I love cute things.
Maybe it’s because I grew up in Tokyo, Japan: home of Hello Kitty, Super Mario, and world capital of all things super-cute. In any case, I now own the five most adorable animal figurines on what I’m pretty sure is the face of the entire planet.
It’s all thanks to my funny friend, Sarah.
We have a strange tradition of giving each other Easter presents instead of Christmas gifts (her idea). Last year she presented me with a hideous stuffed longhorn, and I’ve been making fun of her for it ever since. (The stuffed longhorn currently resides in my closet. Batman is terrified of it!) This year, Sarah promised she’d get me something much cuter. And I have no idea where she found them, but she was definitely true to her word:
(Click on the photo to enlarge)
Aren’t they fun? Apparently the company—Home Grown Foods—also makes a cabbage puppy, mushroom lion, carrot goldfish, parsnip giraffe, cantaloupe turtle, kiwi koala… I might have to go back and get more! Close ups:
Banana Puppy!
I could so turn him into Chocolate-Chip Banana Bread.
What do you think? Too weird?
I named the purple guy John Lennon.
The rest still need monikers… suggestions??
Ooh look: Cauliflower Chicken Nuggets!
Yum yum yum…
Speaking of things that are cute…
So which of the animal figurines is YOUR favorite?
I can’t seem to choose… If I must choose a favorite, I’ll go with the corn rabbit. No, the cauliflower sheep. Or the banana dog. Or… See? I can’t choose.
Beth H @ Gardens and Garlic says
I think I will have to go with the grape walrus…too cute!
Samantha says
“(The stuffed longhorn currently resides in my closet. Batman is terrified of it!)” LOL! How could you not put a photo of it up?!?!
I love the bunny corn. 🙂
That is great you got a tech person. You blog is growing so big and with so much traffic I can understanding wanting the outside help.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Here’s a photo!!
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/03/27/cookie-dough-balls/
Samantha says
Oh thanks! I just had literally found that when I reading about Sarah. 🙂 That is funny. Poor Batman…it is tough being a little dog.
Samantha says
Enjoy. 🙂
http://www.amerheritage.com/salespages/collectables/homegrown.htm
OK, I could start pointing several out…Red Onion Cat, Cabbage Dog Pirate, but look for yourself. 🙂
Anonymous says
Oh my god! Those are the cutest things EVER. I’m a total Halloween nut. LOVE those little guys! The onion kitty is adorable!
Justine Duppong @ Life With Cheeseburgers says
Oh for cute–I love the lil peanut squirrel!
Samantha says
LOL! I know. It is totally bringing my homework to a complete halt.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
P.S. Samantha,
I clicked on your site and was reading about your adorable dog… and then I saw the chocolate love bites :). Thanks for such a sweet post. (I couldn’t comment because I don’t have a google account.) The Dallas bake sale is at the end of April, and I’m making blondies. I’m really excited!
Samantha says
Oh! Thanks for visiting. 🙂 I am glad you are doing one for your area too. I love the organization that ours benefits.
Yes, two of your recipes will be part of my bake sale plans tomorrow. I am super excited. I think I almost got a glimpse of your life in that I made several different versions of the love bites: with/without sugar, with pumpkin, with frozen, with freeze dried…etc.etc.etc. over three days and I almost got sick of it! (almost). My dog was thrilled when I made one just for him.
Tonight I made the blueberry ketchup. Wow. It came out really well and my baked tofu was great except for forgetting to oil the foil in my excitement.
Thanks again for all you do! I actually have a lot more confidence to go for this bake sale in part because of all the experimenting I do from this site!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Oh golly! Those are the cutest!!! 🙂
Mariel says
definitely the banana dog!! 🙂 🙂
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Pepper says
OMG! SO adorable! I like the sheep. I want him to go on my desk!!
Katie @wishandwhimsy says
The banana puppy is SO adorable. Cute!
Shuwen says
So cute! I love them!
You grew up in Japan? Tokyo? Which area? I have been there several times and I should say I love Japan…
I mean the culture and art, also Disneyland is the best among the all.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aobadai… like 2 minutes away from the American School preschool (ASIJ). Oh yes, Disneyland was a favorite!!
Andrea says
Aww! The banana puppy and the strawberry chickens are my favorites! But I like the walrus too! It IS hard to choose!
On another note: I made your cinnamon roll baked oatmeal for breakfast this morning – so good! I’m definately saving that recipe because it’s so simple! Love it! 🙂 Have a great day!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’m so glad you liked it! Happy Thursday, Andrea :).
