Thursday, April 14, 2011

Daring Cooks: Edible Containers


Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado! was our Daring Cooks’ April 2011 hostess. Renata challenged us to think “outside the plate” and create our own edible containers!

Yup - that was the whole challenge. We could make whatever we wanted for an edible container and put whatever we wanted into it. In some ways that is the hardest kind of challenge since it is so open, but it is also fun to try to come up with something creative. Renata gave us several examples of things we could do - but I kind of wanted to come up with something different.

I thought of the idea of weaving something but kind of ruled it out. When my wife, Lara, later suggested it ( and I couldn't think of anything better ) I decided to give it a try. I shaved off thin peels from zucchini and yellow squash. I microwaved them a little to soften them up. I can't say the weaving was easy. I am not normally one to give up on something but I tried it before my wife got home from work and gave up. I did not expect it to work but my wife got it to work - she has done some basket making - who knew that would be a helpful skill in the kitchen.

I think the basket turned out pretty nice. It was cute and "edible". It was also very difficult and I would not want to be making these for a large dinner party. For the contents I made a grilled squash salad. The salad is very easy and quick to make. It tasted very good and looked nice and springy in the basket.

Thanks to Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado! for this months challenge. Renata is one of my favorite Daring Cooks. She always has very creative solutions to the challenges and she is always very active in the forums and commenting on peoples blogs. Check out her blog - it is in Portuguese but she has an English version as well.
Grilled Squash Salad
Serves about 4
  • 3-4 zucchini and yellow squash
  • 8-12 peppadew peppers (these are hard to find so another sweet or slightly hot pepper could be substituted)
  • 2 T vegetable oil (or EVOO)
  • 1 T kosher salt
  • 1/4 t pepper
  • juice from 1 lemon
  • 2 clove garlic
  • 2 t fresh basil
  • 1 T Parmesan cheese
  1. Wash the squash well if you are not peeling it. Julienne the squash (I used a mandolin).
  2. Mix the squash with 1T of the oil and the salt and pepper.
  3. Mix the remaining 1 T oil and remaining ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
  4. Cook squash mixture over a medium-hot grill until tender (only takes 2 minutes or so).
  5. Toss the squash with the lemon juice mixture.

21 comments:

Melanie said...

You've got summer in a basket! I can't wait to try this squash salad.

Audax Artifex said...

That is so cute I love the yellow and green colours and the grilled squash salad sounds divine. Well done on this challenge.

Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.

Suz said...

Wow, this looks great! The basket looks wonderful and that salad sounds delicious - perfect for eating outside on a summer evening. Yum!

Louise McLaren said...

That is BEAUTIFUL! Well done on being so inventive.

Foodbykatherine said...

Outstanding! Raw! I wish I had thought of that! Yes, love my iPad in the kitchen. Use it almost everyday. a recent tip is to place it in a freezer bag while cooking to protect it. I love my iPad.

Renee Foy said...

I love the way your basket came out. I tried that with thin slices of asparagus and it sooo didn't work out. Great job!

Karin van D. said...

I love the little basket. It looks so cute and spring-y! Looks like a perfect little dish for Easter.

Laura Bashar said...

Cute baskets! It reminds me of something my grandmother would do when I was a kid!

Lisa said...

WOW, I opened your page and was greeted with what I thought was an actual non-edible basket or purse! LOL What a work of art, and the grilled squash sounds delicious!

Anne Marie said...

Great basket, I can't imagine doing it.

Pia Cariquitan said...

How whimsical and beautiful!!! Now this is a perfect way to feed kids their vegetables. Love your concept...great job on this challenge Todd.

Missmopo said...

Looks great! I'm going to try this in the summer for a salad!

Renata said...

I absolutely love what you created for the challenge! The basket is so beautiful with the yellow and green contrasting with the multicolored salad inside. Very inspiring! Thanks for your lovely compliment and for participating in such a creative way!

the food doctor said...

you are truely talanted..the colors and excution is wonderful..great job!

Audax Artifex said...

Congratulations on being one of the five finalists in the Daring Cooks' savoury edible container competition! Cheers from Audax.

meadot01 said...

Wow - I never thought that was going to happen. Congrats to you s well - I am sure they had a hard time just choosing which of yours to nominate.

Renata said...

Todd, congratulations on being one of the 5 finalists, I hope you don't mind me showing off your photo on my blog!

Jojo_2002 said...

Beautiful and creative! Wow - great job. Nice pic as well :-)

Kellypea said...

I just saw some wedding reception food that served salad from thin strips of cucumber so can see how this would work quite well! Looks difficult to do, so congrats for pulling it off!

Patriv said...

Wow, wondeful job on the woven basket, and the vegetable mixture sounds... yummy, my juices are flowing again! :-) Great challenge!

Shumaila said...

This is such a clever idea! Good job on the challenge!

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