Quick Serve Potatoes

If you have a hungry family that always seems to be in a hurry, potatoes can be the kitchen savior. The trick is to precook a drawerful once a week. Potatoes out of the sack can take up to an hour to cook (way too long if you're trying to catch a bus) but precooked potatoes can be ready to eat in less than 5 minutes.

Sometime during the week I bake or roast. It could be brownies, a chicken, or a beef roast. I always foil-wrap at least a handful of potatoes to place around the original dish. But I'm careful to leave a minimum of an inch of free space around the inside racks. Otherwise my convection oven won't heat the food properly.

At 350 deg, it takes the potatoes 1 1/2 hours to bake. At 375 deg, it takes them about 1 hour. Of course, this does vary depending on the size of the potatoes. After baking, I let the potatoes cool on the counter and then they are stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Working with pre-cooked potatoes is an excellent introduction to cooking for youngsters. Very little ones can help wrap the potatoes in foil. Older ones can easily slice the cooked potatoes and stir the skillet. Preteens and teens can take over the entire operation.

Large sacks of potatoes can be purchases for only a few dollars, and they're a terrific way to stretch the grocery budget. If you have kids that always seem to be hungry, potatoes are a nutritious way to fill them up. And potatoes are versatile enough to be eaten any time of day.

*Breakfast Hash*
Hot, filling, and can be prepared quicker than a pot of oatmeal

Oil (bacon grease if you have it)
1 or 2 precooked potatoes per person
1 or 2 eggs per person
Salsa

Heat a little oil in a heavy skillet. Slice the potatoes into the skillet and cook until heated through. (a few minutes) Push the potatoes to the side and crack a couple of eggs into the side of the skillet. Scramble and cook until set. Push the potatoes and eggs onto a place and serve with salsa.

*Potato Snack*
Perfect for right after school

Oil (bacon grease if you have it)
1 or 2 precooked potatoes per person
1/4 c. grated cheese per person

Heat a little oil in a heavy skillet. Slice the potatoes into the skilled and cook until heated through. (a few minutes) Top with the grated cheese and let the cheese melt. If you can, place the skillet under the broiler to brown the cheese a little. (Cast iron is wonderful for

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic