Give Her a Dozen Roses

This do-it-yourself edible goody is both decorative and easy to make.

You'll need:

Candy roses for a friend's wedding shower

• Thin wooden dowels or kabob skewers
• Jumbo Marshmallows (I recomend the colored ones)
• Green gummy candies (spearmint leaves are best)
• Colored icing
• Floral or beading wire
• Floral tape
• Clear tape
• Heavy vase (see options below)
• Plastic wrap
• Ribbon and/or twist ties

Edible roses can be made in these simple steps:

1. Cut gummy candies to desired size. If using gummy spearmint leaves, use a paring knife to cut down the middle, resulting in two thinner leaves. Green citrus slice candy can be used in the same way.
2. Cut wire into 2 inch pieces. Insert one wire into each leaf. It will resemble the central vein that occurs in real leaves.
3. Push marshmallow onto skewer until the skewer can be felt at the top of the marshmallow.
4. Bend the wire slightly just under the candy.  Place two leaves directly under the marshmallow with the wire parallel to and touching the skewer.  While holding the leaves in place, begin wrapping the wires and skewer with green floral tape. The tape sticks to itself best when stretched slightly.
5. Overlapping the edges of the tape, wrap in a spiral down the length of the skewer. For extra security, place a small strip of clear tape around the bottom of the wrapped area.
6. Match an icing color to the color of the marshmallow. White, pale pink, and pale blue marshmallows are most commonly available. Squeeze icing in a swirling pattern on top of the marshmallow to resemble the folds of rose petals.
7. Place "roses" in vase and allow icing to harden. Make sure they don't touch and smear the icing. Also, store in a cool place. Otherwise, the icing may melt and ooze.
8. When dry, loosely cover the rose head with a square of clear plastic wrap and secure with a twist tie or ribbon.

Viola! You now have a stunning array of a dozen roses for the blushing bride.

Display option 1: Arrange your roses in a heavy vase or in a vase weighted with marbles, glass beads, etc. A word of caution: These roses are top-heavy. If the vase you place them in is not sufficiently weighted, the vase will tip as some roses are removed by guests.

Display option 2: Place a square of floral block foam in a desired vase. Press the stems into the foam--it will keep them in place. Cover the foam with something pretty, such as tinsel or beads.

Display option 3: Place one or two roses in a bud vase. Put a vase at each seat or at each guest table.

Display option 4: Depending on the personality of the bride, she may enjoy carrying a bouquet of candy roses down the aisle, or candy roses intermingled in a cut flower bouquet.  Be creative!