450g / 1lb fresh or frozen cranberries
45m1 / 3tbsp water
30-45ml / 2-3tbsp icing sugar
15ml / 1tbsp créme de cassis (blackcurrant
liqueur), optional
1 large, ripe honeydew melon
1 star fruit
225g / 8oz small black grapes
15m1 / 1tbsp hundreds and thousands (gelatin-free
brand)
15ml / 1tbsp silver balls
To make the
coulis, liquidise the cranberries with the water, sugar
and cassis, place in a saucepan, bring to the boil and boil for approximately
1 minute, until glossy. Leave to cool. To
make the trees, cut the melon into three equal lengthwise wedges.
Scoop out seeds. Then cut each wedge in half, crosswise to give 6 triangular
shaped wedges which will each make one tree.
For each tree, take a piece of melon and make 4 cuts down to the skin,
parallel to the curved side.
Using a curved, serrated (grapefruit) knife, remove the flesh from the skin
to give 4 curved slices and one little pointed bit.
Lay the largest slice flat near the bottom of the plate, curving away from
you so that it forms the bottom of the tree.
Lay the second largest slice flat on the plate, cupped against the first slice
to form the next layer of branches and so on, graduating to the pointed bit
which forms the top of the tree.
Spoon the coulis around the tree. Place a slice of star fruit at the
top of the tree, and decorate the tree with halved grapes.
Just before serving, sprinkle tree with hundreds and thousands and
silver balls. Serve on large plain plates.
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