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Soup's On: Baked Potato Soup

Lauren Hendrickson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:32:31 PST

There's nothing as comforting as a big bowl of soup on a cold Winter night, especially one that tastes just like a baked potato! If you happened to be baking a couple potatoes for dinner already, throw a couple more in the oven so you can make this amazingly delicious soup.
Once you have your potatoes baked (I find it easiest while the potatoes are baking to bake the bacon in the oven at the same time), it takes no time to put the soup together, just caramelized leeks and a blender to smooth the texture. You can blend the whole potato and the skin, but I like to cube about a quarter of the potato to add a little more texture. Top your soup with all of your favorite baked potato condiments like chives, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and bacon bits. Each bite will warm your soul, so keep reading for the recipe!

Easy Winter Salad: French Lentils With Potatoes

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:39:16 PST

All of the richness that comes with the month of December is wonderful and delicious, but some days I just need a break from it all. I still want something filling and flavorful that will satisfy me. That's where legumes come into play for me – specifically, lentils. This salad incorporates classic French flavors, including whole grain mustard, onions, carrots, parsley, and french lentils. I added steamed potatoes because I wanted the salad to be slightly more substantial and have variation of texture, but this is definitely optional.

This salad is much, much better cold and on the second day when the flavors have had a chance to party together overnight in a refrigerator. It makes for a great protein-packed lunch, and you'll find yourself craving it all hours of the day. For the recipe, keep reading.

Beyond Mashed Potatoes: 10 Ways With Spuds

Susannah Chen — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:04:06 PST

Potatoes are a starch available year-round, but with rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, and yams taking root, there's no better time than now to enjoy the good old spud as well. How should you use them? Well, if you had more than enough mashed potatoes over Thanksgiving, try eating potatoes a different way. Here are a bunch of our favorite ideas.

Use Up Your Russets With a Cheesy Mashed Potato Bake

YumSugar — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:11:53 PST

If you find yourself drowning in russet potatoes after Thanksgiving – I know I usually tend to buy way too much – fret not. Here's a creative way to use them up. Mash them, and then bake them with a cheesy, breadcrumb crust for a crunchy, creamy, and indulgent dish. You can also use any leftover mashed potatoes you have from your holiday feast and just skip a few of the recipe steps! Keep on going for the recipe!

Add a Cheesy Twist to Your Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes!

YumSugarTV — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:27:29 PST

Want something a little more sinful on your Thanksgiving table this year? For a creamier version of your favorite spuds, add flavor and richness with goat or manchego cheese mix-ins! They're sure to be an addictive addition to your holiday feast. Watch the video to see how it's done.

Take a Trip to Spain With Patatas Bravas

Lauren Hendrickson — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:20:04 PDT

If you've visited Spain, chances are, you've sampled patatas bravas. They're a standard tapa at just about every restaurant: a fried, bite-sized piece of potato, that's smothered in a slightly spicy paprika- and mayonnaise-based sauce. I fell in love with the simplicity of the dish years ago, but only recently tried to re-create this classic dish in my own kitchen.

Traditionally, the potato pieces are deep fried, but I skipped the frying to keep this tapas recipe a touch healthier, and so my house wouldn't smell like a fast food joint. Instead, I achieved a crisp and golden potato using a hot oven and potatoes coated in olive and canola oils.

While the spuds cooked, I made the dipping sauce, which is a piece of cake if you employ the food processor. To present this dish, either drizzle the sauce over the potatoes, or serve it as a finger food, with a plate of golden potatoes and the sauce in a small bowl on the side. Get ready for a taste of Spain when you read more.

Summer of Salads: Potato Salad

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:16:26 PDT

There are thousands of potato salad variations out there, but sometimes nothing beats good, old-fashioned classic potato salad. You know what kind I'm talking about: the potato salad that's coated in a creamy mayonnaise dressing and dotted with hard-boiled eggs.

Sure, you can pick it up at every grocery store and deli in America, but why not whip up a large batch of it at home? This recipe is straightforward: you boil some potatoes and toss them with a bunch of chopped veggies and a mayo-mustard sauce.

Although capers aren't a traditional ingredient, their salty, briny quality is welcomed in this salad. Prepare it a day in advance, so the potato salad has plenty of time to chill. For my favorite recipe, keep reading.

Sprouting Taters: Eat ‘Em or Chuck ‘Em?

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:24:08 PDT

I am obsessed with sweet potatoes. Steam them, bake them, grill them, or mash them, and I will eat them. When I went to grab a couple to roast in the oven, I was shocked to find that one of my taters had sprouted, and not just tiny little white eyes - there was a full blown plant emerging from the skin. Before cutting into the orange flesh to prepare for dinner I stopped to think- is it safe to eat potatoes that have sprouted this much?

Keep reading to find out if sprouted spuds should be cooked or tossed.

Do Ads For Veggies Make You Want to Buy Them?

Leta Shy — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:50:31 PDT

Avocados have starred on The Biggest Loser, baby carrots got a junk food-esque makeover, and now, potatoes may be the next vegetable to be in the spotlight.

Following the news that all forms of potatoes play a big role in weight gain, the Idaho Potato Association wants to let us know that there are, in fact, benefits to eating the tuber. New commercials will start airing soon to let us know the role potatoes play in heart health. In fact, potatoes contain high amounts of potassium, which studies have shown may help lower blood pressure and is essential for regulating heart beat.

Are you ever swayed by marketing messages about the benefits of vegetables, or do you arm yourself with nutrition information another way?

Savory Sight: Grilled Fingerling Potatoes

Yum Community — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:12:19 PDT

Everything tastes better when cooked on the grill - including fingerling potatoes! Thanks for the inspiration Dice215.
A great side dish for anything from chicken, burgers, steak, you name it!

Want to check out the recipe? You can find it on her blog. Have you got an amazing photo to share? Upload it to the YumSugar Community now!