Penguin Veggie Platter

Name: Penguin Veggie Platter
Prep time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 1 penguin (2 cups dip), 16 servings, 2 tablespoons dip.
Ingredients: 1 large sweet red pepper; 1 cup sour cream; 1 cup mayonnaise; 1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix; 1/4 cup chopped green pepper; 1 medium eggplant; 1 medium sweet yellow pepper; 3 tablespoons whipped cream cheese; 2 raisins; Broccoli florets, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and carrots or vegetables of your choice

An eye-catching eggplant penguin is sure to encourage guests to sample the colorful appetizer. The dapper fellow watches over a platter of fresh vegetables and a creamy dip flecked with crunchy bits of green and sweet red pepper.

Ingredients

1 large sweet red pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 medium eggplant
1 medium sweet yellow pepper
3 tablespoons whipped cream cheese
2 raisins
Broccoli florets, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and carrots or vegetables of your choice

Directions

Chop a fourth of the red pepper; set aside. Cut a piece of red pepper into a bow tie shape; slice remaining pepper and set aside. In a bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, salad dressing mix and chopped red and green peppers; mix well. Refrigerate until serving.
Cut a thin slice off the bottom of the eggplant to make a flat surface. Cut the removed section into two slices for flippers. Break a wooden toothpick in half; press one piece into each side of whole eggplant and gently press flippers onto toothpicks.
Cut yellow pepper in half; cut one piece into two feet. Place at base of eggplant. From remaining yellow pepper, cut out a 1x3/4-in. triangle for beak; attach to eggplant with a toothpick.
Place cream cheese in a pastry or plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner. Pipe two 1-in. ovals for eyes and a 2-1/2-in. 2-1/4-in. oval for belly. Press a raisin into the center of each eye. Attach red pepper bow tie below the beak with a toothpick; pipe a small amount of cream cheese in the center of the tie.
Arrange sliced red pepper and other vegetables around the penguin. Serve with dip.

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keynibear

Oct 27, 2009

I have amde the several times for Holiday dinners or work luncheons. It's always gotten lots of compliments, and it attracts the kids to the veggies. I also took a red bell pepper and used it as a cup in which to serve the dip from.