Simple Serendipity Spuds Recipes

SPICY POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°c
• Mix together oregano, cayenne pepper and cumin in a small bowl.
• Spread the potatoes out in an ovenproof dish and spray well with Garlic low-calorie cooking spray.
• Sprinkle over the spice mix evenly and bake for around 15 minutes until potatoes are fully cooked.

TWICE BAKED POTATOES (STUFFED JACKET POTATOES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220°C / 430°F (200°C fan). Place a rack on a tray (recommended but not critical).
• Prick potatoes: Wash, scrub and dry potatoes well. Prick each potato 8 times with a fork.
• Oil and salt: Put potatoes in a bowl, pour over oil and rub onto potatoes. Then sprinkle over salt and use your hands to coat. (Just do this as best you can. Some will stick, much will not!)
• Bake: Place potatoes on rack and bake for 75 minutes or until you can pierce with a small knife with no resistance.
• Cook bacon: Place bacon in a cold non-stick pan over medium heat. When the fat starts to melt, turn the heat up to high and cook bacon until golden. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat butter and cream: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Then add cream and heat until hot, but don't let it boil. (You could also do this in a microwave)
• Lower oven: Turn oven down to 200°C / 390°F (180°C fan).
• Scoop out potato flesh: Allow potatoes to cool enough so you can handle them (or use a tea towel). Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out potato flesh, leaving 0.7cm (1/3") thick layer of potato still stuck to skin.
• Mash potato: Place potato flesh in a bowl and mash while hot until smooth.
• Add-ins: Add half the cheese (save the rest for topping), most of the bacon (save a bit for garnish), all the green onion, hot cream and butter, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
• Stuff and top with cheese: Fill potato skins with the mashed potato mixture. Top with remaining cheese.
• Bake: Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted, golden and bubbly.
• Serve: Serve immediately, garnish with sour cream, reserved bacon and chives.

FRRROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE: SERENDIPITY'S BEST-KEPT SECRET

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted. Add the cocoa and sugar, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
• In a blender place the remaining cup of milk, the room temperature chocolate mixture, and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Enjoy with a spoon or a straw. . . .or both!

SUPER SPUDS

Steps:

• Bake 6 potatoes. Cut in half. Scoop shells. Mash with mayonnaise, brown mustard, garlic, salt, pepper. Fold in hot dogs that have been cooked and sliced. Return to shells. Bake 20 minutes in 350* oven.

SUPER SPUD

Steps:

• Cut potatoes in half.
• Scoop out shells, mash potatoes.
• Combine mashed potatoes with next four ingredients.
• Fold in frankfurters.
• Return to shells mounding high.
• Bake 20 minutes at 350.
• Makes a nice light lunch when served with a salad.
• These may be prepared ahead, refrigerated and baked later.

HOMEMADE SPUDNUTS AND GLAZE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the sugar, shortening, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, warm potato water (water that potatoes have been boiled in), and mashed potatoes.In a smaller separate bowl, combine the yeast with hot milk (I microwaved mine for about 2 minutes), then stir in the yeast. Stir until foamy.Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Add it to the larger bowl, that has been mixed and well combined.
• Mix until well combined. I used a wooden spoon to mix it all together.
• Let the dough set for about 30 minutes or until it's a little foamy with bubbles all around the edges.
• Once foamy, add the beaten eggs, salt, and flour.
• Knead with your hands until well combined.
• Once kneaded, let rise until double in size (about an hour).
• Roll out about 3/4" thick, cut as for doughnuts (we used two different sizes of circle cookie cutters).
• Let rise until double in size.
• Cook in hot vegetable oil, flipping when one side is golden.
• While still hot dip in glaze.
• How to make the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
• Slowly stir in milk and vanilla extract.
• Whisk until silky and smooth. If you need a touch more milk to make this a dippable glaze, add a bit more.
• Dip doughnuts in chocolate glaze and let rest to harden slightly.

SPEEDY SPUDS

Steps:

• Scrub the potatoes with the vegetable brush. Poke each potato several times with the fork (this lets the steam escape and makes it easier to split the potato open later). Put potatoes about 1 inch apart in a circle on the plate. Microwave on High for 8 to 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Use the pot holders to take plate out of microwave.
• Peel the outside layer of skin from the green onions. Slice onions on the cutting board, using the knife (you need about 1/2 cup).
• Spray the skillet with the cooking spray. Put the green onions and ham (or bacon bits or pepperoni) in skillet. Cook over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, stirring all the time with the wooden spoon, until ham is hot. Take skillet off hot burner.
• Cut baked potatoes lengthwise in half, using knife. (If the potatoes are too hot, hold them with a pot holder). Fluff insides of potato with fork. Put 1 tablespoon of the sour cream on each potato half, using the rubber spatula to get it out of the measuring spoon. Spread sour cream a little with rubber spatula. Top each potato half evenly with some ham mixture and cheese.

SPECIAL SPUDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the potatoes, minced onion, parsley, garlic powder, seasoned salt, pepper, and olive oil in a large bowl; toss together until potatoes are evenly coated. Spread potatoes in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven; flip the potatoes and continue to bake until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

SERENDIPITY BREAD

Steps:

• Place the first set of ingredients into the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select DOUGH cycle; press START. Do not put in the olive oil, garlic powder or feta cheese.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. When the cycle has ended, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 2 halves. Roll each half out into a circle that is about 9 or 10 inches across. Brush the top of each circle with olive oil.
• Place the bread circles oil side down onto the grill. Brush the other side with olive oil, and watch carefully. When the bottom side is browned, turn over the bread, and grill the other side until golden. If desired, sprinkle with garlic powder and feta cheese.