# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 large English cucumbers
02 - 6 cherry tomatoes
→ Dairy
03 - 3.5 ounces cream cheese, softened
→ Herbs & Seasonings
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon 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 tablespoon sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
# Method Steps:
01 - Wash cucumbers thoroughly and slice lengthwise into thin ribbons using a mandoline slicer or vegetable peeler.
02 - Combine softened cream cheese with dill, chives, salt, and pepper until smooth.
03 - Halve each cherry tomato evenly.
04 - Thread a cucumber ribbon onto each pretzel stick, folding to form a zigzag, tree-like shape.
05 - Apply a small dollop of herbed cream cheese at the base of each assembled tree.
06 - Top each tree with half a cherry tomato or a star-shaped bell pepper slice, if using.
07 - Sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds over the trees as desired.
08 - Arrange the trees upright on a platter and serve immediately to maintain crispness.
