Being a member of SheSpeaks
I was given the opportunity to try out this product for free, so when my coupon for a free bag came in the mail I jumped at the first opportunity to get myself a bag and try them out. They're essentially cubed, skinned potatoes that come in four varieties; plain russet potatoes, garlic seasoned potatoes, three cheese and cut sweet potatoes. You cut off the top of the bag and zap it in the microwave for 10 minutes, add milk, butter and whatever else you fancy and viola, you've got mashed potatoes.. Now.. they were alright, nothing to write home about in my book though. I have no problem making home made mashed potatoes, I prefer making mashed potatoes from scratch, it's no problem for me to cut up the taters and toss 'em into a pot of boiling water, I like mine with the skin on anyway, so I don't have to deal with all that peeling nonsense.. and even if I don't want them with the peel on I'll boil some small whole ones and then you just rub the skins off. I didn't like the 'freezer' taste these had, I got the garlic ones and they didn't really leave me with a lasting impression. Will I get them again? No, probably not. I wouldn't really recommend them either unless it's a last minute decision. They are real potatoes, after all and not that boxed nonsense.
I had to add a LOT of butter to get them to taste good.. they had a grainy texture and I wasn't really pleased with them... they looked nice, but I'm sorry to say they didn't taste too great though.
Showing posts with label potatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potatoes. Show all posts
Friday, September 19, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Crash Hot Potatoes...
Tonight I really didn't know what I was going to make for dinner.. It's been a hell of a week, I can tell y'all.. judging from Tuesday's post and the fact that there hasn't been one since.. it just goes to show.. between leaving work at 2, leaving at 3:30 in a panic because the kid had a ride home and then his 'friend' left without him.. and then a minor meltdown yesterday when he was sure he had a ride and then didn't.. then finally got one.. it was just really something that I didn't think I was going to have to deal with.. and my car search isn't going so well.. because all I seem to find in my price range are junkers and this damn rainstorm isn't helping me today either (yea, thanks Hanna)
Anyway.. This is supposed to be about dinner..
Well.. the Kid and I made it to the supermarket (By Bus mind you, since the BF is working today and peapod totally pissed me off now that they raised their 'minimum delivery' to $60 from $50.. along with the $9.95 delivery charge, tax and the almost $2 fuel surcharge and coupon codes for peapod are almost nonexistent..) I figured we'd just go to Pathmark (since a friend sent me 3 coupons for Free blue bunny ice cream and I had one myself and Pathmark, waldbaums and A&P are the only stores that honor that coupon and I don't have the other two near me.. and the coupons expire on the 15th.. I just went ahead and did it.. so I picked up 4 -1.75Qt (seriously, I don't understand why it just can't be a half gallon anymore, it's so annoying.. but I digress) Hey, any ice cream for free is good in my book, lol.. so we got those (and hey, at $5.99 each I got $24 worth of ice cream for free.. Nice!)
So I still wasn't really certain what I was going to make tonight.. at first I thought pizza.. but then I remembered something I saw the other day while I was looking around and I found this: Crash Hot Potatoes by the Pioneer woman posted on tastefix by Grumpy's Honeybunch and for days I've been wanting to try them.. so I made Roasted Lemon Rosemary chicken and what I call Smashed Potatoes.. they're insanely good, perfectly seasoned, crispy skin on the bottom, just all around yummy!
Ok, ok, the pictures aren't great.. I was going to go camera shopping today.. but apparently Hanna had other plans (Damn hurricane!) The camera on my cell phone is fine for now though
These Smashed potatoes.. yea, they're definitely a keeper.. wow.. next time they're going with Roast beef or something Beefy, lol... Mmmmm.. Meat & Potatoes.. you just can't go wrong.
Anyway.. This is supposed to be about dinner..
