Baked Potato Bar - Easy Weeknight Dinner

 

Just like the Bagel Bar dinner I posted a some years ago, my family loves when we have Potato Bar night. It is super easy for me to throw together and everyone likes being able to custom create their perfect baked potato. You can offer any ingredients you like - and you could use sweet potatoes instead of russets. It is all up to you! This meal is so filling I don't even offer a side to go with it....it stands alone which truly makes it a quick weeknight dinner. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Russet potatoes (one per person)

Include any of the following (I put an Asterix by the ingredients shown in my photo above):

Butter*

Sour cream*

Greek yogurt

Shredded Cheese*

Queso

Crumbled blue or feta

Sautéed mushrooms*

Sautéed bell peppers*

Roasted broccoli*

Roasted cauliflower

Caramelized onions*

Sautéed spinach

Fresh herbs like basil or oregano

Avocado

Roasted or fresh tomatoes

Pickled or fresh jalapeños 

Jarred banana peppers*

Beans (chickpeas, black beans, kidney)

Sliced green onions

Shredded cabbage

Crumbled bacon

Flaked tuna

Ground beef

Left over chili 

Salsa

Hot sauce

Ranch dressing

Directions:

Heat oven to 425F

Lightly rub olive oil on each clean potato and sprinkle with salt. (I don't poke holes in my potatoes and I do not wrap them in foil. This gives then a yummy crunchy skin). 

Bake on a cookie sheet for an hour. 

While the potatoes are baking prepare all of your toppings. I think it's nice to have at least six or seven toppings. 

Remove the potatoes from oven. Arrange all the sides you are using. Let everyone build their perfect potato! Enjoy! 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies

These peanut butter candies take me way back. They were one of the first candies I experimented with back in college when I discovered my love of baking and making sweets. They are no-bake, so you can't go wrong. And who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate? They make a great little candy to add to your holiday baking list. Enjoy! 

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter, room temperature

2 Tbl butter, melted

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

1 cup Rice Krispies (crush them up a bit before adding to the recipe)

2 cups chocolate chips, melted (I like milk chocolate, but you can use semi or dark, too)

Directions:

Combine the peanut butter and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Combine the sifted powdered sugar and crushed Rice Krispies together. Add the powdered sugar mix and the peanut butter mix together. Stir and then get in there with your hands to combine completely. 

Roll peanut butter mix into balls. You can make them as small or as big as you like. (We opted for a medium size and got about two dozen). Put them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Pop in the freezer for thirty minutes. 

Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for one minute. Stir. If the chocolate isn't fully melted, microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir. 

Take the candy out of the freezer and roll in the melted chocolate. Alternatively, you can dip each PB ball into the chocolate so it is only half covered. 

Pop the chocolate covered candies back into the freezer for about twenty minutes. Serve immediately or place them in a container and store in the freezer or fridge until ready to eat. Enjoy!