Tiny Steakhouse Potatoes

Pin It I love teeny tiny tiny potatoes from Trader Joe's.  They cook so fast and they look good on your plate.  I had a bag that I was just planning on roasting with Albert's go-to seasoning Season All, but wanted to switch it up a bit.  We were having steak for dinner so my steak seasoning was already out on the counter.  I sprinkled some on the potatoes before baking.  I loved the smokey, peppery flavor that it gave the potatoes.  Dip them in a little steak sauce or ketchup and they are amazing!

 

 

Tiny Steakhouse Potatoes
1 lb Teeny Tiny Potatoes, or potatoes cut into small chunks
1 Tbsp olive oil
1-2 Tbsp steak seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.  Toss to coat.
3. Sprinkle with steak seasoning.
4. Bake 25-35 minutes or until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.   (I test mine by poking them with a fork) I also recommend turning the potatoes half way through baking to ensure they are crispy on all sides.

Loaded Smashed Potatoes

Pin It I was on a baked potato kick and made them multiple times in one week.  Then my husband spoke up and asked for a little variety.  That's where these puppies came from.  I used the same technique as smashed potatoes, and just added some toppings.  They were phenomenal.  I could have made an entire meal of just these potatoes (and I just might one of these days).

Loaded Smashed Potatoes
*makes 6 side dish servings
2 large baking potatoes, cut into thirds (so you have 3 thick round chunks)
butter
seasoned salt
shredded cheddar
bacon bits
green onions, chopped

1. Boil potatoes until fork tender.  Transfer potatoes to a foil lined broiler pan.
2. Smash each potato flat with a potato masher.
3. Place a small dab of butter on each potato, season with seasoned salt.
4. Sprinkle on cheddar and bacon bits.
5. Place under broiler for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Top with green onions before serving.

**These were delicious served with sour cream

Smashed Potatoes

Pin It I try to avoid packaged pasta and potato dishes because of the ridiculous amount of salt and preservatives in them, but cooking potatoes as a side dish can get kind of boring.  You can only eat so many baked, mashed or roasted potatoes.  When I found this recipe on Pinterest I knew I had to try it.  Besides being creative this side dish will not heat up your kitchen because you do not have to bake these at all.  Just a short trip to the broiler and you are done.  This is more of a method than a recipe.  Feel free to use any seasonings or toppings that you want.

Smashed Potatoes
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
6-8 small Yukon gold potatoes (depending on the size of your crowd)
olive oil
shredded parmesan cheese
garlic salt

1. Place your potatoes in a large pot, covered with water.  Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender.
2. Drain potatoes and place them on a foil covered broiler pan.  Smash potatoes down with a potato masher so they become flat and spread out.
3. Drizzle potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and garlic salt (or any seasonings you want).
4. Place potatoes under the broiler on low for 5-8 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

Picnic Potato Salad

Pin It Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  My sister and I are in charge of dinner this year.  She got dessert and salad and I got everything else.  Since the weather is so nice we decided on a bbq theme.  I found this recipe in the Penzey's catalog.  If you don't know about Penzey's Spices, check out their website.  They have every spice imaginable, plus some awesome blends, like Arizona Dreaming, that I used in this recipe.  This is a great recipe for anyone who doesn't like mustard potato salad.  It's tangy, sweet, crunchy, creamy all at the same time.  A great side dish for any summertime gathering.
Check out the Patriotic Weekend Potluck for some awesome recipes for any gathering!

Picnic Potato Salad
6 cups cubed red potatoes
3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
2 green onions, chopped
1 cup  light Miracle Whip
1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp Arizona Dreaming seasoning
1 tsp sweet paprika
salt and pepper to taste

1. Boil potatoes until fork tender, about 12-15 minutes.  Drain and cool.
2. Meanwhile mix Miracle Whip, pickles, sugar, and spices.
3. Add pickles, eggs, onions and cooled potatoes and toss to coat.
4. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Fancy Baked Potatoes

Pin It Since Albert has such simple taste in food I am always trying to find interesting ways to cook the food he loves.  Potatoes are high up on his list of favorite foods.  I saw some pictures of these potatoes on Pinterest and decided to put my own spin on them.  These are elegant enough for a nice dinner, but easy enough to whip up on a week night.

