When it looks like there’s absolutely no option other than cooking dinner on either the barbecue or the sidewalk — and how could it not, given the beyond-belief, record-breaking heat streak that’s landed on us lately — what’s for dinner, then?
Burgers, brats or dogs, steaks, chops, chicken, fish … but what about the potatoes? Never mind that we’re all bonkers about Nancy Wilson’s fingerling potatoes, would any marginally still-sane cook even briefly consider flipping a switch on stovetop or oven right now?
No, no, no, no and no. Not hardly. Still, potatoes in one form or another go well with just about everything, so here’s a recipe with practically no in-kitchen, heat-generating cooking required. And what little there is, the nuker handles in just a couple of minutes.
Let’s thanks the Idaho Potato Commission for sending the how-to for this potential lifesaver our way:
Grilled crispy Idaho potato wedges
2 large baking potatoes (12 to 14 ounces each)
½ cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Bake (when it’s cool enough to use the oven) or microwave the potatoes until almost cooked. Cut the partially cooked potatoes lengthwise into 4 wedges each for a total of 8 wedges.
In a bowl, combine the mustard, olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper; coat the wedges with the mustard mixture.
Preheat a barbecue grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grill surface. Arrange the potato wedges on the grill and cover. Cook about 10 to 15 minutes, checking every 5 minutes, turning the wedges to brown on all sides, until potatoes are tender and crispy. Makes 8 wedges.
SOS: Let’s start digging through our recipe collections, Forum finders, because some readers desperately need our help. …
“I have depended on The Herald for so many years,’’ one of the group writes, “and now I need one more favor. There used to be a Dr. Cookie cookie recipe quite a few years ago, probably in the 1980s. They were healthy cookies, and I’ve even seen them — three to a package — on Alaska Airlines food trays.
“”We are residents at an assisted living facility, and we need a good nutritious recipe. I’m an 85-year-old, white-haired lady who needs help. All of us are over at least 80 years or so, and many of us use walkers and wheel chairs. We need a good healthy cookie!’’
Winding up, our silver-haired sweetie adds, “My memory isn’t so good any more, but I am sure that such a recipe exists. Thank you for any help.’’
If you can share this particular cookie recipe, please write to Judyrae Kruse at the Forum, c/o The Herald, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206. As you surely do know, we are always happy to receive your contributions and requests, but please remember that all letters and e-mail must include a name, complete address with ZIP code and telephone number with area code. No exceptions and sorry, but no response to e-mail by return e-mail; send to kruse@heraldnet.com.
The next Forum will appear in Monday’s Time Out section.
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