Tators

I was raised on meat and potatoes.  I have said this before but it still stands.   I have never met a potato I did not like.  I thought I would share a couple of easy potato recipes with you that take potatoes over the top.  

Potato Rounds

½ inch slices of baking potatoes

Butter

Salt & pepper

8 slices of cooked bacon

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Green onions or chives

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brush both sides of the potato slices with melted butter; place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown on both sides, turning halfway through cooking time. When the potatoes are done, top with the bacon, cheese, and green onions. Put the cookie sheet back in the oven until the cheese is melted. 

Seafood Potato Appetizers

Small new potatoes

Mild salsa to taste

½ cup sour cream

Chopped chives 

5 pre-cooked slices of bacon 

1/4 cup cream cheese 

1 Tsp. lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

¾  Pound shredded thawed frozen shrimp (drain well)

Tiny shrimp 

Cut the potatoes in half. Put them in a bowl with some olive oil and toss with some salt and pepper.  Bake at 400 degree until the potatoes are golden and crispy.  Let them cool. With a melon baller, scoop out the middle without going all the way through, so you have a small  bowl.  Mix salsa, shrimp,  bacon and cream cheese and sour cream mixture.  Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste  Fill the potatoes with shrimp mixture. Top with one tiny shrimp and sprinkle with chives.  

Potato Bites 

This is similar to the stuffed shrimp potatoes but they have a bite to them.

12 baby red potatoes

3 tbs. butter

1/2 cup chopped red onion

4 cloves of garlic, minced

4 medium sized fresh jalapenos, seeded and chopped

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

4 strips of bacon, cooked and chopped (you can leave this out if you are vegetarian)

1/2 tsp Kosher or sea salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Bake your potatoes like above until they are crispy.  Cut them in half and scoop out the potato. Save the scooped out potato to add to your mixture.  Mash it up.

In a pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and cook until they are beginning to caramelize.  Add the jalapenos cooking until jalapenos are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for 1 minute. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add the mashed potato middles until combined. Return to heat and add the bacon, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and stir until cheese is melted. Allow the mixture to cool a bit and fill the potatoes. Serve warm.

These have always been a hit when I served them. 

Hope you day is a hit.  Be happy and may God bless you and yours.