potatoes

Zinc-Rich Fingerling Potatoes

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Time To Eat: Zinc-Rich Fingerling Potatoes! I think I mentioned how much I like “grazing” through my meals. The reality is, as I’ve aged and adjusted to health challenges, my appetite has wained quite a bit. It would help if I got hunger pangs, but that doesn’t seem to be happening either. Soooo, when a dish like these broiled salt and vinegar fingerling potatoes comes along, I have no guilt about adding a couple of side sauces for dipping and calling it a meal. I promise I’ll vouch for you, too.

ZINC-RICH FINGERLING POTATOES

Ingredients:

1 pound fingerling potatoes, sliced horizontally

2 cups white vinegar

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Tzatziki Dip, for serving

Blue Cheese Dressing, for serving

Instructions:

In a pot, combine fingerling potatoes, white vinegar, and one tablespoon kosher salt. If the liquid does not cover the potatoes by 1/4”, add a little water until it does. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to Simmer. Cook until fork-tender, about 8 minutes. Allow the potatoes to cool in the liquid for 30 minutes. Drain well; pat potatoes dry with paper towels. Preheat the broiler on High setting. Arrange the potato halves in a single layer on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick oil. Brush the potatoes with olive oil; then sprinkle with remaining kosher salt and black pepper. Broil until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Then flip the potatoes over and brown the other side, about 5 minutes longer.

Vegetarian Egg Bake

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Stir. Spread. Flip. Repeat: Vegetarian Egg Bake! As a child I remember not a day went by when my mother did not serve potatoes. Granted they were always part of the dinner menu, but nonetheless they were served. Baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, boiled potatoes, or roasted potatoes. If there were leftover mashed potatoes, the next day they were transformed into crispy pan-fried potato pancakes. Leftover boiled potatoes became old-fashioned riced potatoes. Baked potatoes magically became twice-baked potatoes topped with crunchy bacon and melted cheese. You see, without the microwave as a kitchen staple, women had to be more creative as well as resourceful.

VEGETARIAN EGG BAKE

Ingredients:

1 pound red potatoes

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

3 tablespoons light cream

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3-4 large eggs

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Chives, for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a deep dish pie plate with nonstick oil. Set aside. Cut potatoes in half, lengthwise. Then cut in half lengthwise again. Cut onions into chunks. Place potatoes and onions in prepared pie plate. In a small bowl, mix light cream, garlic powder, smoked paprika, seasoned salt, and red pepper flakes. Pour over potatoes. Gently toss to coat everything evenly. Bake for 10 minutes; stir and bake 10-15 minutes longer, or until potatoes are tender. Remove from oven. Using a spoon, create a well in the center. Crack eggs in the middle; sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Return to oven. Continue baking until eggs have set, 7-12 minutes depending on desired firmness of yolk. Remove from oven, sprinkle with chopped chives. Serve warm.

Warm Potato Salad

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Country Casual Cravings: Warm Potato Salad! The debate continues. Which is better? Potato salad made with mayonnaise and served cold or potato salad made with vinegar and served warm? One is creamy with hard-boiled eggs, celery, and pickles while the other is tangy with bacon, mustard, and sugar. What a dilemma. I guess it depends on the craving that drives your appetite on any given day. Whatever you choose, in my opinion, potato salad is not just for summer anymore.

WARM POTATO SALAD

Ingredients:

2 pounds potatoes

1 teaspoon kosher salt

12 ounces applewood smoked bacon

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon onions, finely chopped

1/4 teaspoon celery seeds

Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions:

Scrub potatoes and cut into quarters. Place in a large pot. Cover potatoes with cold water and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain the water. Allow potatoes to air dry for a few minutes. Cut potatoes into bite-size pieces. Set aside. In another skillet over medium heat, cut bacon into 1-inch pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Transfer bacon, with a slotted spoon, to a paper towel-lined plate. Warm the reserve bacon drippings (about 1/4 cup) over Low heat. Slowly stir in apple cider vinegar, sugar, and Dijon mustard until combined. Add chopped onions and celery seeds. Cook for one minute longer. Remove the pan from heat and toss in the potatoes. Mix gently. Fold in the cooked bacon. Transfer the warm potato salad to a serving bowl. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Mashed Potato Fritters

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Country Casual Cravings: Mashed Potato Fritters! Time to stretch the budget a little bit. Whether you have leftover mashed potatoes from another meal or purchase your favorite prepared brand at the grocery store, this recipe offers a flavorful experience that is unforgettable. Is it the gooey combination of cheeses? The crisp potato cake with the fluffy center? Or perhaps it’s the zing of spice that piques the taste buds. For me it’s all about nostalgia. My mother made them for supper when I was a child.

