Netflix & SPC: Peanut Butter Toast

When my daughter was a toddler I used to do all kinds of adorable things with her food. Just ask Ceri. She loves to remind me about the time I used cookie cutters to cut slices of cheese into cute shapes for a play date. I know, over the top, right?

As a former picky eater to the power of 100, I didn’t want my daughter to fall into the discerning food abyss I lived in until my 20s. I guess it’s why I tried to make meals fun and adventurous. I also wanted them to be interactive, especially since I knew getting her involved in the kitchen would be helpful when introducing new foods. Apsparagus is not so weird after you and mom have a laugh snapping the ends off. Today, Scarlett and I still cook together but it’s less cute. We still have fun, especially talking about our days, but my moments of cookie cutter snacks have faded into the past. (Ok, fine. I do, once and awhile, make a stack of heart pancakes.) I guess it’s why my daughter couldn’t wait to help me put together a Puss in Boots toast.

 
If you follow food trends, you know that artisanal toasts are a bit of a thing right now. So this is the more youthful adaption of that trend. You can really turn a toast into just about any animal but with the Adventures of Puss in Boots series debuting on Netflix this month, we couldn’t resist making our favourite feline. As my daughter helped bring Puss to life, she asked me, “Do you remember that time in Florida when I watched Puss in Boots over and over and over?” I actually didn’t but laughed when she reminded me of how she wore cat ears and a tutu and declared she was the Big Girl Puss. I miss the days when a tutu was a vital a part of her wardrobe. Actually, come to think of it, I also miss the wide smile on her little face when she noticed her cheese was the shape of a star.

 
Puss in Boots Peanut Butter and Fruit Toast

2 slices of multigrain bread (You could also use rice cakes.)
1 tablespoon peanut butter (or non-nut butter, like sesame, for those with allergies)
1 banana
½ pear, quartered as well as finely sliced
2 pecans
1 raspberry, sliced

Method

Toast both slices of bread. If you’re using rice cakes, omit this first step. Spread peanut butter (or non-nut butter) on one piece of bread. Using a paring knife, cut the shape of a top hat out of the second slice of bread. We used a slice of banana as the feather in his cap. However, you could use any fruit you have available including apple, pear, or an orange slice. All you need to do is use a dab of your butter of choice as “glue” to fasten it to the toast hat.

For the eyes, we used pear and then added a pecan for the pupil but almonds, walnuts, raisins or dried blueberries would work too.

The whiskers for Puss require small slices of pear or apple so keep tiny hands busy with another part of his face.

Finally, Scarlett crafted the perfect little kitty nose out of raspberry. However, I bet a strawberry would also work great.

Serve on a plate with a big glass of milk, of course.