Baked Potatoes

We all know the skin is the best part of the potato. I also know that when I eat other peoples potatoes, I bypass the skin because it's dry and blah (especially those that are cooked in the microwave!). So, here is my recipe, where the skin is better than the actual potato!

Ingredients:
Russet Baking Potatoes (however many you need)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic Salt
Pepper
Tinfoil


1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees

2. Grab your potato and look it over for any bad spots



3. Wash and dry your potato



4. Stab your potato on all sides with a fork or a knife



5. Pull out sheets of tinfoil, large enough to fold the potato in for baking. Place a small amount of oil on the foil, rubbing it into an oval shape, then sprinkle on Garlic Salt and Pepper.



6. Rub potato with a tsp of oil, place on tinfoil, in the spot where the seasoning is

7. Sprinkle with Garlic Salt and Pepper



8. Wrap potato up tight in tinfoil



9. Place in oven for 1 hour



10. Unwrap tinfoil



11. Put on your plate and place your favorite toppings on top! I am putting a picture of both my favorite (butter and sour cream) and then my husbands (everything but the kitchen sink)

Sauteed Mushrooms

One of my personal favorite side dishes

Ingredients
Fresh Whole Mushrooms
1 stick of butter
3-4tsp Minced Garlic (Fresh or pre-minced)

1. Wash and dry mushrooms



2. Slice into "stems and pieces"



3. Melt butter with minced garlic (I used pre-minced tonight!)



4. Add in mushrooms and saute on medium high heat for 15 minutes, until a light brown. Make sure to stir them around in the saute pan, so they cook evenly



Hope you enjoy them like I do! You can also use the baby button mushrooms if you like. They tend to be on the more expensive side, so I used regulars more often.

Green Beans and Baby Red Potatoes

I used to live on a farm in Asheville, from the ages 13-15. I left shortly before my 16th birthday, but I never forgot how awesome fresh vegetables tasted in comparison to what you get out of a can. Matt and I were supposed to start our garden this year, but sadly, it didn't quite work out the way we hoped. So, we settled for the farmers market.

Ingredients:
1/2lb Fresh Snap Beans. (Green beans)
8-10 Baby Red Potatoes
1 small onion
3 cups Pork stock/broth
1/2 stick SALTED Butter
3 small cloves of Garlic

Here is a look at the way your green beans, fresh from the market (Baby reds too for that matter)


1. Put pork stock in a medium pot to boil

2. Snap your beans, ends off, then snap in half, then rinse (kids can help!)



3. Slice potatoes in half or quarters


4. Slice onion into circular strips


5. Place onion and green beans in boiling pork stock for 10 minutes, covered.


6. Uncover and place in halved red potatoes.


7. Cover and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, making sure to check potato tenderness.

8. Drain the broth


9. Mince garlic


10. Melt 1/2 stick of salted butter in pot and add minced garlic


11. Toss with veggie mix

12. Spoon into serving dish and enjoy!


RECIPE TIP: If you prefer a crunchier green bean, do not cook them for 10 minutes alone. Just cook the 30 minutes with the potatoes. They will have a nice "snap"

Almost Olive Garden Stuffed Mushrooms

I love Olive Gardens Stuffed Mushrooms. They are almost the only reason to go (bread sticks and salad aside of course). However, you get 6 mushrooms for $7. With this recipe, you get 16, for about $5.

Ingredients:
16 baby Bella mushrooms
1 green onion, chopped
1 Egg
1/2 tsp Minced Garlic (mince yourself, or use pre-minced)
1/8tsp Garlic Salt
1/3cup Italian Bread Crumbs
1tsp Oregano
1Tbsp Melted Butter (cooled)
2Tbsp Freshly Shredded Parmesan Cheese
4Tbsp Grated Italian Blend Cheeses (yes, bagged cheese. Seriously, it's cheaper and easier)
1Tbsp Old Bay Seasoning

Garnish:
1/4cup Italian Blend Cheeses
1/2 cup Melted Butter
Parsley Garnish (if wanted)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Wash your mushrooms

2. Pull off stems and dry the shrooms

3. Chop green onion

4. Drain clams, set aside 1/4 clam juice
5. Use food processor or blender and mix together the following: Clams, g. onions, minced garlic, garlic salt, 1Tbsp butter, oregano.

6. After that's mixed, add bread crumbs, egg, and clam juice. Mix again

7. Spoon into a small bowl, and mix together with the 2Tbsp parm and 4 Tbsp italian cheese blend, along with 1Tbsp Old Bay

8. Add about 1 1/2tsp of stuffing to each shroom and place in 9x13 lightly greased baking dish

9. Pour 1/2 cup of melted butter (1 stick) over the shrooms, cover, and place in oven for 38 minutes

10. After 38 minutes, pull from oven, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place back in oven until the cheese melts.
11. If wanted, sprinkle with parsley and serve hot!

Mashed Potatoes

This is one side dish that is very simple, yet many people can't quite get it to look the way they want. The simple answer to that is you are missing your mixer. Hand held or a stand, doesn't matter.

Ingredients:

• 5lb bag of potatoes
• 2 big spoons of sour cream
• 1.5 cups of milk
• Butter, salt, pepper to taste
  

1. Peel, cut and rinse your potatoes.

2. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water


3. Bring potatoes to a boil, then reduce to simmer (about an 8 on dial stoves) for 20 minutes, covered.

4. Pour hot potatoes into a strainer, and then pour into a mixing bowl.


5. Lightly mash potatoes with a masher or fork. I personally, love my masher. You do not want to mash it too much, as lumpy potatoes are the best potatoes.


(my masher)


6. Add milk and sour cream to bowl. I use a large spoon to measure out the sour cream:



7. Use mixer for 30-45 seconds, until well blended, but still lumpy


7. Add your salt, pepper, and butter for taste.

We personally have to leave all of the salt pepper and butter out of the bowl and add it individually, as one kid hates pepper and the other hates butter, and I do not like salt. Isn't cooking for your family fun!

After it's ready, I transfer it to a nice bowl, and run my spoon across the top, giving it that smooth out "whipped" look.

Easy Garlic Noodles

This is a simple side dish that I make if I do not have a lot of time. It's super easy, and you season to your own taste. Be careful to not OVER garlic. As I said, this is a simple dish, for those nights when you are in a mad rush. Total cook and prep time isn't more than 15 minutes, and that is including waiting for the the water to boil.

Ingredients:

• 1 package Egg Noodles
• Garlic Powder
  
• Italian Seasoning
• Butter and/or Olive Oil
• Fresh cracked pepper

1. Boil Noodles as directed. Strain

2. Mix together the seasonings. Mixed together, I have about 1 and 1/2 teaspoons. I recommend starting out with small amounts so you can season these to your own tastes.


3. Mix together melted 3 Tbsp butter and 1 and 1/3 Tbsp olive oil (you can use all olive oil, or all butter if you prefer)

4. Stir butter/olive oil into noodles

5. Mix in the seasoning. Taste, and add more seasoning if needed.