Almost too pretty to eat (photo © Culinary Vegetable Institute).

Here’s something easy for Mother’s Day (or Valentine’s Day): a dessert or tea snack consisting of a single macaron, beautifully decorated.

It’s from the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Ohio, where farmers grow the most glorious produce and chefs create wondrous dishes with it.

You can create this macaron at home, either as a light dessert or as one of a number of dessert courses.

Serve it with a cup of tea or a glass of sparkling wine. For birthdays, add a candle for the honoree.
 
 
RECIPE: MACARON WITH FLOWERS

Ingredients

1. PURCHASE or make macarons, ideally in a bright color for visual appeal.

2. PLACE the macaron on its side, using a dab of frosting to affix it to the plate and keep it from rolling. While we don’t like canned frosting, in this case its thickness works to adhere the macaron.

SPRINKLE the plate with sanding sugar in a complementary color. It’s typically available in pastels: blue, green, lavender, pink and yellow.

3. PLACE the flower near the top.

4. SCATTER the sanding sugar on the plate.