Cooking with Cook: Potatoes

5/1/08

Gwen Cook
Critic Staff

Potatoes are a pretty inexpensive and filling addition to any meal. They can also be a meal in themselves, which is what I wanted to focus my column on this week. A bag of potatoes could go a long way if you knew the right recipes, even if you’ve only got a microwave to cook with. It doesn’t hurt at all that they’re really cheap too.

S.O.S
Ingredients:
4 large potatoes
1 package of Steakums (microwaveable)
1 jar of beef gravy
3-4 tbsp margarine (optional)

Procedure:
Scrub potatoes thoroughly. Pierce with fork and microwave on high for 5-7 minutes or until soft, flipping about halfway through. Cool after enough so that you can handle them safely. Cut/peel the skins from the potatoes. Mash the potatoes in a large bowl. Add butter if desired. Follow the directions on the Steakums package and blot with paper towel after to dry up the grease. Chop up and mix in a small bowl with the jar of gravy. Pour over potatoes.

Potato skins
Ingredients:
2 large potatoes
1 bottle of Bacon Bits
1 small container of sour cream
Cheez whiz or shredded cheese

Procedure:
Scrub the potatoes thoroughly. Pierce with fork and microwave on high for 5-7 minutes or until soft, flipping about halfway through. Cool enough so that you can handle them safely. Cut in half and place on plate. Scoop out a little hole on the center of the potato halves to hold filling. Next, sprinkle on Bacon Bits and top with cheese. Microwave for another 30-45 seconds to melt the cheese. Top with a dollop of sour cream.

Microwaveable potato chips
Ingredients:
4 large potatoes
Approx 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt (optional)

Procedure:
Scrub potatoes thoroughly. Slice VERY thin (paper thin) and place in a bowl of cool water, with desired amount of salt, for 10-15 minutes. Take them out and place them on a paper towel to dry. Place potato slices on either a microwave safe plate or an opened up hot pocket sleeve which has been rubbed with vegetable oil. Add desired seasonings if preferred. Cover potatoes with a microwave safe cover. Cook on high for about 5 minutes or until they are light brown. You don’t have to re-grease the plate/hot pocket sleeve for the next batch. Repeat all other steps for the remaining potatoes.