Monster Mouths Food

EDIBLE MONSTER MOUTHS

Steps:

• Before you begin, cut the apple into wedges and slices (I used a slice for the bottom for stability and then a wedge for the upper lip but you don't have to get that complicated).
• Stick a toothpick in the bottom of each of the large, halved marshmallows. Dip each Cheerio (or raisin) in a bit of peanut butter and place in middle of marshmallow to resemble an eyeball.
• Give your child two apple wedges that will represent the lips of the monster mouth; dry them off on a paper towel.
• Spread peanut butter on one side of each wedge.
• Place 1 piece of apricot, sticky side down on the bottom of the mouth for a tongue.
• Place a line of 4 mini-marshmallows into the peanut butter along the bottom apple wedge (you need to put extra peanut butter on the mini-marshmallow that goes rests on the apricot). These will be the monster's teeth!
• Stack the other apple wedge, peanut butter side down, on top of the marshmallows and press down slightly.
• Take two of the eyeballs on toothpicks and place in the top of the top lip.
• The monster mouth is finished! Your child should feel free to play with his food before eating up this healthy snack.

MONSTER MOUTH CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Cut the red fruit leather rolls into twenty-four 2 1/2-inch lengths. Slightly overlap 2 pieces lengthwise, pressing to adhere; repeat with the remaining pieces.
• Spread a thin coat of vanilla frosting on each cupcake. Place a red fruit leather rectangle on top of each cupcake, trimming any overhang with kitchen shears.
• Cut big fangs from a marshmallow with shears, then halve mini marshmallows on the diagonal to make mini fangs. Dab some vanilla frosting on the sticky cut sides and arrange on the fruit leather for the fangs.
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a small star tip (#17) with dark chocolate frosting. Pipe frosting around the mouth as the fur.

APPLE MONSTER MOUTHS

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Add sugar and vanilla; mix well.
• Cut thin wedge in peel side of each apple piece; fill with 1 tsp. cream cheese mixture. Insert 4 to 6 nuts in cream cheese mixture in each apple to resemble teeth.
• Spoon remaining cream cheese mixture into serving bowl. Serve with apples for dipping.