Fresh Flowerherb Blossom Ice Cubes For Summertime Entertaining Recipes

Steps:

• Gather and gently rinse all of your pesticide-free blossoms.
• Boil water for 2 minutes for all the air trapped in the water to escape. Then leave to cool till room temperature. This will ensure that the ice cubes are crystal clear.
• Place each blossom at the base of each individual compartment within an ice tray (or more trays if you have a large party).
• Fill each compartment half full with the cooled boiled water and freeze.
• After the water is frozen solid, fill each ice cube compartment the rest of the way to the top with the remaining boiled water.
• Refreeze and allow it to remain in the freezer until you are ready to use them (store in the freezer in zip lock bags).
• NOTE: You can also freeze a large ice ring for the punch bowl, with a variety of blossoms. Don't use the glass punchbowl or it will expand and burst in the freezer. Instead, use a ring-shaped cake tin and fill it with flowers and water. Follow the same procedure as above (filling halfway, then freezing), but you can add additional blossoms to the second layer so that the blossoms are throughout the large ice ring.
• Use the ice cubes in pitchers or glasses of lemonade, iced tea, juices, punches and cocktails.

Steps:

• Place ice cubes in a 1-inch layer at the bottom of the larger bain marie. Place the smaller bain marie inside of the larger and start layering ice and flowers. Pour a layer of ice then lay flowers in around and up the wall and secure them in place with more ice cubes. More flowers looks better than less once it's frozen, plus try to place them near then outside wall versus the inside wall.
• Once filled, use twine to tie the two containers together tightly. Fill the gap between the 2 containers with water and place it in a pan then freeze it overnight. The next day, remove the twine and heat the inside container with a torch or warm water and slowly try to spin it back and forth to remove it. There may be suction, break it with a thin knife. Then warm the outside container and remove it to reveal your flower ice sculpture. Return it to the freezer until you are ready to use it for display. Wrap the base in a white cloth napkin and place it on a serving tray to catch any water that melts while it's on display. Fill with scoops of sorbet, ice cream, or ice cubes for drinks.