How to Make Bunny Salad

I grew up with these adorable little bunnies and can’t resist sharing them with everyone. They are not just cute edibles to encourage kids to eat healthier food. They are memories of quality time spent between kids and special adults in their lives. Whether they are the first food a child learns to “cook” with Grandma or the special centerpiece on the holiday table, they are sure to bring a smile to every person who makes friends with these irresistible little critters. Make individual bunnies, a couple, or a family of bunnies. Instructions are for one bunny. Multiply ingredients for the quantity of bunnies you are making.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Small plate for individual bunnies or couples, platter for bunny family
• Lettuce
• 1 half pear (fresh peeled and halved, or canned halves)
• 2 raisins
• 2 almond or cashew halves
• 1/4 maraschino cherry or red-hot candy
• 2 toothpicks for whiskers (optional)
• 1 heaping tablespoon cottage cheese
• Lightweight food storage bag to fit plate (optional)

1. On a small plate, place a leaf of lettuce as “grass” for your bunny.
2. With the narrow end facing you, place pear half cut side down in the grass.
3. Press 1/4 maraschino cherry or red-hot candy into the tip of the pear as the nose.
4. Break toothpicks in half and poke into pear as whiskers.
5. Bunny Salad Press raisins into pear for eyes. Cut and use half for each eye if whole raisin appears too large. See picture – bunny on left has whole raisins, bunny on right has half a raisin for each eye.
6. With pointed end up, press almond halves into pear for ears. For floppy ears, use cashews like the bunny on the right in the picture above.
7. Add one heaping tablespoon of cottage cheese as the bunny’s tail.
8. Wrapped Bunny Salad If making ahead, slide plate into lightweight food storage bag and refrigerate until serving time.

Tips & Warnings

• An entire family of bunnies makes a great centerpiece for a holiday table. Use a large platter and a leaf of lettuce for each bunny. Arrange the bunnies around the outside of the platter, facing the center or so they are all looking at each other.
• When making a family, place a small bowl of veggie dip in the center of the platter. Arrange mini carrots or sticks around the bowl of dip. Then arrange bunnies around the outside to look like they are eating the carrots. Very cute.
• Use caution with children if chopping ingredients such as maraschino cherries with a sharp knife. Most ingredients can be broken apart with fingers to make this a very safe activity with kids.