Snapdragons serve as dramatic stirrers for cocktails. Attach a flower's stem to a glass stirrer with a length of fishing line. Float pansies in herbal tea or punches. Larger flowers can be used, with petals intact, as elegant containers for simple foods. For a bridal shower, try a blossom filled with crabmeat or tuna salad for an elegant presentation.
Spicy hibiscus can serve as a pretty cup for sorbet.
Blooms with smooth, flat petals give the best results. Try pansies, violas and individual rose petals. We learned this technique from Toni Elling, who sells crystallized flowers through her American company, called Meadowsweets. To make your own, place flower stems in water while you assemble your materials in a cool, dry location. Egg-whites are the glue that makes the sugar stick to the flower.