Tortellini Totem Poles

• 2 cups tortellini (cheese, meat, vegetable - your choice!), cooked, drained and cooled
• 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese (bocconcini or cut into 1-inch cubes)
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
• 3/4 cup black olives, pitted
• 1/2 cup cucumber peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup pepperoni slices
• 1/4 cup Italian dressing

1. Place each type of ingredient in a separate small bowl and line up bowls on a table or countertop that's within reach for all the kids.
2. Using age-appropriate skewers (kebab skewers, disposable wooden skewers, coffee stir-sticks or straws), have each kid personalize their own totem pole by adding ingredients of their choice onto the skewer.
3. Make colorful patterns; see who can fit the most ingredients onto their totem pole; count pieces as each is added.
4. Dip totem poles in Italian dressing and eat!

tortellini, mozzarella cheese, cherry, yellow bell pepper, celery stalks, hearts, black olives, cucumber, red peppers, fresh basil, pepperoni slices, italian dressing

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tortellini-totem-poles-recipe.html (may not work)