Not Made Of Money

One of the most versatile ingredients in anyone’s pantry has to be potatoes. Think about it for a minute; there are a lot of things you can do with a bag of potatoes. Whether you need a hearty dish for a neighborhood picnic or a petite appetizer for a party, you can rest assured that you can fulfill your needs with a potato recipe.

I can’t begin to tell you all of the potato recipes that we use in our house. I can tell you, though, some of my favorites. The next time you’re in a pinch, why not try one of these recipes?

Potato Salad – Potato salad can be the “go to” side dish for picnics or cookouts. You can make it up ahead of time and alter it to suit your family’s tastes. My favorite potato salad is a mustard-based recipe. Begin by boiling the desired number of potatoes. Then, peel and dice the potatoes. Follow the same steps with four to six eggs. Combine the eggs and potatoes with 1 ½ cups mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip) and 2 tablespoons mustard. Finally, you can add extras that your family likes. I always dice a couple of sweet pickles and add a dash of the pickle juice. My sister likes to add some diced sweet onions. Experiment a little to find the right combination for your family.

Potato Skins – These are an easy appetizer that guests will love. Begin by baking several potatoes. Once they’ve finished baking, slice the sides off the potato to create small boats of the desired thickness (¼ inch to ½ inch is a good size). Next, lay the boats onto a cookie sheet and top with your favorite toppings. We use bacon bits and cheese. Finally, heat them in the oven at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted.

Mashed Potato Patties – This is a fun way to use leftover mashed potatoes. Mix your leftover mashed potatoes with an egg and a splash of milk. Then, form the leftovers into small patty shapes and roll them in cracker crumbs. Bake on a cookie sheet until they’re hot, and they’re ready to go.

Fancy Potatoes – These are the grown up version of mashed potatoes. Begin by making your standard pan of mashed potatoes. Then, add a cup of sour cream and two packages of cream cheese to your potatoes. A pinch of garlic salt adds a little extra flavor to the mix. Finally, spread the mixture into a casserole dish and top with cheddar cheese. Bake the whole pan for twenty minutes or until the cheese has melted.

French Fries – No list of potato recipes would be completed without paying homage to French fries. You can make your own by cutting your potatoes down into chunky fry shapes. Deep fry them in a fryer until they are a golden color. Your kids will never want to go to McDonald’s again.

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