Fruit Salad Platter Food

FRESH FRUIT PLATTER

Steps:

• I like to begin the platter with a base of ripe, colorful, sliced melons and pineapple--for example, cantaloupe, honeydew, Galia, or Cavaillon melons, plus the new "golden" pineapples. Peel the outside of a whole melon, cut it in half through the stem end, and scoop out the seeds. Place the melon halves cut side down on a board, and slice them straight across into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Fan each half-melon out slightly and arrange it on the platter. Next, cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple, peel the outside, and use a sharp knife to remove the "eyes." Cut the pineapple in half lengthwise and remove the core by cutting a "V" down the center of each half. Again, place the pineapple halves, cut side down, on a board and slice them straight across into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Fan the slices out and arrange them next to the melon on the platter.
• Once the base is set, you can add any kind of fruit that's available. I like to have one thing that is taller than the rest, such as a large bunch of grapes or a decoratively cut papaya, to give the platter height. Then I add raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and fresh figs in casual but organized groups. The platter can look like a bowl of M&M's if there are too many colors scattered with no order. Visually, your eye needs to have a focal point and to be able to see each type of fruit. After all the fruit is arranged, I add flat green leaves around the outside of the fruit, to set off the colors. Use lemon and galax leaves from your florist, or fig leaves and grape leaves from your garden. Make sure they are pesticide-free and well washed.
• Any kind of fruit will work well on this platter. For special occasions, add persimmons, kiwi, passion fruit, Queen Anne cherries, fresh apricots, and mangos. Choose whatever is colorful and seasonal.

FESTIVE FRUIT PLATTER

Steps:

• Whisk limeade and honey until blended.
• Slowly whisk in oil until thick and smooth.
• Dip bananas, apples and pears in mixture.
• Line platter with leaves.
• Arrange red and green grapes, apricot and starfruit in alternating groups in a circle around outside edge of platter.
• Alternate orange slices and more star fruit with apple and pear slices in a smaller circle.
• In the next circle, arrange kiwi, pineapple, bananas and strawberries.
• Sprinkle raspberries over all.

FRUIT SALAD PLATTER

Steps:

• Line platter with romaine leaves.
• Place cottage cheese in a small glass bowl and place on platter.
• Arrange fruits on top of romaine.
• Serve Fresh Fruit Dressing in separate dish and spoon over fruit.
• Fresh Fruit Dressing:.
• In a saucepan, beat egg yolks, sugar, and salt until light and lemon colored.
• Place saucepan over boiling water and continue beating adding wineand nutmeg. Makes about 3/4 cup dressing.