Hot Potato Dishes

January is the time for hearty dishes and rich ingredients. What better than a dish revolving around potatoes?These tubers work well with almost any ingredient thrown at it and gives a richness to any dinner.A potato can be a side but it can also be the star of the dinner table too. One of the easiest tater dishes is a simple baked.This works well with steak but it can also be a good meal on it's own.There's nothing as fun as a loaded baked potato,whether it's filled with chili or a mix of veggies,topped off with melted cheddar cheese.For a different and tad fancier spin try twice baked potatoes.They're easy to make ,just scooping out the insides of a baked.They're then mixed with sour cream , butter and then put back into their skins and then rebaked for 15 minutes to get a crispy top. Of course mashed potatoes are always good too.You can liven them up by adding different herbs and butter as you mash.For a heartier mash, try sprinkling in bacon bits or shredded cheddar. Sometimes potatoes can be the star of the dinner table.The Swiss dish rosti is a large pancake that can easily serve a family of four.It's also easy to whip up, making it the perfect weekend supper.It just needs potatoes that have been grated, pressed free of any moisture and then fried in either lard or butter mixed with canola oil.You can add bacon or ham to it for extra flavor.For a more elegant yet simple dish try scalloped potatoes.This is taking Russet potatoes and slicing them very thin(you can use a mandoline for this).It's then layering the slices over browned onions and butter.Cream and milk is added along with herbs such as thyme and bay leaves. Potatoes are a perfect dish for these cold,snowy days.Try them a variety of ways to enjoy their earthy goodness.Have them in the hearty rosti or the elegant scalloped for complete enjoyment.