Mother’s cooking always tasted delicious. It was so comforting. But it takes a certain “pop” in the looks department. 

But that doesn’t have to be the case. Cooking can be both tasty and spectacularly beautiful at the same time. It’s just a question of figuring out how. 

In this post, we take a look at some of the ways you can take regular dishes and make them visually stunning. 

Melon Chess Board Dessert 

Melon wedges are a classic dessert. But they’re not always the most visually interesting. 

Here’s a cool idea. Buy yourself a galia melon and a watermelon and then cut each of them into 32 equal cubes. Then find a flat tray and arrange them so that they look like a chess board. Then, if you have time, you can create all of the pieces out of different pieces of fruit and cocktail sticks. So, for instance, your pawns could be pineapple sticks, and your queen could be a cherry perched on top of some papaya. Just experiment and have fun. 

Gingerbread House

If you really want to impress, you can check out some gingerbread house ideas. Instead of just baking a boring old gingerbread man, you can actually create an entire house to present to your guests. What’s more, you can adorn it however you like with beautiful icing sugar, buttons or chocolate drops. Turn it into a dolls house if you want. 

Hot Chocolate Soufflé And Waffles

Visually exciting dishes don’t have to be visually complicated. In fact, something as simple as hot chocolate soufflé with waffles can be enough to make your guests go wild. Present the soufflé in a cup and then pile a mountain of waffles on an attractive plate next to it and you have a beautiful snack or breakfast ready to go. 

Thai Iced Tea

If you haven’t experienced the delights of Thai iced tea yet, then you’re in for a treat. 

To complete this recipe, first make your tea by heating water in a saucepan. Then add some granulated sugar and one smashed lemon grass stick. Allow it to simmer for around three minutes before you take it off the heat. 

Next, strain it through a strainer and then add some rum or non-alcoholic substitute if you prefer. Mix the tea into the rum and allow it to chill in the freezer for half an hour. Then pour it into a class serving or mason jar and add condensed milk. Top off with a straw and a sprig of mint and you’re ready to go!

Poached Pear And Cinnamon

There’s something incredible about how poached pears collect all of the color of the spices in which you cook them. Get it right, and they can take on an almost other-worldly pink or purple hue. There are loads of spiced poached pear recipes out there, so pick the one that interests you the most. Serve it with some of the poaching juice and a stick of Ceylon cinnamon. Don’t forget to serve it with a nice cooling dollop of fresh ice cream.