When I was hugging Max the other day I noticed that I could count every last one of his ribs, so I’m trying to amp up his complex carbohydrates situation. As he has coeliac disease, his go-to starchy carbs are usually limited to rice or corn.

Max described these potatoes as tasting like the ultimate, world’s biggest french fry with cheese.

Neither Max or Rose like mashed or boiled or roast potatoes (how??) but they both love cheese. I think cheese could be a gateway ingredient to more adventurous palates so I’ve adapted a potato boat recipe to make it super cheesy.

cheesy potatoes for kids

Makes 2 serves

Ingredients

2 washed potatoes
1 cup grated tasty cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon butter
olive oil
salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Wash potatoes and leave skin on. Pierce potato with fork to let steam escape when baking.
3. Place potatoes on a tray with a sheet of baking paper, drizzle olive oil and salt over potatoes, bake in oven for 1 hour.
4. Remove tray from oven and allow potatoes to cool for about 10 minutes. Slice the top off the potatoes length-wise and scoop the flesh out being careful to leave an intact shell and set aside.
5. Mix the potato flesh with the sour cream, butter and grated cheese, leaving some grated cheese aside to sprinkle on top.
6. Spoon the cheesy mixture back into the potato shells and sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese on top.
7. Bake for another 20 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and cool a little before serving.

Notes

You can mix cooked broccoli, bacon and onion into the mixture for a variation.

Good things for kids to help with: washing the potatoes, scooping out the potato flesh, mixing the cheese mixture and spooning it back in.

Time required:  Approx 1 hour 40 mins prep, cooking and cooling time.

After I served these potatoes for the first time I asked Max if they were alright and Max said no. I was just about to offer to eat his potato myself, when he said, “They’re not alright, they’re awesome!” Phew. Max described these potatoes as tasting like the ultimate, world’s biggest french fry with cheese. Rose said, “Yummy! Cheesy! Tacos!” (Note: they do not taste like tacos.)

I hope you enjoy them! Let me know in the comments if you have any great gluten-free potato recipes for kids, or email me at bron@babyspace.net.au.

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gluten-free pancakes for kids

gluten-free mini quiches for kids

Bron x

CREDITS
Photos + styling: Bron Bates