the potato zone

Saturday morning, HGR was like “I want a big plate of anything BUT potatoes” and also “I don’t WANT to fight Dancing Green.” So, that’s how the potato diet (and raid tier) is going.

Going to collect all the potato recipes here. Seasonings listed are a bit arbitrary (aka whatever I used on that occasion, but I might use something else next time). 

Twice-baked potatoes (made on 5/3/25)

1. Wash potatoes. Poke holes in them with a fork, then microwave for 6-8 minutes. (Medium-small potatoes are preferred, because they microwave more evenly.)
2. Slice each potato in half.
3. For each potato half: Scoop out the inside, keeping the potato jacket intact. Season with butter, Memphis rub, and brown butter garlic powder. Mix/mash, still inside the potato jacket.
4. Air fry at 375 degrees for 7 minutes.

Mashed potatoes (made on 5/7/25)

1. Wash 6 potatoes. Cut into quarters and put them in a large pyrex bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 10 minutes.
2. Remove from microwave and let sit for five minutes (still covered).
3. In a separate bowl, mix ¾ cup milk, ¼ cup butter, salt, pepper, brown butter garlic powder, and old bay seasoning.
4. Microwave milk mixture at 3 minutes on medium power.
5. Uncover potatoes, mash them, and mix with milk mixture.

edit (5/20): That’s a lot of butter. Instead of that much butter, you can substitute 1 tbsp butter + ¼ cup light sour cream. Also, at the end, you can add (stir in) diced green onion.

edit (5/21): Another great mix-in: sauteed mushrooms.

Egg boats (made on 5/12/25)

I tried this thing where you microwave a potato, slice it in half, scoop out the insides (to be made into mashed potatoes), crack an egg into each potato skin, season, and air fry. The consensus was that it was more trouble than it was worth, and I might as well just make regular mashed potatoes with eggs as a side. Also it didn’t help that I undercooked the potatoes.