A Great Potato Any Way You Slice It!

I saw this potato recipe in a magazine and unfortunately didn't save it but since it was really simple, I can recall most of the ingredients and details.

This is an impressive side for company and can partially be made 
ahead with the topping added for a quick turn in the oven to roast and melt.  


Use skim products wherever possible to keep calories low. 

Ingredients:

• large 'new' potatoes but you can also use Yukon Gold 
• butter (or low calorie spread) 
• Parmesan cheese grated 
• cheddar cheese grated (used skim here, works just as well) 
• fresh parsley, chopped 
• salt 
• pepper

Directions:

• Steam the potatoes early in the day. (Notice I didn't microwave them because I now know that microwaving kills the nutrients in vegetables. See post about vegetables) When they're soft slice 3/4 of the way through at about 1/8 inch intervals with a sharp knife. 
• While the potatoes are still warm, put 1 teaspoon of butter on each and let it melt through the slices.
• Cover the potatoes and just before serving, heat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
• Top each potato with a heaping tablespoon of Parmesan, then cheddar. 
• Lightly drizzle olive oil on top and bake for about 15-20 minutes till potatoes are golden and cheese melted.

Note: This might work well on the barbecue with the potatoes and ingredients wrapped in tin foil. I might try that this weekend and will let you know how it tastes. 

A Few Facts About the Potato

This is my second potato recipe and I just wanted to share some misnomers about this vegetable from someone who is an almost professional dieter! 


Potatoes are moderate in calories, non-fattening, filling and are loaded with nutrients. 

Potatoes have fiber so they help in digestion and also lower cholesterol. 


Phytochemicals in potatoes include flavanoids and a recently identified compound called kukoamine that appears to help lower blood pressure.  With the exception of vitamin A, white potatoes have just about every nutrient including vitamin C. 


Most of the vitamin C is lost due to the heat of cooking unfortunately. In addition, one baked potato offers about 20 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin B6, which is good news for your heart. 


They are also very high in potassium, much more than any other potassium-rich food. They are a good source of iron and copper, too. 


In fact, a potato a day really is good for your heart and helps promote 

normal blood-pressure levels. 


A normal-to-large size potato has about 280 calories. 

Reference: 

http://home.howstuffworks.com/potatoes3.htm

Tomorrow: Finishing A Frame Project