My mother, rest her soul, was a lovely, giving woman generous with her time, love and affection. She could burn water. Did it! Saw her! Boiled that pan dry.
I remember one holiday dinner as a young man when I offered to help in the kitchen. She asked me to please cook the green beans. Of course, says I and troddled off to the freezer I did. Fresh and local were not watchwords of the 70’s. A box of frozen green beans in hand, I prepared a pan of boiling water and placed the frozen brick gently amongst the bubbles. After a few minutes the block had thawed and the green beans were heated through and through. “Mom, I think the green beans are done.” Their pale green pallor being a dead giveaway. “Let’s give them a few more minutes just to be sure.” came the loving, generous reply. My career path was set that day – Learn to cook – by people who know how to cook.
Now please don’t think of me as an uncharitable son. I loved my mother mightily and miss her to this day. I have a great many reasons to thank her and my father. One of those reasons is Twice Baked Potatoes!!
As a family we would often have regular baked potatoes. They were easy for mom to make, just through them in the oven for and hour and put some margarine, salt and pepper on the table. Feeding five rambunctious little monsters was no mean feat but my mother pulled it off every night. One night in particular I noticed that the baked potatoes looked a little different. As soon as the blessing was said I tucked right in and was pleasantly surprised. If mothers receive validation for the efforts in the kitchen, from the praise of the family, my mother got free parking for a year that night. “Twice baked potatoes, Tom, that’s what they are.” Yummmitty, yum yum. All filled with cheese and bacon bits and . . . YUM!!
In honor and memory of my loving mother I share with you my approach at:
Twice Baked Potatoes
2 each Large Russet Potatoes, bake at 350F for 1 hour
1/2 cup Small Onion, diced and tossed into a saute’ pan with a little olive oil
3 each Cloves of Garlic, smashed and minced – toss into saute’ with onions
1/2 cup Diced Prosciutto – toss into saute’
1/4 cup Dried Figs, diced – toss into saute’
Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes then deglaze with
1/2 cup Dry white wine
Reduce about 1 minute then add
1/2 cup Sour Cream
Grate and add
1/2 cup Manchego cheese – add to mix
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese – add to mix
Cook for 1 minute then remove from heat
Salt and pepper as desired
When potatoes are done baking remove from oven and set a side to cool. When cool split open tops and remove the flesh into a bowl. Reserve the skins intact. Add the contents of the saute’ pan to bowl and mix. Spoon mixture into reserved potato skins and bake at 350 until brown on top – about 15 minutes.
Serve hot!!
Eat well and Smile Often,
tj
p.s. I believe that was the night I uttered those now infamous words, “Food is my habitat!”
p.p.s. Well it is!!
I love me some pepper jelly.
In this corner, weighing in at a plump 3 1/2 pounds the current heavy weight roasted chicken champion of the world: Madeline Kamman’s Herbed Butter under-the-skin.
And in this corner, weighing in at a firm 3.25 pounds, the Contender, Jessica Cogan’s made-by-mom-at home Mahogany Chicken. The pride of the borough, this friendly approach to adding flavor should not be underestimated; stylish, smart and sassy. Who will be the winner is anyone’s guess. Kamman’s herbed champion has the breasts to put up a great fight. But Cogan’s Mahogany contender has got the legs to run away with it all. Marquis of Queensbury rules apply!
In the left corner prepped with just a rub of salt and pepper on the skin: The Mahogany Contender. In the right corner with an herbed butter rubbed under the skin directly on the breast: The Herbed Champion.
In the left side of the oven The Contender holds its own against The Champion. But don’t count out the slippery moves that Herbed Butter can bring to this fight. The heat is up for both of them and so far neither is backing down from a basting.
The final round and The Contender is putting on a show. Evenly browned after multiple bastings She’s showing no sign of legging off. The Champ, a little unevenly used from the butter directly under the skin, is still in the fight. Her delicious herbs giving off the airs of a true champion, one who never quits.
So right after harvesting the mother of all Patty Pan squash I tucked in to it with my 10″ chef’s knife dicing it in to 3/4″ cubes. The remnants of an onion waited patiently in my fridge for just this opportunity. A quick chop put this savory bulb into 1/4″ pieces. This onion, with 3 cloves of garlic smashed, hit the hot olive oil soaked pan with a sizzle. On their heels went my darling Patty Pan.