• Scatter candied petals across the table like confetti.
By Pat Volchok, Editorial Director
• Place candied rose blooms on dessert platters.
There’s nothing like roses and a bride.
Here are some suggestions for decorating
with this romantic flower for a bridal shower or,
for that matter, any dreamy occasion.
Pesticide-free rose petals can be:
• Laid on the bread-and-butter plate to hold
pats of butter.
• Added to water in ice-cube trays and frozen
to make rose-petal ice cubes.
Candied Rose Blooms and Petals • Placed on or around the dessert platter.
Practice this technique on a few rose petals before • Floated in water in a compote vase with
attempting entire blooms. The roses must not have buoyant votives.
been sprayed with pesticides, so select from an envi- • Made into rose-scented sugar by combining 21/2
ronmentally green and clean yard, not from a florist. cups highly scented dried rose petals with 1/2 cup
Pick full blooms, check for insects and clean thoroughly sugar and processing in a food blender until fine.
with water. Let dry. Using an artist’s brush, paint all
petals, including the underside, carefully with a thin Tie roses into other party elements:
layer of beaten egg white. Work quickly. Holding • Select your rose and then purchase colored ribbon
the prepared rose over a piece of waxed paper, to match and tie around napkins or gift boxes.
sprinkle evenly with superfine or confectioners’ • At the last moment, stick a rose in each person’s
sugar. Carefully shake. Avoid touching up, because favor or napkin.
the sugared rose’s appearance may turn clumpy. Let • Tie roses to the back of everyone’s chair.
the blossoms dry on a wire rack before storing in And don’t forget to serve blushing pink Rosé wine.
tissue for up to one week. Do not refrigerate; the
*Note: While pesticide-free rose petals are edible, there are concerns about eating
candied roses tend to weep just like chilled meringues. raw egg whites, so we strongly suggest that these be used for decoration only.
