If you are in a commuting, two-working-parent relationship, the IM correspondence with your spouse between 4:00 and 5:00 PM probably reads something like this:
d: train?
m: 5:41 hopefully. u?
d: 6:27. hopefully.
m: dinner?
d: dunno. what do u think?
m: not sure. pasta?
d: had pasta for lunch. chili?
you there?
hello?
m: S#%T !!!!!! sue just called a 5:00 mtg. prob on 6:27 w/ u.
When Remote Dinner Paralysis* strikes, you can do one of two things: You can browse all those recipe Apps you bought for this very occasion yet somehow never remember are there. Or you can call home and ask whoever answers (babysitter, 8-year-old, sock monkey) to complete a so-easy-even-a-sock-monkey-can-do-it task: put a pile of baking potatoes in the oven then turn the heat to 450ยฐF. And then โ Sue, be damned โ you can still have family dinner on time.
*i.e. you canโt think of any ideas for dinner, and you are too far away from the kitchen to open up the fridge, poke around the pantry, flip through your TFD for inspiration.
Baked Potato Bar
Bake six potatoes (or 1 1/2 potatoes per diner) in a 450ยฐF oven for 45 minutes to an hour. Remove from oven, split , and top with any of the following:
-cheddar (before serving, add back to oven under broiler til it melts)
-Caramelized onions (2 large onions, sliced and cooked on low heat for 15-2o minutes)
-Cooked bacon, chopped
-Broccoli (steamed)
-Sour cream, Butter,ย Ketchup
P.S: I drew some very JV-looking โGuest Checksโ for a game of restaurant over the weekend, but Phoebe decided theyโd be put to better use in the real kitchen. She took our toppings orders and made sure everything matched up.
Oh what a GREAT idea for nights when hubby is out and its me and the babe and 17 yo.
THANKS!!
One of my favourite meals is a baked potato bar! We eat it when we have a little bit of a lot of different foods hanging around in the fridge.
I totally do this- Baked potatoes are my โrabbit out of a hatโ trick. Iโve even been known to microwave a few spuds in a pinch (scandalous yet edible). I always have chili in the freezer making โChili-Cheese Baked Potatoesโ a pretty popular meal around here. So nice to have a successful dinner on a crazy night.
I love this blog. Youโre simultaneously realistic and inspiring- a rare combo.
OMG. Those potatoes look so good!
This is kinda a fall back for me too. Baked potato (in the microwave for 4-8 minutes!) then topped w/ spinach & โbutterfish.โ
I call TJโs waterpacked sardines โbutterfishโ so the girl will eat them, spine removed, of course!
what did Abby โorderโ on hers? rutburger, butter? i canโt read Phoebeโs handwriting! (and yes, i zoomed in.) And foil-wrap, or not foil-wrapped? iโm totally making this some night this week.
p.s. i love that the table number is smiley-face! thatโs DALS in a nutshell.
when we are in a bind we do quessadillas. Iโm so sick of quessadillas. I kind of hate them, actually.
My son wonโt eat potatoes but I will!
I love your ideas.
This is a such a simple and smart ideaโฆthe kids will love picking their toppings as if it were pizza!
Very new to the blog. Just wanted to say (a little off topic), that we do potato bar a lot, except I make the potaotes in the crock pot. Poke potatoes; wrap in foil; cook on high for 4 hours. 13-yr-old puts them in when he gets home from school. Love the topping ideas! Iโll steal those for sure.
Thanks for the reminder. We used to do this, but I had forgotten recently. We had it tonight and it was deemed โthe best meal of the last 2 monthsโ! I also offered: chopped green onions (my kids are pre-teens and starting to appreciate these), diced fresh tomatoes, sliced black olives, and a can of black beans drained and warmed with a little salsa. Yum! Thanks for your inspiring website.
we do this too, but we top with cottage cheese and salsa. ridiculously easy and everyone eats tons from baby to 4yo twins to mom and dad. one of our best dinners when there is no time for cooking!
Love it! When weโre in a pinch and donโt have enough time to bake whole potatoes, I chop them in small piece, toss the, with oil, salt and some pepper, and bake at 425 for half hour. Itโs irresistible topped with cheese or served next to broccoli!
Hilarious! Do you live in our house or somehow have access to our texting records? Love it.