Fancy Baked Potatoes
4 baking potatoes
2 Tbsp butter, melted
garlic salt**
pepper**
Italian seasoning**
olive oil

1. Wash potatoes.  Cut 1/4 inch slices almost to the bottom, but not quite, so you get the fan effect.  (I had trouble not going all the way through on some of the potatoes so we had fanned potato chunks, but they were still pretty)
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Arrange potatoes on a foil lined baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.  Pour melted butter over potato tops, making sure it drips between the slices.  Generously season with garlic salt, Italian seasoning and pepper.  Drizzle with olive oil.
3. Bake 40-50 minutes, or until potatoes are tender (baking time will differ depending on the size of your potatoes)
** Feel free to season with any spices you want. 

Potato "Chips"

Pin It Another potato side dish.  This is also another one of those super simple, almost too easy to write a post about, recipes.  However, this is one of Albert's favorite side dishes.  These potatoes go with chicken , pork, steak...pretty much everything.  They are also super easy to whip up because the ingredients are usually already in my kitchen.  The recipe can be adjusted to feed one or a crowd. Feel free to add some extra seasonings as well.  Since Albert has a simple palate, seasoned salt is all he likes. Enjoy!

Potato "Chips"
* 2 servings
1 large baking potato, sliced into thin rounds
1 tbsp onion, finely minced
olive oil
seasoned salt

1. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add about 2 tbsp olive oil tothe bottom of the pan.
2. Add onions to the pan and cook for about a minute.
3. Place the potatoes in a single layer (some overlapping is ok) and sprinkle generously with seasoned salt.
4. Let potatoes cook, without turning, for about 5 minutes.  Then flip and let cook, undisturbed for another 5 minutes.  The not flipping part is the key to crispy potatoes.
5. If your potatoes are not crispy enough for your liking, continue flipping and waiting until they are your desired crispiness.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Pin It We had twice baked potatoes at our wedding reception.  We both love them, but I rarely make them because they are too time consuming for a weeknight meal.  I had extra time this weekend so I whipped up a batch.  These are super simple, but a little time consuming.  They make a great side with potato chip chicken.

Twice Baked Potatoes
4 large baking potates
1/2 cup sour cream
2 T butter
3 T milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
3 slices bacon, crumbled
2 green onions, chopped or 1 T dried chives
1-2 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400.  Wrap potatoes in foil and bake for 45-55 minutes, until cooked through.
2. Once potatoes are cooked, allow to cool slightly until you can handle them.  (or use a towel to hold the potatoes).
3. Slice potatoes in hald lengthwise.  Scrape out the insides of the potatoes into a bowl, being careful to save 4 of the halves to refill.
4. Mix sour cream, butter, milk, bacon, cheese and green onions into the potatoes until well combined and smooth.  Season with salt, pepper and garlic.
5. Spoon mixture into 4 potato halves.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
6. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until heated through.

Garlic Red Potatoes

Pin It This is a great side dish for any meal.  Another comfort food classic. Serves 3-4, can double or triple easily.

Garlic Red Potatoes
3-4 medium/large red potatoes, cubed
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

1. Fill a pot with water and add potatoes to the water.  Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender, about 12-15 minutes
2. Drain potatoes and return to the pot.
3. Melt butter and add both types of garlic.  Pour mixture over the potatoes.
4. Sprinkle parsley over the top and carefully stir potatoes until well coated with butter and parsley.

Keep Your Man Happy Potatoes

Pin It This recipe is so easy I'm almost embarassed to post it, however, these are Albert's absolute favorite potatoes.  He eats at least three servings everytime I make them.

Keep Your Man Happy Potatoes
3-4 medium/large red potatoes, diced
Season All Seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray a baking sheet generously with cooking spray.
3. Put potatoes on pan and generously sprinkle with Season All.  Toss to coat.
4. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown, turning potatoes about halfway through.

So Easy Shepherd's Pie

Pin It Since Albert is a meat and potatoes kind of guy he loves shepherd's pie.  This is one of those meals that can be made a day in advance and heated when you are ready.  Comfort food at it's finest :)


So Easy Shepherd's Pie
1 lb ground beef
1 packet onion soup mix
1 packet brown gravy mix
1 1/2 cups of water
1 can corn, drained
4 medium baking potatoes, peeled and chunked
1/4 c milk
1 T butter
3 T sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large pot, boil potatoes until tender.
2. Meanwhile brown and drain ground beef in a large skillet.
3. Put beef back in skillet.  Add oinion soup mix, gravy mix and 1 1/2 cups of water.  Stir until mixture comes to a boil.  Take off heat.
4. Drain potatoes and put back in pot.  Add milk, butter and sour cream.  Mash until smooth.  Add more milk and sour cream to get to desired consistency.  Season with salt and pepper.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a 7x11 baking dish with cooking spray.
6. Put beef mixture in bottom of pan.  Cover with corn.
7. Smooth potatoes on top of corn.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes or until bubbling.

