Octopus

Step 1: What You Need

List of groceries:

• 1 Can whole peaches if you can find them.  I used peach halves.
• 1 Small bag spaghetti.
• Butter to taste.
• Several Goldfish Colors.
• Several raisins.
• Several dried cranberries.
• Your choice of mixed vegetables for sea plants.  ( I used carrots, onions, purple cabbage and parsley because that is what I had. )
• Parmesan cheese ( shredded.)
• Parmesan cheese grated.

Please note:  I have included a couple of hot dog versions.  You can see from the pictures I added a hot dog instead of a peach.  I also added different vegetables, Ramon noodles and a bento box. It is basically the same idea though.  

Step 2: Supplies

For the octopus in a bowl you will need:

• Knife.
• Cutting board.
• Pan.
• Colander.
• Clear bowl.
• Fork or spoon to stir.
• Tooth Pick for poking the holes for eyes and mouth.

If you want it in a pedestal you will need this in addition:

• Clear Pedestal bowl.
• 2 Gallon zip lock bags.
• Blue food coloring.
• LED light.

For the jar specimen you will need:

• Everything for making the clear bowl octopus plus:
• 1 Small jar with lid.
• Scissors.
• Tape.
• Blue construction paper.
• Straight edge.
• Led light ( optional )

Step 3: Cook the Spaghetti

Spaghetti:

• Cook the spaghetti according to the directions.
• Strain off the water.
• Place in a bowl not the container it will be displayed in.
• Add butter.
• Cheese.
• Seasonings.
• Stir well.
• Place the spaghetti carefully into the display bowl.   

If you decide to add cooked vegetables instead of the raw go ahead and cook them at the same time you make the spaghetti.

Step 4: Octopus

Center the octopus in the bowl:

• With a tooth pick make the eye and mouth holes.
• Place raisins and cranberries in the eyes and mouth.  
• You might need to cut them smaller.
• Place the octopus where you want.
• Arrange the vegetables to look like a ocean scene.
• Arrange the fish crackers in the front.

Step 5: Jar Octopus

Jar:

• If using hot dogs, cooked vegetables, or  noodles go ahead and cook them.  It is best to boil the hot dogs.
• While they are cooking start making the back drop for the jar..
• Cut the construction paper half way around the jar so the octopus can be seen.
• Tape it to the outside of the jar with the best side of the jar to the front.
• Place the spaghetti or noodles in the jar carefully not to smudge the sides with oil.
• Cut the legs for the dogs by looking at the pictures. 
• Place the raisins and cranberries in the eyes and mouth of the peach or hot dog
• Set the octopus in the jar as desired.
• Place the vegetables around the octopus.
• Set the jar on top of a LED light ( optional ). 
• Add lid.

I used Vienna sausages for the jar but they were harder to work with.

Step 6: Pedestal Octopus

Pedestal arrangement:

• Follow the directions for making the octopus in the previous steps.
• Place the spaghetti in the pedestal bowl.
• Arrange the vegetables around the octopus.
• Place the Led light in the bottom of the stand.

Shown are 2 different arrangements.   I filled 2 zip lock bags with water and blue food coloring.
I double bagged it to be safe.  I really liked the fish crackers.  I think it brought a lot of life to the arrangement.  

Step 7: Bento Style

Here is the Bento style:

I arranged it in the same way as I did the other arrangements only I used a Wendy's box.  I thought it turned out real cute.  I only cut 6 legs because the Vienna's  were too brittle.  

Step 8: Sunshiine's Final Thoughts

These were a lot of fun to make.  I liked all the different variations.  The Vienna's were harder to work with though.  You might have noticed that I braided some of the spaghetti. I think it was hard to braid because I cooked them a little too long.  I wanted to use the onion to tie ribbons on the ends of the braid but they did not work very well.  I tried celery but they did not work either.  If you have any suggestion please share them.  I think it would be awesome to have made them with braids and bows.