Microwave Hasselbeck Potatoes

I've seen several posts about Hasselbeck Potatoes throughout the last few weeks.  And I remember my Mom making them, and me eating them (or something very similar to them) growing up.  So, when I was looking for an idea for a main dish side for dinner the other night, I decided to make some of these.  I found several recipes online...but they all took a long time to bake in the oven.  And I suppose that's so they crispy on the outside and soft on the inside...well, I didn't want to wait that long.  (When do I ever?)  I whipped up a batch and threw them in the micro and viola ~10 minutes later they were perfectly cooked and devoured.  Yum.  Love em.  Here's what I whipped up...

4 Potatoes (I used russet)
2 T.  Olive Oil
2 cloves  Garlic, minced
1/8-1/4 c. shredded/grated Parmesan cheese (I personally think the fresh kind is best)
Parsley for garnish

1.  Cut the potatoes in thin slices almost all the way through except for the last 1/4-3/8" of the bottom, so they stay together.  Tip:  Set a wooden spoon (or table knife) on each side of the potato you are about to cut.  That way you won't cut all the way through the potato and you won't have to think about it. :)
2.  Place cut potatoes on a microwave safe plate.
3.  Toss together the olive oil, garlic and cheese until combined.  Then evenly distribute it over (and into the slits) of the potatoes.
4.  Place in the microwave and cook on your potato setting for 4 potatoes or for about 5 minutes a potato!  :)  (If your micro doesn't have a plate that rotates inside be sure to turn it every few minutes so they don't cook unevenly!)

5.  Serve hot and along with some protein, or as a mid-day snack.  These are that good.  Simple, delish and they'll make you want to watch some football.  :)  (And no, I have no idea why they call these Hasselbeck Potatoes, but it does make me think of Elizabeth Hasselbeck's football playing buddy, whenever I see them!)

Loaded Baked Potato

Want a quick easy dinner idea?  or how about a great homemade loaded potato like they serve at the Texas Roadhouse?!?!   Just bake some potatoes.  Then smear the outside with butter and sprinkle with coarse salt.  Cut open the top and squeeze a bit.  Then load on the butter, sour cream, cheese and bacon pieces.*

*For a healthier version use margarine, light sour cream, 2% cheese and turkey bacon.  (That's actually what you see above, could you even tell though?  They still taste great!)

Twice Baked Potatoes

Yum!  I love these things!  They are super versatile too.  You can make them with any (and every) thing you like or have around, or just keep them simple!  :)

Twice Baked Potatoes:

4 Potatoes (or about 2 cups of potatoes (mashed) for filling)

1/4 c. Cheddar Cheese (or any)

1/4 c. Sour Cream

1-2 T. Butter/Margarine

Salt/Pepper to taste (~1/4 t. each or so)

1.  Scrub, poke and cook potatoes.  You can either them in oven or microwave.  I did mine in the micro because it's faster.

2.  Cut the tops off the potatoes and scrape out the insides.

3.  Preheat oven to 400degrees.  Then thoroughly mash up the potatoes and mix in cheese, sour cream, butter, salt and pepper.

4.  Fill the potatoes back up!  You can either do this with a spoon or a pastry bag.  I usually do it with a spoon, but felt like making them pretty today so I used a pastry bag.  :)

5.  Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy!!  Yum-O!  :)

These also freeze really well.  So, whether you are cooking for 2, 4 or 10 you can double, or quadruple this recipe and freeze any that don't get eaten!  Then just pop them in the oven for 10 additional minutes and enjoy!  :)