Sunday, February 1, 2009

Twice Baked Potato Appetizers

This is my brother-in law Adam and my littlest sister Mary Kate. (Aren't they cute? And they're nice, too. To know them is to love them.) Adam is living every man's dream today at the Super Bowl, having won a trip at work. It was probably a most popular or best personality or most likely to make everyone love you any contest. But Adam says it was something to do with sales, or some other something that I don't know anything about. Congratulations for whatever it was, Adam, you lucky dog. I was planning to make the five hour drive to visit the lonesome but ever charming Mary Kate for the weekend. (If it had been a cutest couple contest then she could have gone too.) We were going to have our own Super Exciting Unbelievably Thrilling Super Bowl party. A Super Exciting Unbelievably Thrilling food Super Bowl Party, not a Super Exciting Unbelievably Thrilling football Super Bowl party. Except last weekend I got sick with the flu, and while I was moaning on the couch, I started to notice my unmopped floors, the dust on the ceiling fan, my stack of ungraded papers dating back to 1987, and the sprig of holly on the cuckoo clock, and the Star Wars figurines under the ottoman, and the overdue library books, and the 172 Polly Pocket shoes and accesories in the couch crevasses, and I started to moan some more and went back to bed. And I decided to stay home for the weekend and work, which I don't like to make a habit of. So now poor Mary Kate is forced to have her own lonesome Super Exciting Unbelievably Thrilling food Super Bowl party. Alone, with her four children under the age of 9. And if that doesn't make for Super Exciting Unbelievable Thrills, then I don't know what does. The food had better be good.
Here's something to get the party started, Mary Kate! I know you'll love it and I promise to come for a visit soon!
For my fellow penny pinchers, there's hardly an appetizer in the world that will ring in cheaper than the humble potato. Depending on what you put inside, you could potentially spend less than $5.00 for a hearty scrumptious dozen.
Bake the potatoes until tender, about 1 hour at 375.
When cool enough to handle, halve them and scoop out about 2/3 of the insides. Place the potato flesh in a bowl, and mix it up with what you like. Some should be plain, with cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter, cream cheese, salt and pepper. Others might have a pinch of curry, chopped broccoli, green onions, cheddar and swiss cheese, and sour cream. My husband's favorite is chili-seasoned ground meat, cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream. Put them back in the oven and bake for another 20 minutes, or until hot and melty.
Now, give them a garnish that offers a clue to what's inside the potato. Some people would rather die than unexpectedly bit into some broccoli. Three of those people live at my house. So it's best to give them fair warning with a visible florette.
Up Next:
World Peace Cookies

33 comments:

Di said...

The mess at your house sounds a lot like the mess at mine... =) The potatoes sound delicious. My girls will even eat the kind with cheddar and sour cream.

Aggie said...

Isn't it unfair sometimes when mom gets sick and then having that waiting for you when you get "unsick"? Hope you are feeling better...

Love your little potato apps, I can't remember the last time I had a baked potato and seeing your pics has me craving one of each!

PS...your brother in law is so lucky!!!

Maria said...

I wish I could go to the game, how fun!! I love your appetizers, they are perfect for game day!!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Get well soon!!!

Suzie said...

Hope you're feeling better (and that you got your house sorted). I'm on a cleaning and sorting jag here as well.

vanillasugarblog said...

your brother in law is soooo lucky! wow!
I hope you feel better. I hate being sick, ugh.

Adrienne said...

Do some with bacon! The world needs more bacon!

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Isn't it amazing what we see when we're sick?

Those look scrumptious!

Stephanie said...

Those look scrumptious! We made your green chile chicken chili for our "Souper Bowl"! We also made the taquitos...(try them with leftover taco meat..yum!) Thanks for the awesome recipes! Love your blog!
Stephanie in UT

Anonymous said...

