By Anri Fourie
Looking for easy dinner recipes kids will enjoy making and eating? These tasty, cheesy potato muffins are a hit in our home! As a chef and mum of four, I love sharing simple, family-friendly meals that bring everyone together in the kitchen.
Introduction: Making Dinner a Family Affair
Finding easy dinner recipes kids can actively participate in transforms evening meal prep into quality bonding time – a bonus for busy homeschooling families! This cheesy potato muffins recipe is a fantastic way to get children excited about cooking with children. Not only is it delicious, but shared homeschool family meals offer huge benefits for connection and well-being, as organizations like HealthyChildren.org highlight. Let’s turn dinner into a fun, collaborative activity!
Your Recipe for Success: Cheesy Potato Muffins
Gather your ingredients for these delightful potato treats, perfect for quick dinner ideas SA families need.
- Preparation time: 12 mins
- Cooking time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
- 8 large potatoes, peeled, boiled and mashed (Parental help needed for peeling/boiling)
- 250ml (1 cup) grated Cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 60ml (4T) finely chopped chives
- 60ml (4T) self-raising flour
- 2,5ml (½ tsp) garlic powder
- 120ml ( ¾ cup) finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 pieces fried bacon, cut into small pieces
- Spray and Cook
- Salt and pepper to taste
Equipment:
- Medium-sized pot
- Potato peeler
- Medium-sized mixing bowl
- Grater
- Potato masher
- Chopping board
- Spoon
- Frying pan
- 1 x muffin pan
Method: Let the Fun Begin!
This is where cooking with children magic happens!
- Adult/Older Child: Pre-heat oven to 200°C.
- Child Task: Spray the muffin pan generously with Spray and Cook.
- Child Task: In the mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, Cheddar cheese, chives, flour, garlic powder, bacon pieces, salt, and pepper. Mix it all up!
- Child Task: Add the beaten egg and mix well until everything is combined.
- Child/Adult Task: Shape the mixture into 12 even round balls. (Little hands might need help making them uniform).
- Child Task: Roll each potato ball in the grated Parmesan cheese until coated.
- Child Task: Gently press each coated ball into a muffin cup.
- Adult: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are beautifully golden-brown.
- Adult: Let cool slightly before serving. These are great with a simple green salad!
Homeschool Connection
Besides being one of the easy dinner recipes kids adore, making these involves following steps, measuring (maths!), and seeing ingredients transform (science!). Plus, as Nemours KidsHealth points out, cooking builds confidence and skills.
Conclusion:
Enjoy these yummy cheesy potato muffins! Making simple, tasty homeschool family meals together is a recipe for happiness. We hope this becomes one of your favourite easy dinner recipes kids ask for again and again.
What simple dinners do your children love helping with? Share your quick dinner ideas SA families would appreciate in the comments!
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