# What You'll 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 Steps:
01 - On a large serving board or platter, create two parallel, gently twisting lines using alternating ingredients such as black olives on one line and cherry tomatoes on the other for visual contrast.
02 - Add additional lines using cucumber, roasted red peppers, or smoked salmon/marinated tofu strips to enrich the color contrast and fill out the strands.
03 - Connect the two parallel lines at regular intervals with perpendicular rungs made from mozzarella and cheddar cheese to imitate the base pairs of a DNA helix.
04 - Tuck fresh basil leaves along the lines to provide color and aroma.
05 - Drizzle the entire arrangement lightly with olive oil and season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 - Present with crackers or gluten-free crackers on the side if desired.
