Frugal Food: 5 things to do with a bag of potatoes

I saw a 10 lb bag of potatoes on sale for 1.99 how much cheaper can it get? I know that potatoes can have a bad rap for being carb loaded but if you keep the skin on and don’t go too crazy with the toppings you can have a nutritious and filling meal for very little money.

1. Potato salad:
4 potatoes boiled for 15 to 20 minutes and cut into cubes
4 hardboiled eggs peeled and chopped
1/2 cup of mayo, light mayo or similar substitute
1/4 cup sweet relish (optional)
2 tbsp of mustard
Garlic powder, salt, pepper to taste
Mix all together and serve warm or chill potatoes and eggs first then mix for cold potato salad

2. Oven fried potato wedges:
Heat oven to 400
5 medium potatoes cut into wedges the long way (about 8 cuts per potato)
1/4 cup olive oil or any oil you like
Garlic, salt or other spices. You can get really creative using curry powder, or herbs de province etc.
Mix all in a bowl
Spread out on a cookie sheet topped with tin foil or use non stick sheet
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, use a spatula to turn them over and bake 10 more minutes

3. Good old fashioned baked:
In the chilly season, what better excuse to warm up the kitchen?
Heat oven to 350
Rinse potatoes and poke a fork in the side a couple of times.
Bake till soft in the middle.
Top with anything! Leftover veggies, cheese, chili, black beans or whatever you have on hand. Try something new or unusual besides sour cream and bacon bits. Kids love it when you put out several options and let the family “build their own”

4. Mashed potatoes:
I know, this is obvious but it’s so easy.
6 medium potatoes
1/2 cup milk
1/2 stick of butter
Salt, pepper, garlic to taste
Boil potatoes in a large pot of water until soft. If potatoes are large, cut in half and they will cook faster.
Drain and return to pot. Mash with milk, butter, garlic, salt and pepper.
You can add other things like chives or rosemary or other spices if you like.
Note: the vegan version is pretty good. Substitute plain soy or almond milk and substitute vegan butter, a bit of olive oil or coconut milk. Just don’t use vanilla soy milk, yuck!

5. Potato skins:
4 potatoes
Olive oil
8 slices of cooked bacon cut in half the short way
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded.
Preheat oven to 350
Rinse and dry potatoes poke with a fork
Coat skin with olive oil and bake until soft
Remove from oven and cut in half lengthwise – leave oven on
Scoop out potato halves leaving a little bit attached to the skin
(save the excess potato and use for mashed potatoes)
Place potatoes, skin side down on a baking sheet
Distribute cheese into each potato half
Place two slices of bacon halves on top and bake until cheese is melted.
You can use imitation bacon bits, or soy cheese for a vegan version.

Potatoes are versatile, forgiving and easy to make. They are a great food for the budget challenged. Get creative!