How to Make an Edible Thanksgiving Turkey Decoration for Children

At Thanksgiving, many adults are busy in the kitchen while others are parked in front of the TV. What is there for the kids to do? They can make edible turkey table decorations--perhaps one to place at each plate. There is no liquid or glue to worry about, and a parent, a young adult or an older child can supervise. Since the only items that require safe handling are toothpicks, most children can help. The added bonus is that the turkey "parts" are healthy, and children will enjoy eating their own turkeys or taking them home to eat later.

Things You'll Need

• Apples
• Round toothpicks
• Raisins
• Olives with pimento
• Whole cloves
• Tiny marshmallows

Instructions

1. Choose and apple and polish it with a clean towel. Place the apple on its side. The bottom of the apple (as it hung on the tree) will become the turkey's chest, and the top or stem end of the apple will become the turkey's rear.

2. Maintain the described orientation and poke three toothpicks in a tripod fashion (that is, in the points of an imagined triangle) into the side of the apple that is to be its belly. Don't press in more than one-third the length of each toothpick. These will function as the legs of the turkey, so test the "body" to ensure it will stand properly on the legs. You may have to adjust the depth of one of the toothpicks.

3. String raisins onto another toothpick, leaving the lower and upper 1/2 inch of the toothpick bare. This will become the neck of the turkey. Poke one end into upper edge of the "turkey's chest." Take an olive between your thumb and forefinger, and with another toothpick, pull one end of the pimento strip out of the olive and let it dangle as the turkey's "gobbler." Press two whole cloves into the sides of the olive for eyes. Stick the olive on the top end of the "neck."

4. String raisins on two more toothpicks, leaving one inch bare on one end of each toothpick. These will function as the wings of the turkey. Poke a wing in each side of the apple, running the toothpicks at a back-to-front angle, so the wings stay near the body.

5. Continue stringing raisins onto toothpicks, leaving the top and bottom half inch of each toothpick bare. You will need about eight to ten of them. On the top end of each toothpick, place a small marshmallow. Poke these completed turkey "tail feathers" in a fan fashion into the apple, arcing over the rear end of the turkey's body.

Tips & Warnings

• Eyes of the turkey can also be made with tiny pieces of carrot poked into tiny holes you make in the olive with a toothpick.

• Instead of (or in addition to) raisins, you can also use dried cranberries.

• The tail feathers can be made of bits of various dried fruits, including apricots, pineapple and cherries.

• Very small children may find it easier to string on only marshmallows instead of raisins.

• Supervise very young children to keep them from harming themselves or others with the toothpicks.