Sugared fruits, vegetables, and more!

What would Martha do if she needed a quick centerpiece, or her pumpkin pie was looking a little dowdy?  She's sugar up something!  You can use fruits, vegetables, even findings from the yard like pine cones, leaves and sprigs.  

All you need is:
some sugar
a beaten egg white
a pastry brush 
a sheet of waxed paper
whatever you want to add a little sparkle to

II used cranberries for my Pumpkin Cheesecake, but there are so many other things you can 'sugar'.

Use a pastry brush to brush the beaten egg on the item you want to add sparkle to.  Then sprinkle it all over with sugar and set aside to dry.  If there is a stem, grab onto it while you sprinkle.  If there is no stem you can plop it right in the sugar. For single berries just drop them in the egg white and then roll them around in the sugar with a spoon.  For things like pine cones and sprigs, you can just brush their tips.
You can dab more egg white on spots you missed, and re sprinkle with more sugar, but try not to be a perfectionist about it, you're going for a naturally frost kissed look.

 

This is another project perfect for kids...it will give them a chance to be a part of the holiday preparations.  Just line your kitchen table with waxed paper and let them go at it.

For this demo I used what I had lying around the house (and yard!) to make an impromptu centerpiece...the mini pumpkins leftover from my Halloween decor, a few clementines, pears and concord grapes.  I added some pine cones and a few pine sprays for fall flavor.

If you're making a centerpiece, arrange the sugared items on a platter, cake stand, or tray, and put something---anything---under the center object (s) to create some lift to give the arrangement different levels.  Fill in blank spots with loose grapes or cranberries and sprigs.  The sugaring will sparkle best under your lights at night, so they're perfect for a holiday table.

Have fun!