Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love potatoes. Mashed, scalloped, baked, fried - I love them all. My guiltiest pleasure of all is a recipe my husband makes occasionally - simple, buttered potatoes - they're just boiled potatoes smothered in butter and just barely mashed. They are SO indulgent and soooo good. I'd share that recipe with you, but I have a feeling I'd be kicked off the internet by the snark police. (They'd ♥ them too, if they'd just try them. No one can resist buttered potatoes.)
But these are right up there too, and they are definitely a little better for you. My girls love them too, even though they pick off the "green stuff" first, which I'm pretty sure must be a law of childhood, so I don't really say anything about it.
We like to make these with grilled chicken and corn on the cob - so it would be nice if spring would just hurry up and get here so we can grill again, thankyouverrymuch.
So, these are super easy. Clean your potatoes and throw them in a big pot of water. Boil until tender, then smash 'em, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and then bake them. Then, flip them, sprinkle with parm and parsley, and bake a few minutes more.
Then let them cool. Don't be like me and burn your mouth. Every. Single. Time.
The olive oil helps crisp up the skin, so when you bite into them, you get a little hit of crispness before you get into the creamy, tender potato. We like a lot of parmesan on ours, so they all have a little extra bite and saltiness.
So yum.
I just use a flat plastic spatula to smash mine, but you can use anything that works - the bottom of a glass, a flat potato masher, a spoon even. Just smash them until they're about a 1/2 inch thick, and try to keep them in one piece.
If you like, you can mix up the flavors, too. Add a bit of minced garlic, or some greek seasoning for a fun twist. Or mimic the flavors of a loaded baked potatoes by adding some cooked, crisp bacon, green onions, cheddar cheese and a hit of sour cream after they come out of the oven.
Ok now, 'scuse me. I need to go try that.
Hope you love these! Enjoy!
