Un-Recipe Files - Baked Potato Bar

Can you have too many versions of a stuffed baked potato?  I don’t think so, as referenced here and here.  I clearly have a thing for them right now.

I set out a baked potato bar over the Christmas holiday for my family.  Nothing was specifically purchased for this meal, we had everything on hand, and it was probably one of my favorite meals of the holiday.  The potatoes were baked using my favorite method, found here.

The cheese drawer was overflowing, so why not have a trio of cheese?  We had a couple packages of Green Giant broccoli and cheese sauce in the freezer.  I knew that would be a perfect pairing.  The stars of the bar were the random leftovers from the fridge.  You have to get creative!  The previous day we had made stuffed mushrooms and ran out of mushrooms so we were left with a mixture of sausage, cream cheese, parmesan, parsley, bread crumbs, and garlic.  I had no idea what was going to happen to that stuffing when I put it in the fridge, but I just couldn’t throw it away.  It was crazy good on potatoes.  Also leftover was some Asian Balsamic Beef Roast (that recipe will be on here soon, a winner) from the slow cooker.   Of course you have to include the basics like sour cream, bacon, and green onions.

Taking pictures was a challenge, lots of hands reaching into the shot.  DAD!  Out.

He was a bad example.

Ok, that is just too cute.  She can have whatever she wants.

Same with this little one, whatever she wants.  The curls… they slay me.

I loved seeing everyone’s creations! 

Meat and potatoes kind of guy.

Blueberries go with bacon and cheese, right?  Again, the curls.

Two very distinct versions on one plate.  I don’t agree with this potato-cutting style, but no one asked me.

Now that is a good looking potato. 

Keeping it simple and vegetarian.  I like the melted cheese.

What can be wrong with this?  Cheese… good, bacon… good

This is mine.  I can’t make up my mind on things, I want to try everything, but not all together. 

I get it from my mom.

Oh dad, that is just a mess.  Is that…. butter?  Let’s go with cheese, that’s better, right?

Baked potato bars are delicious, a great way to get rid of leftovers, and everyone gets to express themselves.  You really can’t ask for more than that from a meal.

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Customizable Bread Bowl Breakfast

Perfect Pairing:  Refrigerator leftovers

Recently I had a wonderful winter retreat with some of my very best girlfriends at my family’s lake house.  There was a lot of chatting, sipping wine, and relaxing.  We each took charge of a couple of meals and ate really well over the weekend. 

I wanted to do something fun and different for one of the breakfasts and came across an idea for eggs in a bread bowl.  Not only were these guys delicious, they were completely customizable.  I laid out all of the components and let everyone go to town with their creations.

 

I recommend using a crusty French bread roll for this recipe. You just cut off the top, scoop out the inside, fill it with your favorite ingredients, add an egg or egg white, and bake in the oven until the egg is set.

The Perfect Pairing for this recipe is whatever you have leftover in your refrigerator!  Below is a summary photo of what I used. 

 

 

I will definitely be making these again!  They are perfect for a big group breakfast.

 

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Skillet Potatoes

Perfect Pairing:  Whatever you have left in the refrigerator/pantry

The other night I bought groceries to make dinner for my boyfriend but once I got home I just didn’t have it in me to make what was on the menu.  It was going to have to wait until another night.  When I shop for groceries I am usually buying for a specific purpose or recipe so I don’t end up having much of substance just hanging around my place.  I say this, but yet my pantry and refrigerator always seems full of something, but it usually does not equal a meal.  Odd.  The goal on this particular night was to make a decent dinner with what I had on hand.  It came out pretty well.  We dined on grilled cheese with caramelized onions, apple butter and turkey and skillet potatoes.

I remember my mom making skillet potatoes often when I was growing up.  They are so yummy and versatile.  The potatoes are the base and you can add any seasonings or veggies you have on hand.  I am not providing an exact recipe, because I don’t have one.  It is really more of an idea or method. 

This time I used baby potatoes, poked them with a fork and started them in the microwave for a couple of minutes to speed up the process.  Once they had started to soften I cut them in thick slices.  I sautéed a few chopped shallots and garlic in olive oil.  I added the sliced potatoes and asparagus.  I cooked everything until the potatoes were browned and crispy and the asparagus was cooked but still a little crunchy.  I seasoned the pan with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic salt.  Right before we ate I grated romano cheese on top.

The Perfect Pairing for skillet potatoes is basically whatever you have left hanging out in the refrigerator or pantry.  You can substitute baking potatoes for baby potatoes, onions for shallots, green beans or broccoli for asparagus, add a can of drained ro-tel tomatoes, top with any cheese you have on hand.  Throw in some fresh herbs like rosemary, chives, thyme or basil.  You can’t screw them up!

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