How to Make a Mouse Out of a Cherry Tomato

You've seen all of thosxe animals sitting out there as garnishes. Those animals are made out of various vegetables and fruits, and they clean up the plate and make it look so cute. It would be great if you could make a few of those animals. Here's how to make a little mouse out of a cherry tomato. This little mouse can be put on any dish you want. Your guests will love it, and if they are looking out off of a clean white plate, say holding down a name tag, they are adorable and an instant hit.

You're going to need a cherry tomato, a sharp knife, and a toothpick.

First cut a very thin slice off the bottom of the tomato. this little slice is to make sure that the mouse sits still and doesn't roll all over the place. Look at the part of the tomato that has the stem stop. This is where the tomato use to be attached to the stem of the tomato plant. If it still has a stem take it off, we can use it later. The stem area is the little mouse nose and mouth area. Take your tooth pick and break off the very tips of both pointy sides. Take off about the size of 1/2 your index nail from both sides.

Cut 2 small little holes on the top of the tomato closest to the stem area. The holes should be little slices, that's all. Take the very point of your knife, put it in just enough for the point to go in, and move it ever so slightly away from the center of the tomato. This slice should be about 2-3 mm in length, very small. Now take the small piece that you shaves off the bottom of the tomato. From one of the rounded edges, cut out a small triangle. however, because of the rounded edge the bottom part of your triangle will have a rounded edge. Take each of these little triangle and turn them pointed side down. Place the point into one of your slices on the top of the tomato, and do the same on the other side. You now have two little ears for the mouse.

Take your tooth pick pieces and stick them into the tomato in such a way that the tooth pick pieces can still be seen. they should be very very very slightly sticking out, or at least can be seen as two little holes. These are your eyes. Place them in such a way that your nose and eyes, are the correct distance apart. You now have a little tomato mouse, but what about his tail. Most chefs will use a sauce poured out of a squeeze bottle to give a fine lie, to make a little tail coming from him. However, remember the vine? Cut a piece of the vine off and slice it very fine. Insert that piece of vine into the back of the tomato and now the mouse has a tail. Also, you can take your knife and draw it along the vine and it will curl, making a curly mouse tail.