The Freshman Cook: Mini Re-Bakes

This weeks side dish is mini re-bakes. There is something great about making re-bakes. They can be made fancy or simple. It all depends on what you put in them. When you think about it, almost anything will work. You can stuff your potatoes with bacon, mushrooms, onions, or even cilantro, sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, chicken, or smoked salmon. The sky is the limit. When I made these mini re-bakes, I put the mashed potato and the ingredients into the potato with a spoon. If you are looking for a little fancier result, you can pipe your potato with a pastry bag and a decorating tip. Anyway you make them, they will be great!

Potatoes

Bacon

Milk

Butter

Cheese

Wash your potatoes, then prick the skin with a fork

to help the steam release when they are cooked, 

and they won’t explode. (It happens)

Microwave your potatoes. I know some people don’t

like to microwave potatoes. I have heard comments that

the potatoes don’t taste the same. I kind of agree. 

They do taste a little different, just not enough to

make any difference to me. So, go ahead and

bake them in the oven if you want to. Your 

potatoes are small, so it shouldn’t take longer than about

5-6 minutes to cook. After they are cooked, let them cool

for about 15 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, fry your bacon.

You want it crisp so you can chop it up for the potato.

Drain the bacon on a paper towel.

While your bacon is cooling, cut your potatoes in half.

Then, scoop out the pulp in your potato. Leave a 

little around the diameter of the potato to keep 

some stability. 

Put the pulp in a bowl.

Add milk.

Mix together until creamy.

Put the mixed potatoes back in the potato shells.

Top the potatoes with chopped bacon and cheddar.

Put in the microwave to melt the cheese.

If you want to put them in the oven, cook at 

325 degrees for about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them.

Enjoy your mini re-bakes.

Thanks for joining me for this weeks side dish.

I hope you enjoy the potatoes, and make them often.

Tomorrow we will be making this weeks dessert,

Key Lime Mousse Shooters.

They are delicious and habit forming.

See you then!