Apple Bird Garnishes

~Apple Bird Garnishes~

1. Gather a large, fresh apple, such as a Red or Golden Delicious apple, a cutting board, a paring knife, a bowl of water mixed with lemon juice, and two whole cloves.
2. Create a base for your apple bird by cutting about 1/3 of the apple off from the side of the apple. Save the small piece of apple to use for the head and neck of the bird.
3. Dip the cut portions of the apple into water and lemon juice to prevent browning.
4. With the stem end of the apple facing you, put the cut side of the apple down on a flat surface.
5. Using a paring knife, cut a small, "V-shaped" wedge from the top side of the apple. Set the wedge aside.
6. To cut a series of top feathers, continue cutting V-shaped wedges from the top of the apple, about 1/8-in. thick, until you have a series of five to seven wedges. You may need to switch to a larger knife as the wedges get larger. Put the cut wedges into the bowl with water and lemon juice to prevent browning while you work.
7. To cut a series of side feathers, cut V-shaped wedges from both sides of the apple, repeating the directions followed in Step 6. Keep the wedges from each side of the apple together to form the wing feathers in Step 10. Be sure to place the wedges in the lemon juice, and dip the apple in the lemon juice, too.
8. Place the base of the apple on a flat surface.
9. To put together the top feathers, start with the largest wedge from the top of the apple. Put this wedge into the top wedge cut, about 1/3 of the way toward the back of the apple. Then, take the next smallest wedge and put it into the previous wedge, extending it as you did the first wedge. Repeat until you have placed all of the wedges for the top feathers. The top feathers should extend off the back of the bird.
10. To put together the wing feathers, repeat the procedure followed in Step 9.
11. Using the piece of apple saved from the base in Step 2, cut about a 1/4-in. strip from the center of this piece of apple to make the head and neck of the bird. Insert the whole cloves on either side of the head to form the bird's eyes.
12. Insert the head and neck in the wedge toward the stem-end of the apple.
13. Pour some of the water and lemon juice over your bird once you have it put together.
14. Display your completed bird.