Samantha D says
Definitely love the grape walrus..he trumps all!
Sunnie says
I have the kiwi koala!!! My mom got it for me and she got my brother’s wife the banana dog! So funny to see these on here 🙂 Have you ever seen the calendars with pictures of food made to look like animals? They might be made by the same people who make the figures.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh yeah, and the coffee table book! I forgot about those!
Yellow Haired Girl says
Oh my these guys are so cute! The banana puppy is definitely my favorite 🙂
kathy says
Those are sooooo adorable. I’ll have to go to the website & check them all out. I think the banana puppy is adorable, but so is the sheep, and the bunny. Oh my. Too hard to choose.
Let’s see… monikers? How about Peel the Puppy, Callie the Sheep, Kernal the Bunny, Concord the Walrus, and June Berry the Chick w/Berry Junior. What a hoot!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I love the walrus!!! haha so cute!
Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says
Those are so darn adorable! Love the little corny bunny 😛
Rebecca Wright says
Cabbage or banana dog, or any of the cats I think lol, I’m with you I love them all :] too cuteness!
Rachelle says
My kids have a children’s book by an artist who makes dogs with real food (also all fruits and veggies)! The banana dog is in there. It is the cutest book, and I may enjoy looking at it even more than they do. 🙂
Natalie Wright says
Definitely the banana dog! Too cuteeee
Lisa says
Yay! My husband used to have a retail store that sold those (among many other things)! I love Cauliflower Sheep…but I think you need to consider adopting the also-super-adorable Sweet Potato Pig and Russet Potato Hippo! =)
Brooke H. says
I just went to the site and saw the potato hippo….CUTE! I also like the red bell pepper dog too. My favorite here is the walrus!
Sarah the official CCK drooler says
Aaaaaaww, I love the banana puppy! How cute! I want one. NOW. You could name him Naner. or Chico. And the rabbit could be Popcorn! And the chickens could be Mary Kate and Ashley- very appropriate. As for the sheep… Bob Dylan? Yes, definitely Bob Dylan. There you go- all the names you need.
And I won’t charge 🙂
But if you insist, you can pay me with a banana puppy. I’ll name him Chico.
Teresa says
I have to say the Banana Dog stole my heart!!!
Nadiya @ Milk and Honey says
Cute! The sheep is so adorable. I guess this would be a very good way to get kids to eat their veggies lol. But them toys that look like veggies 😛
Jennifer says
I like the banana puppy – looks like my Shorty! (black-lab, Bassett Hound mix)
Anna @ The Guiltless Life says
Seriously, that walrus is adorable. So cute!
Rachel Christensen says
I love the little SHEEP! maybe im biased..but its my favorite animal. I cannot express how much I love your site Katie!! I’ve been recommending it to a gazillion people, and have been spreading the love by bringing my creations to work, gym, friends..its the absolute best!! I have been doing one-two of your recipes a day and I have to say i’m addicted!! Thank you so much for your hard-work!! It is the highlight of my day making your goodies (my zen time), and then of course eating them!!! My family thanks you, my dog Roux, and me 🙂
-Rachel
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Thank you so so much, Rachel :).
🙂 🙂
Katy says
I was going to say definitely the corn rabbit, no contest. So cute! But then I followed the link and saw the bears … and the owl … and the peanut squirrel … and the adorable skunk! Now I’m thinking of ways to convince my apartment-mates that we totally need a vegetable-animal themed kitchen.
Katie says
the sheep. definitely the sheep. i love sheep.
Rachel Christensen says
ahhh!!! me too!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE sheep. Its my favorite animal 🙂
Lisa Braodley says
I love those!! I’m normally not a dog person but the banana dog is cute. Grape Walrus is cute too. From the site, the Eggplant Penguins are fun! I may have to buy some now! Or the Red Onion Cat Figurine…see I can’t pick just one either!!
Kat Creamer says
absolutely adorable! I need to find them. I love the cauliflower sheep the best….I think. Well, it was the one I was drawn to first.
Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com says
OMG how cute. I love the banana dog but it’s the chatting strawberry hens that crack me up.
PBnJ Fam says
All of those animals crack me up!! They made my day!! I totally want the walrus… he would make me smile EVERYDAY just looking at him :0) He’s my favorite hands down!! ALthough – I could see a whole village of funny animals taking over my kitchen… They would be in different places everyday! I would have so much fun playing…er…”arranging” them…
Jen says
John Lennon is my favorite. So cute!
