Mr. Fruit Turkey

I confess, I am addicted to Pinterest-where users post/bookmark ideas for future use.  When I get a chance, I'm on there, drooling over as many recipes as I can.

Of course, when I saw the countless fruit turkey arrangements on Pinterest, I wanted to make one for Thanksgiving.  I had to bring something healthy to compensate for all of that pie.

 

Fruity glory ;) disregard the birthday cake and chocolate in back lol...

next year, I'll hopefully have time to post steps.

Make sure that you have a nice big platter, skewers, and toothpicks.
Wash all of your fruit, drain, and cut into appropriate sizes for the skewers.

The fruit used here are:
berries (raspberry & blackberry)
cantaloupe
grapes
pear
pineapple
dried cranberry eyes

Skewer your fruit pieces and set aside.

To make your turkey, lop 1/4 off the bottom of the cantaloupe so it won't roll away.
Reserve the cantaloupe piece.

Attach the pear head with 3 toothpicks.  If you buy a pear with a long neck, turn it upside down so that the  narrow end will resemble a neck and the wide end will resemble a head. Break some toothpicks for the eyes (dried cranberries) and beak (pineapple).

Cut off the leafy crown of the pineapple, trim leaves if you want it to look neater, wash, dry, and cut it in half for each turkey wing.  Affix onto each side of body with 2 toothpicks.  To cover the ugly cut end of the pineapple wings, use the reserved cantaloupe piece, and make little shoulders.  It should blend nicely with the body.  Cut little toes with the leftover cantaloupe.

Stick your skewer tail-feathers in and try to space it as evenly as possible.  Also make sure that there's room between the bottom piece of fruit and body so that it can be grabbed easily.

Leftover fruit can be placed around Mr. Turkey along with some toothpicks for those that just want a small bite.