# What You Need:
→ Base Lines
01 - 3.5 oz black olives, pitted and sliced
02 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 3.5 oz cucumber, cut into thin half-moons
04 - 3.5 oz roasted red peppers, sliced
05 - 3.5 oz smoked salmon or marinated tofu strips (optional)
→ Cheese Rungs
06 - 5.3 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into thin strips or small cubes
07 - 3.5 oz cheddar cheese, cut into thin strips or small cubes
→ Accompaniments
08 - 1.8 oz fresh basil leaves
09 - 1.8 oz crackers or gluten-free crackers (optional)
10 - 1 tbsp olive oil
11 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make:
01 - On a large serving board or platter, create two long, parallel, gently twisting lines using alternating ingredients such as black olives on one side and cherry tomatoes on the other to build color contrast.
02 - Place extra lines of cucumber, roasted red peppers, or smoked salmon/marinated tofu between the base lines to enhance color contrast and fill out the structure.
03 - Connect the two parallel lines at regular intervals with mozzarella and cheddar strips or cubes, positioning them perpendicularly to mimic the rungs of a DNA helix.
04 - Tuck fresh basil leaves along the lines for added aroma and color.
05 - Lightly drizzle olive oil over the assembled lines and season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Present with crackers or gluten-free crackers on the side, if desired.
