BEST FLOWERS FOR FLORIDA

*Explore/Interestingness*
when i was a kid, aunt joanie and i picked violets like these and made lovely violet jelly. i miss her.

recipe for Violet Jelly
(makes 4 or 5 half-pint jars)

2 heaping cups of fresh violets- no stems
2 cups boiling water
1/4 c. well-strained, clear lemon juice
4 cups sugar
3 ounces liquid pectin (Certo)
(optional: 1/2 tsp. rosewater)

1. wash violets, drain and place in heat-proof glass/non-reactive bowl. Pour boiling water over violets and steep for 2 hours. Strain through a fine sieve, reserving the clear, purple infusion
2. place jars & lids in stock pot deep enough to cover by 2". Bring water to a boil, then reduce to simmer & keep hot till ready to fill.
3. to make the jelly: stir lemon juice & sugar into reserved infusion in a 2 qt. pan. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add the liquid pectin and continue to boil for 2 minutes, skimming any foam that may rise to the surface.
4. Ladle quickly into jars to within 1/8" from the top. Clean rim & threads and place tops before filling the next jar. Screw bands tightly & invert jars on tea towel for 5-10 minutes. Jars should seal and pop shut within 10 minutes, as they cool. Sealed jars will last for up to 1 year in cool, dark storage. Open jars will keep for 3 weeks in refrigerator.

My Mom's work (Kaiser Permanente - Elk Grove Clinic )was having an Italian inspired potluck party to celebrate their 4th year in operation and she asked me to make a cake to look like a fountain. The cake was to sit ontop of a dessert "fountain" (a tiered stand made by her staff) and be filled with desserts brought in by the staff. So... fun for me ~ I got to get my creative juices going and come up with this!
Scupted tiers covered in fondant, embossed with "carvings", 3-dimensional floral royal icing decoration and sponge painted to mimic ancient marble. THe "water" is blue buttercream and the "spray" is wired blue and clear crystals.
Funny part of the story is that when Mom picked up the cake it was a HOT, HOT day and she got stuck in heavy traffic which turned her 1 hour expected trip into almost 3! The sun was beating in the window and just before she arrived to her destination, the back half of the cake melted before her eyes!!!! OH NO!!!! So.. then she REALLY had a cake that looked like an ancient Roman fountain.,.. one recently discovered and unearthed! Not to worry ~ It's only cake!! They left it "as is" and had a fun party with the ancient fountain in the center of the room!