Bring Them A Baked Potato Bar

MAUREEN WITMER

A few weeks ago, I learned of a sudden need in our neighborhood. I knew I wanted to do something to help the affected family, but didn't know what because it was such short notice. When I looked in our pantry and saw a 5 pound bag of potatoes it came to me - a baked potato bar.

A baked potato bar is a surefire, crowd-pleasing meal. It's a perfect choice to take to others because it's

Totally customizable. You can be assured that everyone will be fed and happy since your recipients have the freedom to assemble it according to their individual taste.
Easy to double. Most potatoes are sold in large 5-10 pound bags, so it's an easy dinner to have ready for your family plus another.
Easy to transport. I transported the potatoes in a gallon size ziplock bag and some of the toppings in small plastic sandwich bags. The fewer containers someone needs to return, the better.
Allergy-friendly. Potatoes are naturally gluten-free and so are many of the yummy topping options. It's a little trickier to make this meal dairy-free, but there are plenty of butter and sour cream alternatives out there. If you're taking a meal to a vegetarian, skip the meat and double up on veggies.

For my meal, I preheated the oven to 425 degrees and lined a baking sheet with parchment paper. After I thoroughly washed and dried my potatoes, I poked a few holes in each one, rubbed them with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. After 45-60 minutes in the oven they were perfect- crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. I sent my potatoes along with crumbled bacon, roasted broccoli, sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese. You could do any variety of toppings such as chives, shredded pork, bbq sauce, salsa, black beans and/or corn. I sent along these refreshing lemon bars for dessert. The family was grateful for the help and I was grateful to be able to do something in a pinch.

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