Super Smashers!

I'm always looking for interesting ways to incorporate food into toddler form. This basically translates to, "I need ideas for food that my kid will eat." He's still in his picky phase so I thought I'd create something with potatoes that could easily be picked up by little fingers in a fun way. A long time ago, I saw a recipe somewhere for a potato appetizer with rosemary and sea salt. It looked fantastic. I have no idea where I saw this recipe and I don't know why it popped into my head yesterday, but I decided to base mine off of that. Rosemary is a very strong herb so I knew I wasn't going to use it in my version. I wanted something hearty and fun for a little kid so I went with the standard bacon and cheese combo. I added a little onion for flavor and substance and they turned out great. I loved them, my husband loved them, and my son loved them until the picky kid in him took over. At least I got him to take a few bites!

Smashed Potatoes

• 10 baby potatoes (red or gold)
• 3 slices bacon
• 2 TB onion, chopped
• 1/2 c shredded cheddar (or other cheese)

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Boil potatoes in lightly salted water for about 20 - 25 minutes or until tender soft.
3. Meanwhile, finely chop bacon (I find it easier to chop before it is cooked) and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or until almost crisp. Drain.
4. Return bacon to pan and add onion. Cook until onion is soft.
5. When potatoes are done, drain and place on greased, foil-lined cookie sheet.
6. Smash each potato with the bottom of a flat cup until just before they start to break. You should have about a 1/2 inch tall flattened potato.
7. Sprinkle each potato with the onion/bacon mixture and top with a little bit of cheese.
8. Broil for about 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to brown.

These little potatoes could really be topped with anything and they could be used for an appetizer or a great side dish.