My Dad's Totally Awesome Baked Potatoes
These baked potatoes are sure to fill up even the hungriest of men.
Ingredients:
These special baked potatoes were a family treat when I was growing up. It was completely my dad's creation, and it turned out awesome! Here, I've included the original recipe, as well as a vegan version. Enjoy!
Original Recipe:
6 large russet potatoes
1/2 lb thinly sliced deli turkey, cut into small pieces
1/2 lb thinly sliced deli chicken, cut into small pieces
1/2 lb thinly sliced deli ham, cut into small pieces
1/2 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef, cut into small pieces
1 large onion, diced small
1 C celery, sliced small
1 C carrot, diced small
1/2 lb high quality mushrooms (i.e. portobello, crimini, etc.), sliced small
1 green pepper, diced small
Garlic powder, to taste
Old World or other seasoning of choice, to taste
Pepper, to taste
6 strips cooked bacon, diced OR Bacon Bits
1 to 1 1/2 C Italian dressing
1 1/2 C cheddar cheese, shredded
1 C sour cream
Chives, to garnish
Serves 6
Vegan Version:
2 large russet potatoes
1/2 lb assorted vegan "deli meats," cut into small pieces
(If you don't want to use "deli meats," mix 1 tsp crumbled seaweed of choice with 1 pkg seitan, diced small OR 1 C rehydrated TVP. Marinate seitan or TVP in 3-4 T tamari, 1 tsp liquid smoke and 1 tsp Hickory Smoked seasoning or smoked paprika.)
1/2 small onion, diced small
1/3 C celery, sliced small
1/3 C carrot, diced small
1 C high quality mushrooms (i.e. portobello, crimini, etc.), sliced small
1/2 small green pepper, diced small
Garlic powder, to taste
Old World or other seasoning of choice, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Vegan bacon bits
1/2 C vegan Italian dressing
1/2 C vegan cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 C vegan sour cream
Chives, to garnish
Serves 2
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Scrub potatoes and pierce with a knife or fork. Bake on a sheet pan or in a large flat dish in the preheated oven until tender, about 1 hour. Potatoes may be microwaved instead to save time.
3. Meanwhile, combine all ingredients except Italian dressing, cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives in a skillet. Cook until vegetables are tender and mushrooms have let go of their juices.
4. When potatoes are tender, cut them in half lengthwise or make a slit lengthwise in the top and open them up to allow room for the filling. Fill each potato with equal portions of cooked filling. It should overflow the potatoes.
5. Sprinkle chopped bacon or Bacon Bits onto potatoes. Drench each potato with approximately 1/4 C Italian dressing. Then cover each potato with 1/4 C cheese.
6. Put potatoes back in the oven or microwave and heat until cheese is melted.
7. Garnish with sour cream and chives. Serve immediately.