Baked Potato Spread

A couple of weeks ago I hosted one of the book clubs of which I'm a part. I always find it challenging to come up with some new way of feeding my fellow readers. Sometimes the book lays out some pretty good ideas, and other times, well, you do what you can. I was creating charcuterie boards and dessert spreads way before they became the hot trend. So now, all these years later, I can't face another slice of salami with a chunk of cheese and an olive.

For August we read, Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom. A fabulous historical fiction book about a Native American woman and her white husband who had fallen in with a bad crowd. Not a real food centric read unless you're into the Native American precursor to the power energy protein bar. The book did have a few recipes in the back featuring blueberries. My co-host and I decided to make the blueberry cocktail, and it was dangerously delicious.

While vacationing in Minnesota last summer I found a cookbook by Maegan Brown, "Spectacular Spreads". This book provides some good inspiration for getting creative with party food. One of the spreads she presents is of potatoes. I decided nice medium sized potatoes would be great for a lite dinner with friends.

thebakermama.com

Spectacular Spreads Cookbook

In my new cookbook, Spectacular Spreads, we're taking it beyond the boards. With 50 spreads and over 300 recipes, I've got your special occasions covered!

I baked russet and sweet potatoes and provided a selection of toppings that went beyond the basics. Toppings included: butter, sour cream, salt & pepper, bacon, chives, cheddar cheese, blue cheese crumbles, broccoli florets, peas, Mexi-corn, salsa, marshmallows, cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecan pieces!

I blended my three handcrafted wooden boards with blue and green pieces of Fiestaware for presentation. It's always fun to find the right dishes for the occasion.

As the ladies arrived, we started with the blueberry cocktail and then moved on to building our unique potato creations. We gathered around my large farmhouse table and enjoyed our food and conversation. It was fun to see how adventuresome we got, and upon suggestion we even tried some new combinations. Trust me when I say that blue cheese is fabulous on a sweet potato!