Baked Potato

What can you do with the leftover baked potato? LOTS!

Twice Baked Potatoes - scoop out the potato leaving about 1/2 inch of potato in the shell. Mash the potato with anything your little heart desires - butter, sour cream, onion, chopped meat, cheese, spices - whatever combination sounds good to you. Fill the shell with your mixture and place on a pan to bake in the oven. Bake at 350 for however long it takes to warm the filling. Sprinkle cheese on top and broil to melt the cheese.

Potato Skins - scoop out potato leaving 1/2 to 3/4 inch of potato. Use filling for another recipe. Take the skins and cut into pieces - about 2 inches. Brush olive oil or butter on the potatoes (both sides) and then sprinkle whatever seasonings sound good to you. Garlic, salt , pepper, dill. anything that makes your taste buds sing (Call them your happy spices - they can change with each dish). Place on pan and broil till crispy or to your taste.

Baked Potato Soup - Using root veggies that you like, onion, celery, carrot - (your choice - play around until you find what you like) saute the shredded or finely chopped veggies in a little butter. Add a tablespoon of flour and brown. Slowly add chicken stock until your base is creamy and not too thick. (You will be adding half and half later so don't make it too thin.) Add your happy spices. All this will be down on medium heat.

Take peel off the potato and discard (or use the scooped out potato from you Potato Skins). Mash or shred the potato and alternate adding potato and half and half until you have the consistency you like. You can put sour cream in the soup or wait and use it as a garnish in the bowl.

Stew or Soup filler - use the potato filling in any recipe that potatoes are called for - stews and soups of all sorts. Never be afraid to experiment.