Veggie Pets (Kitty Cat Potatoes)

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This post is sponsored by Country Crock. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Some kids are born veggie-eaters. Some kids flat out refuse leafy green stuff. Some are suspicious of vegetables, but will try them after careful inspection and promise of a reward in the form of chocolate. My own children fall somewhere between the type who willingly partake in a select few vegetables, but expect dessert-compensation if they have to try something new.

We all had the opportunity to try something new when I got to take a peek at A Very Veggie World, a cookbook put together by Country Crock and Clare Crespo. It was a blast to check out each recipe (there are 25!). I was pleased to see that each one included straight-forward instructions and a photo of the finished product, so I knew what mine should look like!

Country Crock titled this recipe "Veggie Pets," but my girls insisted that they looked like "Kitty Cat Potatoes".

Kitty Cat Potatoes

Ingredients:

4 new potatoes
4 snap peas
4 kernels of corn
24 fresh rosemary leaves
2 Tbsp. Country Crock Spread, melted
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Cut a slice off the long side of the potatoes so that they don't roll.

2. Bring 1 inch of water in a medium saucepan to boil over medium to medium high heat. Place potatoes, cut side down, in steamer basket and place in pan. Cover, and steam 10-15 minutes. Carefully, with tongs, remove potatoes.

3. Place snap peas in basket to steam for 5- 10 minutes.

4. Remove peas and cut tips off to make hamster's (or cat's!) ears. Remove eight peas from the pea pods.

5. Using a small knife, poke two holes into the top of the potato. Insert snap pea pieces into the top of the potato for the pet's ears.

6. Use small knife to make three holes on the front of the potato and insert peas for the "eyes" and a corn kernel for the "nose."

7. Use a toothpick to poke a few holes around the nose and insert rosemary leaves for the "whiskers."

8. Brush pets with Country Crock and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Older kids will love helping you assemble their own veggie animals, and they are so much more likely to want to sample a dish if they've had a hand in making it. Younger kids (like mine) will be so intrigued by the idea of edible animal "sculptures" that they won't really pause to consider the fact that you've successfully gotten them to eat vegetables they don't normally care for!


I was really excited to be a part of the Country Crock campaign because how cool is it to find a way to serve vegetables to your kids without having to whip up heavy sauces to disguise them, mix or puree them into other recipes, or threaten/cajole in order to see them eaten?

I love this recipe because of its simplicity. No extra fancy dips or mixes. Just vegetables, some Country Crock, and a few simple seasonings!


Are you looking for quick and simple tips and recipes to make serving veggies more fun? Download the free Clare Crespo Cookbook here for fun and whimsical recipes your family is sure to love!

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