Flowers: Thinking OutSide of The Box!

Are you going to send flowers for Mother's Day? Yes? Think about what else you cando with flowers. flowers are not only admired for their beauty and scents, but they are used in many different ways.

What are other uses for flowers?
Flowers can be dried. Once they are dreid, they can be used in many different ways. Dried flowers can be used in potpourri. They can be used in floral arrnagements, including Victorian wedding bouquets. They can be used in wreaths to adorn your home, inside and out. They can be used to adorn hats, pins and other accessories. They can be pressed and used as wall hangings like shadow boxes or stationery.

Fresh flowers
Besides the regular use of floral arrangments, flowers can also be used adorn cakes and garnish dishes. Do you know they can also be eaten? Yes, some flowers are edible.

Sue Lawrence of Scotmans.com has shared a few of her favorite recipes that incorporate fresh flowers. Here is one of them:

CARROT CAKE WITH THYME FLOWERS

This is my adaptation of the famous carrot cake at Cape Town’s Mount Nelson Hotel.
For the cake

4 large free-range eggs

400g golden caster sugar

175ml sunflower oil

250g self-raising flour, sifted

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

450g grated carrots (peeled weight)

90g chopped walnuts
For the frosting

200g light cream cheese

50g butter, softened

3 tsp orange flower water

100g golden caster sugar

handful of thyme flowers

Whip the eggs and sugar until pale and creamy, then slowly add the oil (on low speed if using a mixer). Fold in the flour, bicarbonate of soda, a pinch of salt and the cinnamon, then fold in the carrot and nuts. Once combined, tip the mixture into a deep 24cm springform cake tin (buttered) and bake in a preheated oven (180¼C/350¼F/gas 4) for an hour and 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil for the last 20 minutes or so.

Place the cake on a wire rack and release the sides of the tin. Leave it to cool completely before placing on a serving plate.

Beat the cream cheese and butter together and then beat in the flower water and sugar. Once the mixture is smooth, spread it over the cake and decorate with thyme flowers.

As you can see flowers have many different uses. Try something new, you won't regret it!