# Components:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 large English cucumbers
02 - 6 cherry tomatoes
→ Dairy
03 - 3.5 oz cream cheese, softened
→ Herbs & Seasonings
04 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnishes & Assembly
07 - 12 small pretzel sticks
08 - 12 star-shaped yellow bell pepper slices (optional)
09 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Wash the cucumbers thoroughly. Using a mandoline or vegetable peeler, slice cucumbers lengthwise into long, thin ribbons.
02 - In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese with dill, chives, salt, and pepper until fully integrated and smooth.
03 - Cut each cherry tomato in half.
04 - Gently thread one cucumber ribbon onto a pretzel stick, folding it back and forth to create a zigzag pattern resembling a tree.
05 - Pipe or spoon a dollop of the herbed cream cheese at the base of each assembled tree.
06 - Decorate each tree with a half cherry tomato or star-shaped bell pepper slice. Sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired.
07 - Arrange the cucumber trees upright on a serving platter and serve immediately.
