(BPT) - Why put all your eggs in one basket? With food prices rising, families are embracing a playful, budget-friendly tradition: Easter potatoes!
Potatoes are a durable and versatile pantry staple that provides the perfect blank canvas for Easter fun. To celebrate the growing Easter trend, Potatoes USA is showing folks how to paint, craft and cook potatoes, proving that creativity and tradition go hand in hand.
"Kids of all ages love potatoes, and parents love that they offer an easy, fun, and affordable way to get creative," says Kayla Vogel, mom and senior global marketing manager at Potatoes USA. "They don't require delicate handling. Just grab some edible paint or removable stickers, and let the fun begin!"
Are you ready to add your own tater twist to a classic Easter tradition? Check out these pro tips for celebrating with potatoes this spring.
1. Paint with food coloring
For gold-star-level results, use food coloring for a delicious, edible dye. Paint the coloring directly onto the potato for the most vibrant color. If you don't plan to eat the potatoes, apply a coat of hairspray to seal the color.
2. Choose the right materials for paint-based projects
For paint-based projects, look for non-toxic, washable paints. Use a white primer coat to make the colors pop!
3. Create potato cookies
The great thing about potatoes is that you can cut them into pretty much any shape.
"This year, we're slicing our potatoes and using cookie cutters and food coloring to paint Easter shapes and spring animals before putting them in the air fryer," said Vogel. "It's a really fun activity. My kids love eating potato bunnies, and I love my kids eating their vegetables."
4. Make potato stamps
Parents can also cut potatoes in half to create Easter stamps! Once halved, children can use a pen or marker to draw a shape or design on the potato's flat edge. Adults can carefully cut around the drawing using a carving knife, leaving the raised shape on the potato. After the adults have finished carving, the little artist can paint the potato stamps and use their creations to make Easter-themed paintings on paper.
5. Minimize cleanup
For your potato crafting time, it helps to cover the workspace with newspapers or plastic tablecloths to minimize cleanup. Also, consider using gloves to keep little hands clean from food coloring or paint.
Celebrate Easter meals with easy potato recipes
Easter is a time for family, fun and, of course, delicious meals. Potatoes are not only a staple on the holiday table but also a versatile, nutrient-dense vegetable. They have one-third of your daily vitamin C, are a good source of potassium, and have 3 grams of plant-based protein.
After your family finishes their potato crafts, use any leftover potatoes to make these easy, kid-approved recipes for Easter celebrations.
Herb and cheese deviled potatoes
This potato-based take on the classic hors d'oeuvre makes for a fun and filling finger food for kids and adults alike. In just 45 minutes, you can whip up enough deviled potatoes for everyone to enjoy while you put the finishing touches on the other dishes.
You can garnish the potatoes with pretty much anything you have on hand. Try using sun-dried tomatoes, smoked salmon, radish slices, fresh herbs, tiny pickles or chilies.
Fingerling potato hash with turkey bacon
Roasted fingerling potatoes with onions, smoky turkey bacon, charred Brussels sprouts, and lemon make for a great vegetable side for any meal, but especially for an Easter brunch. The best part? You can make this hash in just 35 minutes.
Wake up to a sweet treat with these apple-spiced potato muffins. This recipe combines whole wheat muffins with spiced apples and shredded potatoes, topped with a potato cream cheese streusel. While these muffins are perfect for breakfast, you can eat them for any meal!
This Easter, take your celebration from good to great by using potatoes to create art and eats. Visit PotatoGoodness.com to learn more about the many health benefits of potatoes and find some delicious spring recipes.
If your family hops on the #EasterPotatoes trend, send us your photos! Tag @PotatoGoodness on Facebook or Instagram.