These potato(e)s look so scrumptious. You're brother in law is so lucky he gets to see Bruce Springstein sing born in the USA. Hopefully he stays sober enough to remember the Super Bowel. Its funny I saw this recipe on another blog called therenouffamily, maybe you should check it out. That site has great music, wonderful stories, fun pictures, and above all Kick booty poetry.

Michal said...

funny--when i'm sick or on bedrest is when the undone housework makes me nuts, too. poor mary kate. these look like scrumptious potatoes. i made potato skins on friday--i couldn't stop thinking about them after reading heidi's post! (we didn't do superbowl food today because we were busy doing cake and ice cream for a certain 2-year-old.)
hope that you and your chores are better soon!

Michal said...

an anonymous HAS to be mikey.

Marie Rayner said...

Those look delicious Erin! I love potatoes in any way shape or form and I am sure I would adore these!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I would rather win a trip to your house for your delicious appeptizers!

Swan said...

Oh, Prudy, we moms all feel your pain. What's more, when we spend one sick day in bed, the family is sure to make two well days worth of clean-up work just so we know how much we're needed when we're gone. Aren't they thoughtful? Feel better quick, Prudy!

Cathy said...

These potatoes look amazing, and I actually kind of want to cry because I didn't see these in time to make them yesterday. Oh well --I'll just have to make them on some non-game day! Polly Pockets infiltrated our house this Christmas, and I swear that they multiply while we sleep. I would have rolled over and gone back to sleep too in your shoes (in fact, I am in your shoes, minus the sick part, so I might have to fake that part so that I can roll over and go to sleep anyway). I hope that you are feeling better! Your sis and BIL ARE super cute!

Allie said...

Hope you start feeling better!

MK and Co. said...

Dearest Prudy,
You take my breath away with such nice compliments. Thank you for being so kind to your little sister.
Adam is a lucky dog. His trip sounds amazing. I believe he has had an absolutely wonderful time.
I'm very sorry you could not come up and keep me company but I'm coming down soon so you can just make another delicious batch of those potatoe skins soon!I
can't wait to see you and your group and thank you for the recipe and for being so great!

gigi said...

Good and yummy! Congrats to the B.I.L. Condolences to your sister. Glad you are feeling better. Happy Ground Hog day!

Marjie said...

Hope you're feeling much better now! One of my big sons is still home, and has been helping to chase the toys back to their domain!

Sara said...

These look fabulous, and there are so many great ways to top potato skins!

Wendy said...

Yum, I love twice-baked potatoes. I find adding a little vegetable or chicken broth to them helps keep them from drying out- and means a little less butter, which means I get to eat more of them.

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Lucky brother-in-law! And lucky all who eat those potatoes!

The Blonde Duck said...

I could serve this to Ben for dinner and be the coolest wife in the world. I'll save it for his birthday week. :)

Mary Ann said...

They are a cute couple. Sorry about the flu- you might have passed it onto me :)
I would love to eat these Twice Baked Potatos anytime, forget the Super bowl!

Chrissy said...

Prudy, your potatoes look soooo good! I want to make them for dinner tomorrow! You are such a great cook!

Matt's Kitchen said...

I've got a stack of those ungraded papers waiting for me. I feel behind in everything, and I haven't had the flu!

These appetizers would be my downfall. I could make a meal out of them!

Honeyed Hashette said...

These look and sounds so good!

Deanna said...

Oh, yes, twice baked potatoes are one of my favorites... whether it is Superbowl or not!

I hope you are feeling better.

Satisfying my Sweet Tooth said...

These look amazing. My husband would have died for a whole plate full since they are his favorite things and I never make them. I'm glad my house isn't the only one that sounds like yours did. Wouldn't it be nice if moms could "call in sick" and get a day off?! Glad you are feeling better!

Anonymous said...

This site specializes in the education of consumers interested in auto loan

Anonymous said...

our speciality is in helping to inform consumers of tangled web that is auto insurance quotes information

Healthytips said...

Thanks for sharing such beautiful information with us. I hope you will share some more information about potato.Please keep sharing.
Health Is A Life