Well.. the Kid and I made it to the supermarket (By Bus mind you, since the BF is working today and peapod totally pissed me off now that they raised their 'minimum delivery' to $60 from $50.. along with the $9.95 delivery charge, tax and the almost $2 fuel surcharge and coupon codes for peapod are almost nonexistent..) I figured we'd just go to Pathmark (since a friend sent me 3 coupons for Free blue bunny ice cream and I had one myself and Pathmark, waldbaums and A&P are the only stores that honor that coupon and I don't have the other two near me.. and the coupons expire on the 15th.. I just went ahead and did it.. so I picked up 4 -1.75Qt (seriously, I don't understand why it just can't be a half gallon anymore, it's so annoying.. but I digress) Hey, any ice cream for free is good in my book, lol.. so we got those (and hey, at $5.99 each I got $24 worth of ice cream for free.. Nice!)
So I still wasn't really certain what I was going to make tonight.. at first I thought pizza.. but then I remembered something I saw the other day while I was looking around and I found this: Crash Hot Potatoes by the Pioneer woman posted on tastefix by Grumpy's Honeybunch and for days I've been wanting to try them.. so I made Roasted Lemon Rosemary chicken and what I call Smashed Potatoes.. they're insanely good, perfectly seasoned, crispy skin on the bottom, just all around yummy!
Ok, ok, the pictures aren't great.. I was going to go camera shopping today.. but apparently Hanna had other plans (Damn hurricane!) The camera on my cell phone is fine for now though
These Smashed potatoes.. yea, they're definitely a keeper.. wow.. next time they're going with Roast beef or something Beefy, lol... Mmmmm.. Meat & Potatoes.. you just can't go wrong.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Giambotta.. It's what for dinner
My grandma Mary made the best Giambotta, and to me, nothing says summer more than a big bowl of Giambotta and a chunk of crusty Italian bread. Giambotta is Italian vegetable stew, made with zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, garlic and basil.
This isn't my Grandma's recipe, but it's pretty damn close :)
Giambotta
2 white potatoes
2 zucchini
4 large tomatoes (or 1 28oz can chopped tomatoes)
olive oil
2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 large onions
1 red pepper or 1/2 bag frozen pepper strips (that's what I use, less waste & cheaper)
1/2 cup fresh basil - or 1 teaspoon dried
salt and pepper to taste
Clean, skin and chop all the vegetables into uniform dice.
To skin the tomatoes, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Hold each tomato with a long meat fork and submerge into the boiling water. Hold in the water until the skin bursts, about 10 seconds. Remove from boiling water and place in ice water immediately. The skin should peel right off. Peel, chop and seed the tomatoes.
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic together until soft. Add the tomatoes, raise heat and bring to a boil.
Stir in the diced potatoes and lower heat to a simmer. Cook covered, until vegetables are almost tender.
Add the zucchini at the end and simmer the vegetables a little longer until they are all soft.
Add the basil and season with salt and pepper.
Serve as a side dish with meat or as it's own meal with some good crusty bread.
As you can see, this was a really good vegetarian dinner tonight.. all on it's own with some good Italian bread. Even P. went back for seconds!
This isn't my Grandma's recipe, but it's pretty damn close :)
Giambotta
2 white potatoes
2 zucchini
4 large tomatoes (or 1 28oz can chopped tomatoes)
olive oil
2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 large onions
1 red pepper or 1/2 bag frozen pepper strips (that's what I use, less waste & cheaper)
1/2 cup fresh basil - or 1 teaspoon dried
salt and pepper to taste
Clean, skin and chop all the vegetables into uniform dice.
To skin the tomatoes, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Hold each tomato with a long meat fork and submerge into the boiling water. Hold in the water until the skin bursts, about 10 seconds. Remove from boiling water and place in ice water immediately. The skin should peel right off. Peel, chop and seed the tomatoes.
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic together until soft. Add the tomatoes, raise heat and bring to a boil.
Stir in the diced potatoes and lower heat to a simmer. Cook covered, until vegetables are almost tender.
Add the zucchini at the end and simmer the vegetables a little longer until they are all soft.
Add the basil and season with salt and pepper.
Serve as a side dish with meat or as it's own meal with some good crusty bread.
As you can see, this was a really good vegetarian dinner tonight.. all on it's own with some good Italian bread. Even P. went back for seconds!
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