Sunset Dinner for Two

Pin It

A winery near my house hosts Sunset Dinners.  When my husband and I were first dating we went to one and had an amazing meal.  A few months later I surprised him by recreating the meal at home.  He was quite impressed (and to be honest I impressed myself).  This is one of those meals that looks fancy, but is quite simple.  One the menu tonight: Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Wine Sauce, Oven Roasted Potatoes, and Sauteed Green Beans.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Wine Sauce
1 pound pork tenderloin
2 T minced garlic
salt and pepper
white wine (any variety that you like to drink)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Coat a glass baking dish with cooking spray.  Place tenderloin in the center of the dish.
3. Liberally sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic over the top of the pork.
4. Pour white wine in dish until it covers the bottom.
5. Bake in oven for approximately 1 hour or until cooked through (time will vary depending on size of tenderloin)

Blackberry Wine Sauce
 1/4 cup blackberry jam (seedless works best)
3 T wine (same kind used for roasting pork)

1. Add jam and wine to a small sauce pan over medium heat
2. Whisk vigorously until jam breaks up and there are no large globs.
3. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer.
4. Simmer for 5-7 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken.
5. Serve immediately over pork.
**The original recipe called for blackberry wine which makes a sweeter sauce.  Any wine can be substituted.**

Oven Roasted Potatoes
1 pound Teeny Tiny Potatoes (or Fingerling Potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces)
olive oil cooking spray
2 T seasoning of your choice
    *I like Mrs. Dash Original, Italian Seasoning, or Rosemary and Garlic.*

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Generously spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.  Add potatoes and spray with cooking spray.
3. Toss with seasonings.
4. Bake 35-40 minutes, turning halfway through,  or until potatoes are tender and golden.

***I have found that cooking spray is easier to work with than olive oil because it evenly distributes.  You could use olive oil in a mister if you have one, or just straight olive oil if you prefer.***

Sauteed Green Beans
1/2 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed
2 T finely chopped garlic
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes
1 T butter
salt and pepper

1. In a large skillet add green beans and enough water to coat the bottom of  the pan.
2. Bring water to a boil and cook beans for 5 minutes (they will still be crunchy)
3. Drain water and add butter, garlic, onions, beans and red pepper flakes to the pan. 
4. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes until garlic and onions are tender.

Fool Proof Shrimp Boil

Pin It My friends and I have a dinner club once a month.  Last month the host made a down home shrimp boil in her tiny apartment kitchen.  I had always shied away from this East Coast staple because of the amount of food it makes and the multitude of ingredients I was convinced I would need.  However, after our delicious meal at dinner club, I was inspired to make a mini shrimp boil at my house.  This version serves 4, but could easily be halved or doubled to fit your crowd.  (I would recommend making more than you need because the leftovers are quite delicious).  I call this recipe fool proof because you only need 1 large pot and you keep adding ingredients to the pot at different times.  I don't think the outcome would be any different if you accidentally added an ingredient at the wrong time or if you overcooked the whole meal.  It would still taste wonderful.  You would have to try really hard to mess this one up!
I cannot take full responsibility for this recipe.  It is adapted from the original Old Bay Shrimp Boil.

Fool Proof Shrimp Boil
1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning
2 onions, chopped into wedges
1 tsp salt
1 can of beer
4 medium sized red potatoes, cut into chunks
1 lb smoked sausage, cut into 2 inch sections
2 ears of corn, broke in half
1 lb shrimp with shells

1. In a large stock pot, bring 2 quarts of water, beer, salt and Old Bay to a boil.
2. Add onions and potatoes and cook for 8 minutes.
3. Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add corn and cook for 7 minutes.
5. Add shrimp and cook until pink (about 5 mintues).
6l Remove from heat and spoon into bowls.  I like to serve mine with a little of the cooking liquid and a sprinkle of Old Bay.  Also delicious with a slice of warm cornbread.

I stored my leftovers in the fridge with the container about half way filled with cooking liquid so the leftovers would not dry out when reheated.  It was just as delicious for lunch as it was the night before.