Grati says
Banana puppy!!!! I love him…wow,sounds like a possible manga character;)) maybe there already exists.
You grew up in Tokyo??? My heart skipped a beat when i read that,since i´m obsessed with Japan:X I guess it´s destiny that made me fall in love with your blog like with no other;)))
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
🙂 🙂
Sara Dane says
I think most of us agree, the banana puppy wins! My baby (dog) looks just like the Cabbage Dog on teh Home Grown website…might have to order that one. Thanks for the adorable post, it made my day!
I loved the childlike nature of Japan when I traveled there in college. I brought back the most adorable cartoon animal cell phone charms for my sorortiy sisters. They were super popular before smartphones took over.
cucicucicoo says
those are just hilarious! i’d say the corn bunny’s my favorite because at first it looks almost like a normal (but green) bunny, until you see the kernels coming out of its back/rear. lol!
btw, yesterday i left you a comment about the coconut macaroons (and i saw you responded, thanks!). just an update: i couldn’t handle leaving them sitting around, so i polished them off. and when my hubby got home from work he was angry that i hadn’t left him one! big success!
Alyssa says
I love these! I actually have calendars called “Playing With Your Food” which have similar pictures. Every month is a different theme (December of 2011 was cherry tomato-people sliding down a hill of snow on lettuce leaves.)
And a friend of mine recently flew to Tokyo on a Hello Kitty-themed airplane! How cool is that?!?!?!
Lyza says
Adore them all…how could I possibly choose? I guess I love the strawberry chickens and the grape walrus 🙂
Rachel says
I love the cauliflower sheep! They have these at Hallmark, I got my mother an adorable orange tabby for her birthday last year.
Barefootcookingirl says
The site for the figures is DB Collectibles…..really cute stuff. I love the strawberry ladybug and I gotta have the scallion cat! So cute!
Amanda says
I love these!!! My sister gets uncontrollable fits of laughter when she sees fruits and vegetables turned into people or animals. I will definitely have to get one of these little buddies for her!
Banana puppy totally wins my heart. But I LOVE that you named the grape Walrus John Lennon.
Nicole K. says
Love it!! The cauliflower sheep is my favorite!
Kristen @ notsodomesticated says
I think that cauliflower sheep wins my heart … too cute!
Sara says
Banana dog, no contest 🙂
Fetesha says
Very cute!
CJ at Food Stories says
They’re so cute that it’s hard to just pick one but I have to go with the cauliflower sheep.
Moni Meals says
you weren’t kiddin’… so CUTE! I like the cauliflower and banana, haha. Awesome!
Marie Diane Mello says
I think I like the sheep the best – and as for a name, what else could it be but…… 😀
tah dah! Cab Cauliway!!!!
Jessica says
OHMYGOSH this really is the cutest post ever!!! I couldn’t possibly decide on a favourite. I think you should name the strawberry chickens Toodle and Pip (the smaller one would be pip, of course!)
Cheri @ The Watering Mouth says
Um definitely the cutest is the strawberries, Katie. For sure! I, too, have an affinity for all things cute and I have to recommend this article I just found yesterday; it’s tiny, tiny food sculptures the size of your fingertip! You are going to LOVE them:
http://flavorwire.com/279758/adorable-tiny-food-sculptures-that-fit-on-the-tip-of-your-finger
🙂 My fav is the the little pizza!! HAHAHA
Bianca - Vegan Crunk says
OMG! That cauliflower sheep is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sherone says
My fav is the cauliflower sheep, probably because it really does look like a sheep. So clever:)
LizAshlee says
The sheep is too cute!!
Kit-Kat says
I like the puppy and the bunny best. Then it would be the walrus! <3
But I love them all, like you do! So cute!!! 🙂
Caralyn says
The bunny is my fave! banana puppy comes in a close second, though.
kate @eatrecyclerepeat says
Grape walrus for sure! I need to send that to a friend. Though I want to see this cabbage puppy and mushroom lion too…
kate @eatrecyclerepeat says
Also, I live in Japan too! About an hour east of Tokyo. How long did you live here??? It definitely is the land of cute.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
4 years 🙂
Jules says
The banana dog is absolutely ADORABLE!!! its soooooo cute ! i want one!
alyssa booko says
i like the banana dog the best but they are all so adorable
Melissa (Better Fit) says
Haha! I’m going to say banana dog OR John Lennon. (<– Never thought I'd write that sentence in my life!). It looks like the sheep has a mushroom head, so maybe she should have a mushroom cauliflower combi-name. I'm thinking: Mrs. Shiitake Flowers
Melissa (Better Fit) says
Adorable! I think my favourite is either banana dog OR John Lennon. (<– never thought I'd write that sentence!).
