Christmas Eve Mice Recipe

Carefully twist cookies apart; set aside the halves with cream filling. (Save the plain halves for another use.) In a microwave, melt the chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Holding each cherry by the stem, dip in the melted chocolate, and then press onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss. Place sideways on the cream filling of the cookie, with the cherry stem extending beyond cookie edge. For ears, place slivered almonds between the cherry and kiss. Refrigerate until set. With green icing gel, pipe holly leaves onto the cream of the cookie. With red icing gel, pipe holly berries between the leaves, and pipe eyes on each chocolate kiss. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.