Watch Out for Erupting Volcano Potatoes!

Volcano Potatoes!

We checked out a new library after Homeschool Group today and Alex found a new treasure to bring home: “Molly’s Cook Book: A Peek at Dining in the Past with Meals You Can Cook Today.”  She loves her American Girls and Molly is one of her favorites. On the drive home, she read to me excitedly about all the recipes she wanted to try. Since Hubby had to fly past dinner time tonight, we decided to try one of her recipes for our own little dinner party. Tonight’s menu: Volcano Potatoes. When Hubby’s away, we love trying quirky and fun new recipes. It’s always exciting.

Molly’s 1944 Volcano Potatoes-

First, I peeled and cut up potatoes. Alex placed them in a big pot and covered them with water and we let them boil for 20 minutes until the potatoes were soft.

Once the potatoes were cooked, I drained the pot and beat the potatoes until they were smooth, adding butter, salt, pepper, milk, and egg yolks. The oven preheated to 350 degrees and we greased two glass baking dishes, then spooned out 10 mounds of 3-inch tall mounds of mashed potatoes into two baking dishes. Alex smoothed them with a butter knife to shape them into volcanoes and we made craters with a spoon. We filled each volcano with a tablespoon of grated cheese and sprinkled them with paprika before baking them for 6 minutes, just long enough to melt the cheese.

Our volcanoes before baking

Watching the cheese "erupt" from the volcano potatoes

The Volcano Potatoes turned out so well! The kids loved their jungle-themed plates: an erupting volcano in the center surrounded by a forest of green beans and clementine orange slices. It was the ultimate mom-and-kid meal. Hubby would call it “Kid Food” and demand his steak. The Volcano Potatoes were actually really good and the children gobbled them right up. They even asked for seconds!

A Volcano in the Jungle

Yummy!

Alex was pleased with her project!

Volcano Potatoes!

After dinner, Alex showed me half-a-dozen other recipes she wants to try. “We’re going to be really busy the next three weeks!” she exclaimed. Three-weeks is the length of time we can check out books from our library.  She read every recipe over at least twice, her Molly doll in her lap. It’s so great to see her so enthusiastic. It’s fun to make such tasty memories together!

Alex and Molly!