The cauliflower sheep looks like she has a mushroom head, so I think she should have a combi-name. Maybe… Mrs. Shiitake Flowers?
Sally @ sally's baking addiction says
I love Cory from Zesty Blog Consulting! He just redd my entire website. I love my new design and would also recommend him to ANYONE for tech assistance or help with little anoying questions (i had plenty!).
i love those cauliflower sheep. too cute!
Char @ www.charskitchen.ca says
awwwwwwww I can’t decide at all which is my favourite! I love cute things, too. I don’t think I’ll ever grow up 🙂 I kinda wanna collect these guys now! lol
Patricia @ thecastironvegan says
These are seriously adorable! I really like the hens and the sheep. They remind me of a series of books that takes real vegetables (and some fruit) and turns them into animals; there is minimal text to tell a story, with the vegetable-animals taking the main stage. The original book is called Playing with Your Food, and there are a few more books that follow – one is entirely about dogs made out of veggies. They are really clever, plus kids like them because they’re brightly colored and fun. So cute!
Katie @ Nutrition in a Peanut Shell says
Yes this DEFINITELY wins cutest post! I love the grape walrus, it’s got a total derp face 🙂
Jess says
I love the look on the chicken’s face! Soooo cute!
Mandie says
I’d pick the banana dog!!! But the others are cute also – I’ve never seen anything like them before!
Mai says
Those animals are SO cute Katie!
I have a quick question….. Is your internet host Bluehost?
How much do they charge per year?
Mai says
Whoops…. “a” quick question….. how about “two” quick questions…. lol.
I just caught my mistake.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Nope, sorry. I’m with servint.
Mai says
That’s okay! Wow, servint is quite high in price!
Could you tell me why you chose servint and not Bluehost, iPage, or another less-expensive host?
Zestful Lou says
Adorable! Have you ever seen those calendars where they use fruits and veggies to make cute scenes?
Heather @ For the Love of Kale says
ALRIGHT, I’m swooning like a mad woman over that walrus. And I may or may not be singing “I Am the Walrus” after you told us his name is John Lennon. You rock, Katie. It really is the little things. 🙂
Audra says
How long ago did you live in Japan? My husband and I live there now about an hour and a half from Tokyo. Any good food suggestions for out here?
I love the banana dog! He’s adorable!!
Sarah says
OH MY GOODNESS! I love love love the banana dog. It is the combination of my two most favorite things…bananas and my Corgi puppy, Tina Fey! 🙂
Gloria says
Ahhh They’re all so cute! 🙂
Monica says
I like them all but the walrus is the best!
Amalfi Girl says
Definitely the cauliflower!!!! SOOOO cute! 🙂
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh says
It’s a tie between bunny corn and walrus grapes! Cute!
Sarah says
Haha, this is hilarious! I love cute things too 🙂
Rachel says
Do you speak Japanese?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Just a little. Not as much as I used to!
heidi says
For the pb bread do you think i could sub canned pumpkin instead to lower the fat?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Sorry, I haven’t tried it.
Robyn says
I will have to go with the Banana Dog and John Lennon!
Chelsea says
I found more! I looooove this elephant!
http://www.amazon.com/Grown-Enesco-Apple-Elephant-Figurine/dp/B004DZ1IOK/ref=pd_sim_hg_7
Lady Jennie says
You could call the strawberry ones Fraisinette (frez-ee-net), which is what they call Strawberry Shortcake in Canada.
darci says
The Banana puppy, so adorable! Going to check out the Web site now.
Ann says
Katie
Love these animals! I checked out some more online and thought you should add this one to your collection to go with the stuffed longhorn
http://www.citylightscollectibles.com/Pepper-Bull.html
😉
Ann
Susanne Hayes says
I hate to break it to ya, hon, but the walrus is PAUL. Not John Lennon.
Marisol says
do u still have the Banana Dog available
Marisol says
??????
Liz says
Ok, so this post comes a year later, but you should check out the book called Play With Your Food, by Joost Elffers. It’s just page after page of this kind of stuff made with real fruits and veggies! A great way to waste half an hour!
Natalie says
That is amazing the fruit animals ever tried doing something with a cow? or possible a cat?
Lorie says
Sis they are not just with fruit LOL
Natalie says
oh yea my bad