MASHED POTATO FRITTERS

Ingredients:

2 cups mashed potatoes

1 tablespoon yellow onion, diced

1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

1 egg, whisked

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons cornmeal

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper

3/4 cup vegetable oil

Green onion snips, for garnish

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, combine mashed potatoes, yellow onion, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, beaten egg, flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, and cracked black pepper. Mixture should be stiff. By heaping spoonful, form a small disc with your hands, about 1/2”-inch thick. Set aside. Repeat with remaining mixture. In an iron skillet, warm vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with paper towels. Place potato cakes in the skillet without touching sides. Cook 2-3 minutes until deep brown. Flip and cook 2-3 minutes longer. Transfer potato cakes to the paper towel-lined baking sheet to absorb excess oil. Place on a platter and garnish with green onion snips. Serve with dipping sauce.

SRIRACHA MAYO

Ingredients:

1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon sriracha hot sauce

1 teaspoon lime juice

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Red pepper flakes and green onion snips m, for garnish

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sriracha hot sauce, lime juice, soy sauce, and kosher salt. Stir until smooth. Garnish with red pepper flakes and green onion snips.

Hoosier Hot Dish

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Country Casual Cravings: Hoosier Hot Dish! When I moved to Indiana over 30 years ago, it didn’t take me long to hear the term “Hoosier”. I knew it was a nickname for the State’s residents. But, honestly, I wondered how it originated. I had no idea it came into popularity over 200 years ago. The story that was told to me went something like this. Along the Ohio River, in the hills of southern Indiana, settlers lived and worked around the riverfront. As boatmen passed by on barges taking corn to New Orleans, the countrymen would call out, “Who’s Yere?” to assure they were friend, not foe. It happened so often, in time those workers became known as people of the “Hooshier” State. My experience in hearing about this one-pot meal for the first time was just as funny. A coworker said she was making Hoosier Hot Dish for supper. When I asked her for the recipe, she laughed and told me there wasn’t one. She said you just throw everything in a pot on the stove and eat it when it’s done. I narrowed it down a little bit more for you. Go figure.

HOOSIER HOT DISH

Ingredients:

1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic and herb seasoning

15-ounce can cut green beans, with liquid

1 pound potatoes, quartered, skin on

1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/2” chunks

Instructions:

Warm olive oil on medium-low setting in the bottom of a stock pot. Add sliced onions, seasoned salt, garlic and herbed seasoning. Sauté 20 minutes until onions are a light brown. Add green beans with liquid, quartered potatoes, and smoked sausage chunks. Cover and Cook 30-40 minutes over medium heat or until potatoes are fork tender. Hot Dish will thicken. Add 1/2 cup water, if necessary, to keep things from boiling dry or scorching. Serve with cornbread.

Grill Pan Pork Loins

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Here Come the Holidays: Grill Pan Pork Loins! My latest kitchen essential is an enameled cast iron skinny grill that just happens to fit perfectly across two burners on my newly installed glass stovetop. As you can see, the vibrant red handles not only allow for attractive table service, but also make it easy to manage while cooking. Now I get that unique grilled taste all year long, no matter what the weather. The cast iron feature is the secret to even cooking. Plus, the nonstick finish makes cleanup a flash, in addition to enhanced seasoning qualities. I like the idea that foods, once grilled, show the little black grill marks. After all, it’s about the presentation, isn’t it? In addition, vegetables work out quite nicely. No more frustrating pieces falling through the grill grates. I can see you agree with me.

GRILL PAN PORK LOINS

Ingredients:

4 pork loins, boneless, and one-inch thick

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 red onion, sliced

1 cup broccoli florets

1/3 cup pineapple chunks

4 fingerling potatoes, halved

Instructions:

Preheat the stovetop grill pan on medium heat setting. Brush lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle the pork loins with sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Arrange on grill pan. Add red onion slices, broccoli florets, and pineapple chunks in a single layer. Pierce fingerling potatoes with a fork. Microwave on High setting for two minutes. Cut in half and add to grill pan. Cook pork loins until golden brown, about 7 minutes per side. Turn vegetables as needed to prevent scorching. When pork reaches 145° on a meat thermometer, transfer loins to a cutting board; tent with foil for 5 minutes. Turn stovetop setting to Off. Divide food into four portions. Serve warm.

