As everyone knows, it’s the little unique details that make a dinner party or gathering of friends so much fun. But it’s the details that take the most time. Making ice cubes takes little time and virtually no planning and you can use what you have on hand!
My husband and I are both Vodka Martini drinkers and so I decided to make us some savory ice cubes with olives, green onions and a lone radish. In the dead of winter I do like a Rob Roy every now and again and I bet these same ice cubes would taste fantastic!
I did try and freeze candy, although the cubes were pretty, the dyes used in the candy are water soluble and bled into the water no matter what I did. If you don’t mind pink or pale green ice cubes, try freezing some candy. BTW, making Fruit Filled Ice Cubes is a great project for children of any age!
Kaleidoscope Ice Cubes
Recipe developed by BigBlackDog
Distilled Water *See Note
Fruit (I used Kiwi, Lemon, Orange, Lime, Raspberry, Blueberry, Cranberry)
Vegetables (I used Carrot, Green Onion, Olives, Radish)
Herbs (I used Dill)
Equipment needed:
Flexible Ice Cube Tray (I used Tovolo Perfect Cube Silicone Ice Cube Trays)
Sauce Pan
Small pitcher or measuring cup with a spout
1. Put about 4 cups of Distilled Water in the sauce pan and bring the water to a boil. Set aside to cool.
2. Bring Distilled Water to a boil again. Set aside to cool.
3. While water is cooling, slice up fruit as thin as possible. Careful to remove any thick pith, unattractive skin and seeds.
4. Arrange the fruits, herbs or vegetables in the cubicles of your Ice Cube Tray, making sure to have the colorful side facing towards the outside and below the top edge of the tray.
5. Pour about 1/4″ of cooled Distilled Water into each square. See NOTE**
6. Pop the tray into the freezer for about 1 hour or until water is almost frozen.
7. With the cooled Distilled Water, fill each cube until about 1/8″ from top of tray.
8. Return tray to freezer and leave over night.
*NOTE: Distilled Water does have a tendency to pick up odors from your freezer so do not make the Ice Cubes too far ahead of time. One to two days before you plan on using them is fine but three or more days could be a problem.
**NOTE: Since fruit, vegetables and herbs float in water and after much trial and error, I decided to pour about 1/4″ of water in the bottom of each cube, then add the fruit making sure that the fruit is at least 1/4″ below the top edge of the ice cube tray. Then put the tray in the freezer for about an hour. When the 1/4 of water is frozen and has anchored the fruit so that it will not float, fill the rest of the tray with water making sure to submerge the fruit in water. This way the fruit will be suspended in the cube and not floating on the top.
AllRightsReserved@BigBlackDog
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michelle Safirstein, Michelle Safirstein. Michelle Safirstein said: Kaleidoscope Ice Cubes for the holidays! http://tinyurl.com/2g2qhp3 So much fun to make and so easy! [...]
What a neat idea, and so pretty and fresh looking!
oh my gosh, what a beautiful idea! so easy, but so impressive.
Very clever – love these!
I love these. Why not do this, all year round, or is more special to keep it for the holidays. They are pretty and decorative and a nice way to brighten the table.
Love these Michelle, they are so pretty and festive! I have seen frozen wreaths similar to this that are so cool!
How cute! LOVE THESE! brillliant!
Love these little ice cubes. They add a lot to a cocktail or punch. Used to do these in ring molds to float in large punch bowls.
Love this. What a great idea!
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