever heard of Fair Equipotel? I hadn’t either until Chef Charlie from Carving Studio Brazil sent me photos of beautiful food art from this event.

Fair Equipotel in Brazil is held every year and is considered the largest and best Food Trade Show in Latin America. In 2011, the event was held in Sao Paulo and included a Food Sculpture Workshop (with some friendly competition) lead by Chef Charlie.

Realistic Food Sculptures at Food Trade Show in Brazil

Look at the facial expression on these pumpkin food sculptures continue reading…

Here is another amazing food art that I stumbled across today. It is Chinese Sugar Painting. I’ had never heard of it before but look how beautiful this is.

Roadside Treat Food Art

Chinese Sugar painting sold as a roadside treat

I’ll bet you have to work quickly to have the sugar at just the right temperature.

I find it interesting how an art that requires such skill is sold as a simple roadside treat. continue reading…

I have many customer/students who have fruit decoration businesses offering their fruit platter arrangements. Anetas Lakas is one of them.

A couple of days ago, Aneta sent me an email with some of her photos.

Anetas Lekas

Here is what she said in her email:

Hi Nita,
Thank you for your lessons. I have been carving for some time now. However, since I got your lessons I get more ideas and it is easier to carve when you learn some techniques. It is more fun now.
Here are some of my carvings after your lessons.

Aneta Lekas
Melon Carving and Fruit Platter Arrangements
www.fruitplattercansayit.blogspot.com “

Aneta, I am so glad to hear that you are having more fun making your fruit platter arrangements, now!

You can see the fun that Aneta has been having in these photos of her fruit platter arrangements. continue reading…

Sometimes when people see vegetable and fruit carving photos, they think, “Oh, I couldn’t do that!”, “It’s too hard” or “I’m not skilled enough”.

Just yesterday, I was asked by someone who was doing some office work for me, how long does it take to learn how to carve.

I’m so used to seeing people learn carving and have good results that I forgot that learning to carve fruits and vegetable can look very daunting to people who have not yet tried.

Also, when you see the work of expert vegetable and fruit carvers, you might feel intimidated to try vegetable and fruit carving.

I want to you know that:

You Really CAN do Vegetable and Fruit Carving.

Beginning Fruit Carver Avi Livne

So, for the next couple of weeks, I will showcase some of the carvings of my students who have learned from my videos. continue reading…

Have you ever seen the amazing food landscapes created and photographed by British photographer, Carl Warner?

Winter village made of cookies and confections - see larger image of same further in this article.

This amazing food artist was brought to my attention this week by one of my customer/students, M. Choquette.

British Photographer Creates Food Landscapes
that are a Feast for the Eyes.

Carl Warner, 45, first draws his ideas, then buys the produce and spends days creating food landscapes using a whole bunch of fresh ingredients…plus some pins and superglue.

His latest book, Food Landscapes, features many seascapes as well as scenes from around the world such as a wild west wagon scene complete with avocado cowboys. Take a look at Carl’s fantastic photos. continue reading…

Here are a few really fun Christmas carving s including photos of carved melon and pumpkin Santas. Maybe they will give you ideas and inspiration for next year.

Pumpkin Santa Christmas Carving

This Santa Claus carved from pumpkin was carved by one of my customer/students Simon Paul Muscat. He sent these photos to me with a note saying,

“Hi, Just thought I’d do something different and maybe you would like to see it. First I did the beard from the same pumpkin but then I tried with cauliflower.

Merry Christmas

Simon”

Christmas Carving - Pumpkin Santa Carved by Simon Paul Muscat

continue reading…

Heita with one of his carved vegetable musical instruments

Playable Carved Vegetable Musical Instruments! No Kidding!

This morning, I came across these videos of a fellow playing vegetable musical instruments or various types. It’s amazing. I’ve carved lots of vegetables but this is the first time I’ve seen vegetables carved into playable musical instruments.

This first video will show you several instruments made from vegetables. The next 3 videos will show you how to make your own vegetable musical instruments as well as an ocarina from an egg. I like the egg ocarina because it has a nice clear sound. Following the egg demonstration there are 2 videos showing  two ways to make musical instruments from carrots. continue reading…

Here is a quick and easy way to make really impressive and beautiful red chili flower.

Actually, I’m going to show you 2 styles of carved chili pepper flowers. You can see how I used red chili pepper flowers in a vegetable bouquet centerpiece that I made for Thanksgiving.

The red jalapeno peppers are a good choice for this chili flower garnish because they curl nicely. You can use the same carving techniques with green jalapenos and yellow peppers but those won’t curl quite the way that red chili peppers do.

Easy Carved Chili Flower Technique
Adds WOW to your food presentation. continue reading…

With Christmas fast approaching, I have an unusual pumpkin carving to share with you. I’ll bet you’ve never seen a  baby Jesus in the manger carved from a huge 750 pound pumpkin!

That is exactly what Executive Chef and pumpkin carver Jim Morgan carved.

It all started with a Pumpkin Carving Class continue reading…

Broccoli Christmas Tree with tomato garland by Michelle Parent

Last week I posted a video showing some ideas for vegetable and fruit carvings for Christmas. They were arrangements that would make Christmas pretty centerpieces. Here are some more great ideas for Christmas fruit and veggy carvings. Some simple and some more dramatic.

Easy, ‘No Carve’ Trees Make Festive Vegetable and Fruit Carvings for Christmas

After seeing the video with ideas for vegetable and fruit carving for Christmas, Michelle Parent made this lovely Christmas tree and sent me a photo today.

With this one continue reading…

Flowers carved from diakon using carrot flower carving design - carved by Nita Gill

One of the cool things about learning vegetable carving techniques like the carrot flowers taught in Amazing Carving with Jimmy Zhang is that once you learn to carve carrot flowers, you can also use other vegetables to carve a variety of different looking vegetable flowers. continue reading…