Pickle bouquets: salty perfection for your love connection

Forget generic and pricey hothouse flowers. A pickle bouquet is the token of love your significant other wants for Valentine’s Day 2020. We’re here to help you craft your own salty, vinegary arrangement that’s both affordable and unforgettable.

Step 1: Gather materials

When shopping for pickle bouquet supplies, be sure to choose firm, crisp pickles that will hold their shape when prodded and pierced. And don’t limit yourself to pickled cucumbers. You can pickle pretty much anything! So select pickled products of various colors, shapes and sizes to add visual interest. Don’t neglect the humble gherkin, which can help fill in small gaps. Be prepared to personalize your arrangement by arming yourself with her favorite olive or his favorite pepperoncinis.

You’ll also need sticks to serve as stems. Wooden grilling skewers work great here.

A regular vase is nice, but you can also use a mason jar or any drinking cup, really.

 Step 2: Set up your workstation

You’ll need clean hands and a clean workspace to craft your pickle bouquet. Also, a knife. Open a window if weather allows, because the scent of these vinegary valentines can get overwhelming fast.

 Step 3: Slice and skewer

This is where the personalization comes in. Flay pickled okra lengthwise to make miniature octopuses. Try your hand at winding carrot slivers or dill pickle coins into rose and carnation shapes. Or go simple by stacking a half-dozen kebobs of various pickled vegetables and arranging them artfully in a jar.

 Step 4: Finishing touches

Fill any glaring holes with parsley sprigs, tie on a bow and your brine-soaked bouquet is ready to go.

 But don’t forget the extras. Tipplers might like to use their pickle skewers as garnishes in a gigantic bloody mary, so bundle your pickle bouquet with appropriate mixers and spirits. Foodies might prefer an accompaniment of cheese and crackers.