DIRECTIONS

1. Select desired vegetables, wash, prepare, and place in groups on serving platter, surrounding a small serving bowl. Cover all with plastic wrap and chill until ready to use.
2. To prepare dip: place chopped celery and carrots in blender container and, using the pulse setting, chop until very fine. Add drained tuna, mayonnaise, horseradish, salt and pepper, and hot pepper sauce and blend on MEDIUM and then HIGH speed until smooth. Stop blender and scrape sides if needed. Remove to serving bowl and stir in basil and chopped hard-boiled egg. Adjust seasonings if desired. Chill for 15 minutes and serve.

*Chef’s Note: Most raw vegetables, such as carrots, celery, broccoli, zucchini, and cauliflower, slowly dry out on vegetable trays. Tomatoes, mushrooms, and cucumbers are a few that need no special attention. To enhance color and help prevent drying during service, try blanching the firmer vegetables. Simply place each color group, working light to dark, in active boiling water for 5 to 15 seconds, being careful not to cook the vegetables, and then plunge directly into cold, icy water. When fully cooled, drain well and arrange on serving platter. The blanched vegetables will remain crisp and brilliant in color.

Credit: Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) by Chef Carmen I. Jones, CCP