The deconstructed baked potato...

Let's talk stuffed baked potatoes.  They are good but are they really that good? All of the goodness lays on top and once you get to the middle and the bottom of the spud it is usually dry and tasteless unless of course if you are making a twice baked potato and that is a whole different recipe.  Back to the baked potato...I find the skin to be tough if cooked too long and it just falls flat in flavor.  So how to make it better?  I know how to make it better - deconstruct it and layer the flavors.  Oven roasted, crispy potatoes topped with meat and cheese and more cheese. A nice twist on an old classic and my version is so worth it and can be made as a main dish, an appetizer or a picky food at a party...fantastic food for Super Bowl XLIX!

T's Deconstructed Baked Potato

1 lb. ground beef
8 red bliss potatoes (sliced evenly)
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for potatoes
1 large onion (diced)
Salt/pepper
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1/2 bottle beer (I used Yuengling beer)
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon jalapeno flakes
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15.5 oz.) can small white beans (rinsed and drained)
Shredded cheddar cheese
Olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Liberally season sliced potatoes with salt/pepper and garlic powder
Coat with olive oil and toss
Lay seasoned potatoes in a single layer on a sheet pan
Bake for 1 hour

Meanwhile heat a medium pan over medium heat
Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and onions
Season with salt / pepper
Add 1/4 of the beer to onions and cook for 6-8 minutes
Add the ground beef
Season with cumin and jalapeno flakes
Add additional 1/4 cup of beer
Cook till meat is no longer pink about 10 minutes
Add tomatoes and beans
Re-season with salt/pepper
Toss all ingredients over heat to medium/low heat
Cover to cook for 10 minutes
Stir occasionally
Remove from heat and stir in desired amount of cheese

Remove potatoes from oven
Allow to cool for 2 minutes
Place potatoes in a single layer on an oven proof serving dish
Top with cheese (if desired)
Top with meat mixture
Top with additional desired amount of cheese
Place in oven for 8 minutes or until cheese is melted
Serve hot

Super Bowl XLVI Menu From Forkful of Simplicity Cookbook...

Well here we are the first day of February already...where in the world did the month of January go?  We were just celebrating New Year's now we are getting ready for Super Bowl and Valentine's Day.  Time really does go fast and it should not be wasted on endless hours of Internet searching for the perfect game day menu for the Big Blue Super Bowl this weekend!  Search no more you can rest assured that this menu is sure to please any guest, even the vegetarians, at your Super Bowl party this Sunday.   Call, email and text your friends, stock the fridge, get the chips, make this meal and enjoy the game...

GO GIANTS!

Super Bowl XLVI Menu

BBQ Pulled Turkey Biscuit Sandwiches

Express Sweet Potato Fries

Kicked Up Black Bean Cakes with Lime Topping

BBQ Pulled Turkey Biscuit Sandwiches
2 lb. Turkey London Broil
Garlic Powder

Salt / Pepper 

1 Medium Onion (sliced)
1 Bottle of BBQ Sauce
1 Bottle of Beer (Preferably a Wheat Beer Such as Sam Adams)
Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
Sliced Cheddar Cheese


Place turkey in crock pot and season with garlic powder, salt / pepper
Top turkey with sliced onions
Pour entire bottle of BBQ sauce over turkey
Pour in 3/4 of the bottle of beer
Cover and cook for 4 hours on high
After 4 hours uncover and add remaining beer
Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the turkey is cooked
through and the juices run clear
Remove from crock pot and shred
Serve on a biscuit with thinly sliced cheddar cheese melted over top


Express Sweet Potato Fries
5 Sweet Potatoes (peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch long slices)
Vegetable Oil
Salt/Pepper
Garlic Powder


Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
In a large bowl toss sweet potatoes with vegetable oil, salt/pepper and garlic powder
Place potatoes on cookie sheet in a single layer
Bake 10 minutes
Turn once and bake 10 additional minutes or until golden brown
Remove from oven
Sprinkle with salt
Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving


Kicked Up Black Bean Cakes
2 Cans Black Beans (drained and rinsed)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
6 Cloves Garlic (pressed)
1 Jalapeno (minced)
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
Salt/Pepper
1 Large Sweet Potato (peeled and coarsely grated into 2 cups)
1 Egg (beaten)
1/2 Breadcrumb
Lime Sour Cream (recipe below)
Special Equipment...Fork or Potato Masher


Heat oven broiler
In a medium skillet heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and add garlic, jalapeno and cumin
Cook till fragrant about 30 seconds
Transfer mixture to a large bowl
Add beans to mixture and mash with a fork or masher, leaving 1/4 of beans whole
Season generously with salt/pepper
Fold in sweet potato, egg and breadcrumb
Brush baking sheet with remaining olive oil
Divide into 10-12 balls of equal size and flatten into patties
Place patties on baking sheet
(Up to this point patties can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake in the oven)
Broil 4 inches from heat until golden brown about 8-10 minutes
Carefully turn patties and broil for an additional 2-3 minutes
Remove from oven and cool slightly
Top with Lime Sour Cream


Lime Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream
2 Teaspoons Fresh Lime Juice
Salt/Pepper


In a bowl combine sour cream and lime juice
Season with salt