Loaded Buffalo Smashed Potatoes

One of my favorite potato recipes.   I love the spiciness along with the coolness of the sour cream.  You can use ranch dressing in place of the blue cheese dressing if you prefer.  

LOADED BUFFALO SMASHED POTATOES

(serves 6)

Ingredients:

*1 1/2 pounds small red skinned or baby potatoes

*1 teaspoon salt

*4 tablespoons olive oil

*corse sea salt

*ground black pepper

*2-3 tablespoons hot sauce

*3 tablespoons butter

*2-3 tablespoons bleu cheese dressing

*1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled

*1 cup sharp shredded cheese 

*2-3 green onion tops, chopped

*Sour Cream 

Directions:

~Preheat oven tot 400 degrees.

~Put potatoes in a large pot and cover with water.

~Season with 1 teaspoon salt.

~Bring water to  boil and simmer for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

~Drain water and place potatoes in a large bowl and allow them to cool until easy to handle.

~Drizzle olive oil over potatoes and toss.

~Place potatoes onto a baking sheet.

~Using the bottom of a cup or measuring cups, smash potatoes, by pressing down on potato.

~Season with desired amount of sea salt and ground pepper.

~Bake for 13 minutes, flip and then bake another 13 minutes. 

~Durning the last 5 minutes of cooking, melt butter in a microwavable bowl.

~Whisk hot sauce into butter until combined.

~Remove potatoes from oven and pour hot sauce/butter mixture over them.

~Evenly distribute crumbled bacon over potatoes.

~Sprinkle shredded cheese over potatoes.

~Drizzle bleu cheese dressing over potatoes.

~Add chopped green onions and a dollop of sour cream and serve hot.

1.  

Sautéed Squash Mix

A really quick side dish to make and it goes with just about any main dish.

SAUTÉED SQUASH MIX
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:
*3 tablespoons olive oil
*2 medium yellow squash, diced
*2 zucchini's, diced
*1 small yellow onion, diced
*1/2 green bell pepper
*1/2 red bell pepper
*1 medium carrot, grated
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*10-15 grape or cherry tomatoes, chopped
*1/4 cup sour cream
*1 teaspoon dill weed
*1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:
~In a large skillet, heat up olive oil over medium-high heat.
~Add carrots, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion and sauté for 1 minute, stirring continuously.
~Add squash and sauté for another 3 minutes.
~Add garlic and seasonings and sauté for 1 more minute.
~Stir in tomatoes, and sour cream and cook for 1 minute.
~Serve hot.

Zucchini Crisp

Tired of making zucchini bread with all that extra zucchini.  Give this recipe a try.  No one will even know it's zucchini.  Easy to double this recipe and put in a 9x13 inch pan.

ZUCCHINI CRISP
(serves 6)

Ingredients:
*1/4 cup butter, softened
*1/2 cup brown sugar
*1/2 cup all-purpose flour
*1/2 cup rolled oats
*5 cups peeled, cored and cubed zucchini
*1/3 cup lemon juice
*1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
*1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
*1/3 cup granulated sugar
*1/4 cup water

Directions:
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~Spray a 8x8 inch baking dish with a cooking spray.
~In a medium bowl, cut butter into brown sugar, flour, and rolled oats, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
~In a saucepan, cook zucchini in lemon juice for 8-18 minutes over medium-low heat.
~Remove from burner and mix in nutmeg, cinnamon, granulated sugar and water.
~Pour zucchini mixture into prepared pan.
~Remove from oven and sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over zucchini.
~Bake 40-45 minutes.
~Allow to cool and serve.  Extra good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

Salted Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you've never had a brown butter cookie, you need to try this recipe.  The sprinkling of sea salt on top is optional.   This recipe is also very good with a 1/2 cup of coconut mixed in it.

SALTED BROWN BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
(makes 3 dozen)

Ingredients:
*1 cup unsalted butter
*1 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
*1/4 cup granulated sugar
*2 large eggs
*1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
*2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
*1 teaspoon baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1 cup milk chocolate chips
*1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
*Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

Directions:
~In a frying pan over low heat, melt butter.
~Cook until butter become a golden brown, stirring oven (be careful, it can burn easily).
~Pour browned butter into a small container and set aside too cool.
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
~In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt together.
~In a mixing bowl, mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and cooled brown butter.
~Mix in flour mixture.
~Fold in chocolate chips.
~Sprinkle top of cookies lightly with sea salt
~Using a cookie scoop, place cookie dough on the baking sheet, leaving a 2-inch space between them.
~Bake for 9-11 minutes.
~Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet.
~Remove cookies and finish cooling on a cooling rack.