Menu Week, and a Simple Baked Potato Recipe

I spent the better part of the day yesterday cleaning the house, which is super fun. So when I took a break from cleaning and folding laundry to make a list of menu week ideas, I aimed solidly for the most comforting food I could think of. I came up with the following list:

Only one of the items on the list – the street tacos – is actually one of those new recipes that I promised myself that I would attempt on a weekly basis. Here’s a breakdown of the list:

1 – Baked Potatoes with pulled chicken (Recipe below)

2 – Bird Balls with homemade sauce and spaghetti squash

3 – Pizza with my buddy Jon’s handmade Italian sausage and arugula

4 – Malaysian sticky chicken wings

5 – Pulled Korean chicken tacos with various toppings, including pickled onions, ssam sauce and cotija

Below is the recipe for the first meal on the list, a super simple loaded baked potato, but if you make any of the above listed items, make sure it’s the sticky wings… they’re amazing, and they include a combination of flavors that you may not normally encounter.

Simple Loaded Baked Potatoes:

This easy recipe is one of our quick go-to meals that we tend to whip up when we either want something comforting, easy to make and/or when we run out of ideas.

Ingredients:

• 1 rotisserie chicken – meat pulled from the bones
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 cup bbq sauce
• 2 medium russet potatoes
• 4 green onions
• 1 cup shredded pepper jack (or your choice of cheese)
• Any other leftover item or random condiment that may go well on top (guacamole, bacon, salsa, tabasco, etc.)

Pull the meat from the chicken, shredding it with your fingers as you do. Toss the meat with the spices, salt and pepper, and mix the spiced chicken with the bbq sauce in a medium soup pot or frying pan.

Heat the chicken mixture over medium-low heat, mixing it periodically as you go.

As the chicken heats up, wash the potatoes and poke them all over with a fork.

Microwave the potatoes for a total of ten minutes, turning once.

In the meantime, shred the cheese and slice and prepare any toppings.

When the potatoes are done, and the chicken is warmed, slice the spuds and layer on the cheese, chicken and any other toppings that you may be using.

The whole process should take about 20 minutes or so.

I would recommend a cold beer – like a Widmer Upheaval IPA – to wash down this simple, comforting meal.

Kick back and enjoy!