'Eat your art out'

Decorative cucumber flowers:

Use these simple steps to give your cucumbers kick.

Duck Cream Puffs
Use this next recipe for cream puff shells to make adorable ducks for your next party.

½ cup water

¼ cup butter

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup flour

2eggs, room temperature (unbeaten)

Combine butter and water in a saucepan; bring to boil. Remove from heat; add salt to flour and add to butter/water mix. Beat mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture leaves the sides of the pan (about two minutes). Beat in one egg until mixture is smooth and shiny. Beat in second egg in same manner. Batter should be stiff.
On ungreased cookie sheet, drop by tablespoons for medium shells and by teaspoons for smaller shells. Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees until puffed up and golden, about 25 minutes. Do not remove from cookie sheets until completely cooled. Slice off a small portion of the top of the shell. Use your index finger to remove any soft wet batter from inside. Fill just before serving. Makes eight medium or 16 small puffs.

Smart Cut:

Use frozen puff pastry shells according to packaged directions. Fill as desired before serving.

Suggested fillings:

Custard, cannoli filling, chicken salad, ham salad, egg or egg and olive salad, tuna salad or flavored cream cheeses.

Recipe adapted from Christine Green by Connie Sprenkle for "Smart Cuts To Victory: Cook and Entertain with Connie"

"Crab" Bread
Use this recipe for bread dough to make a cool crab shape to serve with hot crab dip.

1 .25-ounce package of yeast

¼ cup warm water

¼ cup warm milk

¼ cup sugar

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons butter

2 cups flour

2 eggs

1 egg for wash

2raisins or whole cloves

Spray olive oil

Dissolve yeast in ¼ cup warm water; add milk, sugar, salt and margarine. Stir in two slightly beaten eggs; add flour. Knead until no longer sticky. Add flour to board while kneading. Spray bowl with olive oil. Place dough in bowl, covered with a towel. Let it rise double. Punch down and let rise again. Divide dough in half. Shape half into crab "body." Make claws from the other half. Use raisins or cloves for eyes. Let rise. Brush with remaining one egg, slightly beaten. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with hot crab dip.

Crab Bread Smart Cut:

1 loaf frozen bread dough

2 raisins or whole cloves

1 egg slightly beaten

Allow bread dough to thaw and rise. Follow above directions, beginning with dividing the dough in half.

Recipe provided by Connie Sprenkle from "Smart Cuts To Victory: Cook and Entertain with Connie"