I don’t know about you but there usually is nothing pretty about a big platter or bowl of veggies. The colours are always spectacular but then you have this gigantic platter taking up space on your table. Enter the Veggie Christmas Tree, a fun, pretty and conversation starter centerpiece.
Holiday Entertaining
I love to entertain I really do and I especially love trying new “things” to entertain those that enter my home. OK get your mind out of the gutter, I mean I love to experiment with food and decorations and to make my table settings appealing.
I bake, Kent cooks and as much as we can create a multitude of lovely dishes and appetizers it is still always great to offer some snacking veggies (especially over the holidays when we all want to nibble but the calorie count can skyrocket.
How to Make a Veggie Tree
The Veggie Tree looks a lot more complicated than it actually is, so lets walk through it:
Pick up a Styrofoam tree from Micheal’s ( or your fav craft store)
one box of toothpicks
two heads of broccoli and one cauliflower
coloured baby tomatos ( grape, cherry whichever you prefer)
red, yellow and orange peppers
white onions if you can find them ( I skipped this year)
Picture Walk through of the Veggie Tree
1) for broccoli and cauliflower only the heads are useful
2)start adding the broccoli and cauliflower pieces around the bottom
3) continue until the tree is completely covered ( you can leave small spaces that will be filled in with the othe veggies)
4) Once tree is covered ( I like to add the cauliflower so it looks like garland) start adding the tomatoes. Hint put the toothpick in first and add tomato to the toothpick, far easier on your fingers.
5)cut your peppers in long strips and start adding to tree ( cut your yellow star out first)
6)The peppers are like bright strands of garland on your Christmas Tree, the tree looks fine without it but its like adding decomesh to your real tree, peppers add the oomph.
The Finished Veggie Tree Centerpiece
Does this not make a beautiful centerpiece for your holiday table?? The one down side is no-one wants to be the first to start taking the ornaments off. Big hint, as the party gets started make sure you take a big piece of broccoli off the tree, that signals to everyone it is not just a decoration. I usually add a few bowls of dips placed around the platter or you can add dips directly to the base of the tree.
( I sometimes throw carrots around the base as an extra veggie, tried adding them to the tree last year but they are a bit awkward)
The Veggie Tree
Prep Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr
The Veggie Tree looks a lot more complicated than it actually is, so lets walk through it:
Cuisine: canadian
Keyword: Broccoli Tree, Chrsitmas Veggie Tree, Veggie Tree
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- Pick up a Styrofoam tree from Micheal's or your fav craft store
- one box of toothpicks
- two heads of broccoli and one cauliflower
- coloured baby tomatoes grape, cherry whichever you prefer
- red yellow and orange peppers
- white onions if you can find them
Instructions
- start adding the broccoli and cauliflower pieces around the bottom
- continue until the tree is completely covered ( you can leave small spaces that will be filled in with the othe veggies)
- Once tree is covered ( I like to add the cauliflower so it looks like garland) start adding the tomatoes. Hint put the toothpick in first and add tomato to the toothpick, far easier on your fingers.
- cut your peppers in long strips and start adding to tree ( cut your yellow star out first)
- The peppers are like bright strands of garland on your Christmas Tree, the tree looks fine without it but its like adding decomesh to your real tree, peppers add the oomph.
Recipe Notes
Big hint, as the party gets started make sure you take a big piece of broccoli off the tree, that signals to everyone it is not just a decoration. I usually add a few bowls of dips placed around the platter or you can add dips directly to the base of the tree.
latoya young says
i never seen this before, this is nice and unique i have to try this maybe the kids will eat their veggies more now lol
Rocio Chavez says
totes love this! Great way to make veggies that more enticing!!
Amy Fashion Blog says
What a cute way to make vegetable look fun.
A Labour of Life says
Thank you
Debbie Gifford says
I have never seen the vegetable tree but love it. My former neighbor and I made a fruit tree that turned out so lovely for her daughter's 50th birthday party. Thanks for sharing!
A Labour of Life says
a fruit tree is an interesting concept I need to check that out
Heather Wyancko says
I have never seen a Crudites Christmas tree! I love it! i seriously love it and will have to do it next year!
Heather Wyancko
http://thriftstories.me
A Labour of Life says
I will keep an eye out for when you do make this