Fun Foods for Kids: Octo-Dog!

Okay, so here's the story...I have a pretty picky toddler that refuses to eat anything he hasn't fully examined or approved just by its color or look.  If it looks funny, (even macaroni and cheese) he won't eat it. Only  after I chase him around and dab a tiny taste in his mouth - will he will then realize that it tastes good. He'll then follow me for more. I'm sure most moms go through this often. When I have the time on my days off or on the weekends I like to get a little more creative with his food. One thing that is successful is using cookie cutters to make tiny shapes from his sandwiches. He gets pretty happy and its worth the extra effort. I decided to go even more creative than the sandwiches and came across this idea. A hotdog octopus. He loves hotdogs! I've seen them done before and wanted to try them out for a good laugh. I think I secretly wanted to do this for my own amusement.!

Things you will need:

• Cooked hotdogs (boiled works best rather than grilled-don't want a charred octopus right??)
• Candy eyes from craft stores or baking supply stores
• Sharp pointy knife (be careful!)
• Pan for frying (optional)

I boiled the hotdogs about 10-15 min over its suggested time, just so that they plump up a little more. This is not necessary however.

Start from about an inch and a half from the top and slice down. Slice 4 times through the hotdog, that should give you 8 legs ( or arms, tentacles, whatever they are called)

For a more accurate and even cut of the legs: make the first 2 cuts, then cut the remaining legs individually in half.

I got these candy eyes at the baking supply store-they are so cute. You can use them on almost all your fun food creations.

I used my sharp pointy knife to make tiny holes the size of the eyes I bought. They don't have to be perfect.

Insert the eyes and you will be amazed at how funny they look. If you don't have candy eyes, you can use pieces of cheese, dots of cream cheese, carrots, cereal etc...use whatever you have in your refrigerator or pantry. 

Extra step: fry the hotdog in the same pot in a half inch of water to curl up the legs. Remove the eyes if you're going to do this step.

 

How cute! This is a great idea for a kids party!

After spending the time boiling, frying, cutting and inserting the eyes I was super excited to show my son the results.  I set it on a plate and presented it to him - needless to say he enjoyed playing with it more than actually eating it. Eventually, he ate one leg at a time until it was all gone. Compliments to the chef!! Definitely worth  putting a smile on your kid's face. Try it out for yourself and see the reaction your kids will have. Enjoy!

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