Mashed Potato Volcanoes With Hot Lava

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1/2 cup low-fat milk
• salt, to taste (optional)
• 1 cup low-fat milk
• 2 tablespoons unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 cup broccoli floret, steamed (small florets)

Recipe

• 1 put the diced potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water.
• 2 bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer over medium heat until tender, about 15 minutes.
• 3 when the potatoes are done, drain them and transfer to a mixing bowl.
• 4 add the margarine and 1/2 cup milk and stir.
• 5 mash the potatoes well with a potato masher, then add a little salt if desired.
• 6 in the meantime, make the "lava."
• 7 heat the 1 cup milk in a small saucepan.
• 8 dissolve the flour in just enough water to make it smooth and flowing.
• 9 when the milk is hot, stir the dissolved flour slowly into the saucepan.
• 10 sprinkle in the cheese and stir until it melts.
• 11 simmer the mixture gently until smooth and thick.
• 12 stir the ketchup into the sauce, but leave some red streaks showing, so that it looks "fiery."
• 13 divide the mashed potatoes among 4 serving plates.
• 14 have everyone shape them into mountains, then press the tops down lightly to flatten, and finally make a small indentation at the very top with their thumb.
• 15 then, have the children arrange some of the broccoli florets around the base of the volcano.
• 16 let each child pour some of the "lava" into the indentation at the top of each "volcano" with a small ladle.
• 17 it should flow down the sides.
• 18 it's fine if it drips over the "greenery" too.
• 19 eat at once, before the lava solidifies into magma!