Nice New Spring Potatoes

          

I’ve come across several recipes for baked new potatoes recently. You don’t usually think of baking new potatoes, but it’s a good way to cook them. Here are a couple of recipes for new potatoes.

Southwestern Twice Baked New Potatoes

1 1/2 lb. new potatoes
2 to 3 tblsp. olive oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
1 package (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup minced green onion
1 tsp. chopped cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped chilies – mild or hot. You choose.

Directions:
Pierce potatoes; rub skins with oil. Place in a baking pan. Bake, uncovered at 400 deg. for 50 minutes or until tender. Allow to cool to the touch. In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream, Cheddar, cream cheese, onions, chilies, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper. Cut potatoes in half; carefully scoop out pulp, leaving a thin shell. Add pulp to the cheese mixture and mash. Stuff potato shells. Broil for 7-8 minutes or until heated through.

Roasted Potato and Vegetable Salad

2 lb. red potatoes cut into 1/2-inch cubes  
2 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into thin slices  
2 medium carrots, diagonally sliced  
1 small red onion, cut into wedges  
1 cup bottled Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing  

Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss vegetables with dressing. Spoon into shallow roasting pan.  
Bake 50 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.  Best served at room temperature.

Feta Potato Salad
This recipe calls for boiled new potatoes, but if you’re heating the oven for another reason you could bake them for about 45 minutes, cool them and then quarter them.

2 lb. small red potatoes, quartered  
2/3 cup bottled or homemade Italian Dressing  
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Feta Cheese with Garlic & Herb, crumbled  
1 medium red pepper, chopped  
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped  
1/2 cup sliced green onions  

Cook potatoes in boiling water 15 min. or just until tender; drain. Place in large bowl.  
Add remaining ingredients; mix lightly. Cover.  
Refrigerate several hours or until chilled. Stir before serving.