Peruvian Cheese Potatoes

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Uplifting Aromas: Peruvian Cheese Potatoes! My friend, Gian, encouraged me to try a dish from his native land, Peru. He described it as a traditional appetizer so popular it has become the national dish: Papa a là Huancaína. Because it’s basically boiled potatoes covered in a spicy cheese sauce, he explained it as chile-warm, delicious, creamy, and satisfying. Strangely enough, this appetizer is served cold, similar to the American Potato Salad. It taste nothing like it, though. The jury is still out on whether I will make it at home again. I’m thinking the next step is to order it in an authentic Peruvian restaurant. Perhaps they’ll share a secret or two.

PERUVIAN CHEESE POTATOES

Ingredients:

8 yellow potatoes, whole

4 lettuce leaves

Huancaína Sauce (see recipe below)*

2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered

Mixed olives, pitted

Instructions for Potatoes:

Heat a pot of salted water to boiling. Add the potatoes. Boil the potatoes until tender when pierced with a fork, approximately 20 minutes. Drain the water and allow potatoes to cool. Arrange lettuce leaves on a platter. Halve the potatoes and place on top of the lettuce. Pour Huancaína sauce over the potatoes. Garnish with hard-boiled eggs and pitted olives.

*Ingredients for Huancaína Sauce:

1/2 cup aji amarillo paste

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup evaporated milk

2 cups white queso fresco cheese

4 saltine crackers

Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

*Instructions for Huancaína Sauce:

Warm oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the aji amarillo paste, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Sauté approximately 3 minutes, or until the onions have softened. Remove pan from heat and set aside to cool. In a food processor, combine the chile/onion mixture, and evaporated milk. Blend well. Add the queso fresco cheese and saltine crackers; blend until smooth. The sauce should be thick. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Velvety Seafood Chowder

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Elevated Edibles: Velvety Seafood Chowder! Everyone who has enrolled a child or grandchild in preschool is probably familiar with the folk tale known as “Stone Soup”. The story goes, a bunch of starving strangers enter a small village to convince the townspeople to share one ingredient from their root cellars to make a fantastic meal. The strangers produce a magic “stone”, which they place into a large cauldron filled with water. As the pot is cooking over a wood fire, one by one, the curious residents walk by. They are told the soup is almost ready but needs a “little of this or a pinch of that”. The villagers happily agree to throw in everything from carrots and onions to meat and potatoes to enhance the flavor. By the time the medley is fully cooked, the stone is removed and the hearty soup is shared among them. What a wonderful tradition.

VELVETY SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 sweet onion, diced

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning*

1/8 teaspoon thyme

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 stalk celery, sliced

1/2 carrot, chopped

1/2 pound potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/4 cup corn

5 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup white wine

1/2 cup crabmeat, flaked

6 ounces shrimp, peeled and deveined

6.5-ounce can clams, drained and chopped

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley

Instructions:

In a heavy pan over medium heat, warm butter. Add diced onion. Sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add Old Bay seasoning, thyme, and flour. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sliced celery, chopped carrots, cubed potatoes, corn, chicken broth, and white wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add flaked crabmeat, peeled shrimp, chopped clams, and heavy cream. Cook until seafood is fully cooked, heated through, and potatoes are tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Ladle into bowls; garnish with fresh parsley.

*I receive no recompense for mentioning this product.

New Potatoes Smashed

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Elevated Edibles: New Potatoes Smashed! Is it a baked potato? A mashed potato? A fried potato? Or all three?! What it is, is freaking fantastic! Forget about dinner conversation. As soon as you place a platter of these tasty gems on the table, all bets are off. Don’t blame your partner or the kids, they don’t want to talk with their mouths full. These potatoes have a soft, earthy flavor surrounded by a crispy outer skin. Cheese and bacon make them downright irresistible. But don’t get carried away. Repeat after me: “This is meant to be a side dish.”

NEW POTATOES SMASHED

Ingredients:

1 pound new red potatoes, skin on

2 teaspoons, plus 1/8 teaspoon sea salt, divided

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1 cup cheddar cheese, finely shredded

2 slices applewood bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 green onions, chopped

Instructions:

Put the red potatoes in a pot. Add enough water to cover by one inch. Add 2 teaspoons sea salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium and cook until potatoes pierce easily with a knife, about 20 minutes. While potatoes cook, preheat oven to 425°. Drizzle one tablespoon olive oil over a rimmed baking sheet. Drain potatoes; allow to cool for 5 minutes. Arrange the cooked potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Carefully use a fork to gently “smash” the potatoes. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over potatoes. Sprinkle with the remaining sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cracked black pepper. Bake 30 minutes until potatoes are crispy. Remove from oven, add shredded cheddar cheese and bacon crumbles. Broil for one minute, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven. Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve warm.