"baked potatoes" news and stories

The dark side of cantaloupe. Photo: oskay, Flickr

• A sure-fire list of tips for picking the perfect cantaloupe.
• Want baked potatoes but don't feel like dealing with the hassle? Think ahead, bake 'em once, and then discover the lure of the twice-baked tater.
  
• San Diego's selection of slushy drinks might be slim, but here are the recipes for some of the best adult versions in watering holes around town.
• Brandy and nutmeg or Cognac and espresso milkshake, anyone? Spirited renditions of the classic milkshake.
• When a diet restricts, here's how to indulge in a creamy linguine without the heavy cream.
• Three ways to delight in your tomato love: oven-roasted, in a vinaigrette or folded into sorbet.

Getting that crisp and tasty skin on a perfectly cooked baked potato might take a while, but there's one shortcut that can get you good results really quickly.

Kate, the Accidental Hedonist, may have compiled the most comprehensive list of potato tips, tricks and how-to's that has been seen on a food blog, if not in other forms of media. Any question you had relating to potatoes can certainly be found on the list, which includes such tips as:

• Choose potatoes that are firm, smooth and fairly clean
• Storing potatoes below 40 degrees F will allow the potatoes to have a sweeter taste, yet will result in a darker look when cooked
• Oiling the skin of a baked potato prior to placing in the oven will ensure a crispy skin.
• Russet potatoes are best for baking.

The only things Kate has not included are potato recipes, but a few other blogs (including Slashfood) can step in to fill that void:

• Patatas Bravas
• Gratin Dauphinois
• Loaded Potato Skins
• Microwaved Potato Chips
• Rustic Potato Chowder

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