The other morning Parker woke up at 6 am. That’s fine, that’s fine. Do you feel like I’m talking myself into it being fine? Yeah, so do I. Well, you see, usually it’s 7. So, I expect 7. Thus, 6 am feels rude and unnecessary. I go to bed clocking my hours till 7 am. The night before, I knew to expect 8 hours of sleep… but no! Subtract one from that. The child wakes when the child wakes!
So, as I was shuffling downstairs this morning, the wheels in my brain turning slowly–they turn a bit faster once the coffee is drunk but when I came down the coffee wasn’t even going despite the fact that the husband was already awake which is a mortal sin, did you know that?–I wondered about dinner. Then I had this momentary, “Dinner? Again? But didn’t you just make dinner last night?”
That’s the thing about dinner. It comes around every night. Every 24 hours, there you’ll find me, back at the drawing board of what to make. Without it, the night just doesn’t feel complete, the natives are restless. A dinner at the table, white plates set and all, grounds the evening, grounds the family. The family that prays together stays together? Nah, the family that eats together stays together. That’s a lot of responsibility!
Are you feeling the same “dinner again?” sentiments that I’m expressing here? Cause, if so, here’s an easy one. I didn’t really think of it the first few years of our marriage. I mean, I knew about baked potatoes, but not about so many toppings that you can call it dinner (including, especially, a green vegetable). And I definitely don’t think of it (for good reason; who eats heavy meals when it’s so hot out?) in the summer months. But once the weather turns, this one gets entered into the rotation. It’s so effortless, so duh. Loaded baked potatoes. Add enough good stuff to them, call it a meal, done. And talk about cheap! (Though, I will suggest: organic potatoes. They’re one of those highly sprayed crops, plus they’re super cheap organic too.) The kids love it too.
Do I need to walk through this? I can’t imagine that I do. But, for the sake of the recipe post, let’s go. Oven preheated to 425 degrees. Pierce your potatoes a few times, and put them in for an hour (maybe a little more or less depending on the size of your potatoes and how many you’re doing).
Then, prep your toppings. Here’s the good part. A potato, in my mind, is like a blank canvas. By itself it is so very meh. How my people (the Irish!) subsisted on them alone for so many years, I’ll never know. I couldn’t be less interested in a potato. But put all of this on top? Mix it all up? Let it all ooze together from the heat of the potato? It becomes a work of art that is oh so delicious. This time I did sharp cheddar cheese, a pound of bacon that I cooked and chopped just before the potatoes came out, and some broccoli that I’d sautéed with some season salt. Oh and butter. Do not forget the butter. Another really great addition would be finely shredded chicken, I think. Though I will say, it’s quite filling without it. If you’re feeling really fancy and, say, want to Instagram a picture of your finished potato work of art, add the cheese at the last minute and then put it under the broiler for half a minute or so. Bon apetit!
ETA: and plentiful sour cream. but of course!
Yummy, never thought of this as a meal but that is so easy and perfect…this will be happening in my house soon! Thanks for the idea even though it's kind of like, duh why didn't I think of that myself! 🙂
so glad I am not alone in the daily dinner debacle. i try to make a menu for the week- it is rarely followed exactly, but at least if my brain absolutely refuses to work, we have a fall back plan. so there i sit every Monday morning with a blank sheet of paper scouring the internet for healthy'ish, new'ish, fresh to us meals.
it's a tough job i tell ya- we need more affirmation for feeding these wild and expecting ones day after day.
Love this! My mom sets out a "potato bar" when people are over to watch a football game or something. So this recipe makes me feel a little like home, so thank you 🙂
Why haven't I thought of this?!!!! Such a smart meal.
Parker needs to sleep until like 9.
awe yum!!!
-wHiT
Oh yum! Potatoes are my favorite. Add the toppings and it's just like heaven.
This dinner is really good with sweet potatoes too, if you ever need to mix up the kind of potato. Also, my sister inspired me to put pesto in the toppings mix. With some toasted almonds and cheese? mmm..
I love baked sweet potatoes with fresh baby spinach and either feta or honey Belle Chevre- delicious!!
ha, no one forget the butter! 😉 I can't imagine making this right now (90 degrees in Chicago) but I have a feeling it will be cooling off soon…and yummmm, I'll have to add these to a dinner. I'm guessing they'll be a hit with my little guy 🙂
ahh I'm so hungry now! these sound awesome!
ahh I'm so hungry now! these sound awesome!
I love baked potatoes and my husband and I eat them for dinner all the time. Next time try adding Buffalo Chicken! I use this great crockpot recipe that only takes 5 minutes and 4 ingredients! http://thekittchen.com/2012/12/03/buffalo-chicken-baked-potatoes/ Or… if Parker is too young to like spice, try Crockpot BBQ Chicken http://thekittchen.com/2013/04/20/crockpot-pulled-bbq-chicken-2/
Carbs and cheese are all I need to know about this recipe….and the word "Stuffed." YUM.
Love this!!! I love baked potatoes, so this is a bonus!!!
Baked potatoes are perfect and so is this post. Oh Parker. Children wake when children wake.
Oh my yum!
this is a total meal at our house too. To make it perfection first dip potatoes in olive oil and then roll them around in mc.cormick grill mates spice or whatever fancy spices you like. Then bake them (with foil or a tray below as the olive oil will drip a bit). This makes your bake potatoes so so so delish, crispy & awesome if you like to eat the skin. My kids love this!
that sounds so good. i'm doing it. (we do eat the skins!)
I love potatoes. Baked, fried, scalloped, mashed, anything. YUM!
And I make baked potato pizza… it's my favorite. Ever. (bottom half of this post: http://www.peachandthistle.com/2012/06/friday-food-day-farm-delivery-june-8.html)
Bridget I am going to try making these but I have to warn you I totally stink at making potatoes. Sad but true. But I am going to try and hopefully their edible…I mean who could possible be bad at making potatoes. Me that's who.
oh man, these look delicious. my best friend makes a mean loaded breakfast potato. she scoops out the insides and browns them on the stove top. then fills em' on up with scrambled cheesy eggs, bacon and scallions. its like heaven.