Cut Back on Food Waste With a Weekly Baked Potato Bar
I have the unique ability to cause anxiety about any problem, and right now the problem is food, especially the food that is currently in my refrigerator. Aside from hoarding too many eggs , I think I did a good job of stocking up on the right amount of food for physical distance and isolation, but all perishable foods are now in my refrigerator threatening to spoil, and right now, throwing anything away seems like a crime.
Fortunately, potatoes do exist, and they are the perfect remedy for getting rid of all food leftovers, every anemic vegetable, every bite of cheese, and every bite of expiring salad dressing. And they are funny . No one was ever saddened while eating hot, buttery baked potatoes loaded with things. It’s impossible.
There are no real rules for making a baked potato bar as long as you’ve cooked your potatoes the right way . Brush them with grease (such as bacon or crisco fat), sprinkle with salt, pierce them several times with a fork, then place in 425 ℉ oven for 50-60 minutes, until the skin is crispy and the insides are completely soft. when testing with a fork. Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool for five minutes before loading them.
While the potatoes are cooking, you will have plenty of time to prepare the snacks. Chop the remaining grilled chicken, chop one pork chop and heat in butter or sauté some bacon. Crush the cheese, dice the fried vegetables, and collect the random cucumbers and sauces that may be hiding in the back of the refrigerator.
Personally, I took this opportunity to fry some bacon and lard and then grate a few cherry tomatoes that I hung on the counter in melted bacon fat. I used the resulting smoky tomato fat to sauté a single half of the onion, then put it all in a small bowl along with grated cheese, chopped green onions, half a head of fried garlic, and assorted pickles and sauces. Well, sour cream. Of course, there was sour cream.
If you are feeding your family — and I suspect many of you are feeding — don’t worry about each person having “enough” of each item. The point is to use up all those languid little pieces, so it’s okay if everyone’s potatoes look a little different. I really think the potato baker should get the first bites; it’s fair.