An Octopus' Garden Crudite Platter

We’d like to be under the sea, in an octopus’ garden in the shade. When it comes to summertime snacks, few things beat fresh veggie crudités and cool, creamy dips.

A Beatles theme party doesn’t have to mean sweating in polyester beneath a mop top haircut, instead, draw inspiration from the band’s songs, like we did with this Octopus Garden veggie platter. Bell papers lend their naturally bright hues to this eye-catching and entertaining dish, which is sure to get a giggle or two out of grown ups and kids alike.

>And even if you're not hosting a Beatles theme party - this fun spin on the classic crudite tray will liven up any celebration.

Ingredients:

1 red or yellow bell pepper

1 green olive

1-2 cups hummus

Raw vegetables such as grape tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and celery

Directions:

Using a sharp knife cut the top off of the bell pepper and remove any seeds. Cut a wedge off the side of the pepper—this will be your octopus’ body, so try to maintain the pepper’s curved shape.

Cut the remaining pepper into thin strips for the legs, you only need eight, so set the rest aside for later or discard,

Onto a shallow plate scoop 1-2 cups of hummus, in the center of the hummus place your large pepper wedge, and arrange the thin strips around the wedge to look like tentacles.

To make the octopus’ eyes slice a green olive in half and dab with a small amount of hummus. Stick olives to pepper wedge, and voila! Your octopus can see!  Arrange raw vegetables in shot glasses filled with dip or hummus for easy snacking.