Bunny Garnish

I have always appreciated food art.  I think adding a garnish to a dinner plate is one thing you can do to make a big splash with your dinner guest.  I am always thinking of ways to dress up a meal to make it appealing for my family or guest.   Recently I have been experimenting with boiled eggs.  I wanted to see if I could carve a boiled egg because,  I have not seen any boiled eggs carved before. Most carvings are made from fruits and vegetables. Here is my version of a carved boiled egg.  

I had to keep it simple,  so if I can do this anyone can do it.  I thought he was very cute.  It would be a great garnish for a bento salad, potato salad, dinner plate, or a deviled egg entree.' This bunny can be made with most things a person will already have on hand in the kitchen.

This is a list of supplies for a rabbit garnish one serving:
 It is better to have extra eggs because they are fragile and you can't use all of them.  

• 2 Boiled and peeled eggs  Please note: ( I used 2 eggs because I did not have any cauliflower for the tail)
• Cauliflower bud with stem  for tail or use a boiled yoke from 2ND egg 
• 1 Straight carrot 
• Parsley bunch
• Several pepper corns or raisins
• Salad optional 

 

Tools to make the bunny:

• Paring knife
• Potato peeler
• Tooth picks or skewers to poke eyes and mouth optional  you can use a knife
• Plate or cutting board

Carving the bottom:

• Using the knife cut the bottom part of the egg so it will lay flat.
• Then cut the smaller egg in half lengthwise to make the ears.
• Flip the egg over so it lays flat.

Carving the ears:

• Place 2 tooth picks about where you want the ears and use the mark as a guide to cut the slot to place the ears.
• Remove the toothpicks. 
• Carefully carve a slit across evenly where your marks are as shown.  
• Cut again to make a small valley to place the ears.
• Place one ear at a time and position where it looks the best.

Carving the eyes:

• Peel the carrot. 
• With a knife point, tooth pick, or skewer mark the eyes.
• With the point of the knife or tooth pick carve the eyes a very small eye hole.  
• Place 2 pepper corns into the eyeball.
• Carefully carve the mouth.
• Carve a small carrot piece and stick into the mouth. 

Carving the tail:

• I would use the cauliflower for my first choice for the tail.  It really makes a nicer appearance.
• Poke a small hole where the tail should be.
• Stick a small piece of cauliflower with a stem  into the hole.
•  
• If using the egg yoke make a thin slice across the back end of the mouse.
• Cut the yoke in half and place it carefully against the bottom of the bunny as shown. It is very fragile so be careful.

Here is how I carved the flowers:

• Using the knife make 5 slices the length of the carrot or as long as how many flowers you want.  (Each flower about 1/8 - 1/4 inch) 
• Go back and make the slice wider with the knife to form a small tunnel.
• Cut small round slices for the flower head.
• Carefully make a small hole in the center of the flower with a tooth pick.
• Place 1 pepper corn in the center of each flower. 

These little bunnies were very easy to make after I got the hang of it.  I did make some mistakes and could not use some of the eggs. The next time I make these I will know how delicate they are and can make them better.  I will use cauliflower and maybe think of something that could be used to support the ears a little better.  Tooth picks would be too dangerous.  Very thin pretzels might work. Anyway the ears worked  OK  without any support.  

Thank you for stopping in and do: 
Sunshiine