Last weekend, we had a glorious time returning to where we were married. The hotel surprised us with an anniversary dessert that was delicious, and incredibly creative in its display – a piece of chocolate cake, topped with about a cup of fresh mixed berries, wrapped in a pastry-type dough. It reminded me that there are so many ways to present food at home, ultimately, making it more appetizing. I find, the more time I can put into arranging food onto the plate, as though it were art, I am not only more connected to the nutrients I can get from each item, but also, I end up exploring many more types of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to zhush up the plate. From adding colors, to planning by flavors I think go well together – there are so many ways to get inspired and make the food on a plate appealing while still being good for you. If you’re feeling adventurous this weekend, try zhushing up your plate and share with us what you discover.
Some tips
- Adding a few pinches of chopped flat leaf parsley adds a fresh taste to most things, and makes the plate look great
- Like styling an outfit, sometimes the simplest color schemes are the most powerful (think: berries (shades of red and blue), tomatoes & basil (red and green) )
- Salads are a great place to start experimenting eating by color – the shades of green and purple in lettuces are a great backdrop
- This clip from Martha Stewart is a great go-to when you’re not sure how you can add color to your plate
Zhushed Up! Meatless Meatball Sandwich
Nate's Italian Meatless Meatballs in Tomato with Butternut Squash Puree
Zhushed Up! Black Bean Tacos w/Butternut Squash
(Click picture for recipe)
Anniversary Cake
