The Internet is teeming with recipes, all claiming to be “easy,” “painless” or “under 10 minutes.”
The problem with most of these recipes is the abundance of cooking they actually involve. I realize for some people it doesn’t matter, they are glad to roll up their sleeves, pull out their spatula and get to work.
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Not all of us are wired like that though. I like to think I can cook and follow a recipe, but I don’t like having to do it. The problem with this kind of mindset is, regardless of your view on cooking, buying pre-cooked food is expensive.
Never fear, for I am here with a recipe designed to satisfy bellies and taste buds with minimal fancy tools and directions. Without further ado, I present the One-Minute Idahoan.
You get home from class and all you want to do is collapse into Netflix. Unfortunately, your belly is doing a passable imitation of a bull elk bugle and you are craving something hot and savory.
Grab two potatoes and stab them several times with a fork, this way they won’t explode later. Put them on a plate and put the plate in the microwave. Last, but not least, turn the microwave on and set it for five minutes on high. Now, go get out homework or turn on the TV.
Once the microwave is done heating comes the tricky part. Go to the fridge and grab one slice of bacon per potato. Take a paper towel and loosely wrap the bacon in it and flip both potatoes over. Take the paper towel-swaddled bacon and drape it gently across both potatoes. Finally, put the whole thing back in the microwave for another five minutes.
As it gently spins in the microwave, the bacon will leak grease. Most of it will stay contained by the paper towels, but some will soak through, down into the potatoes, filling them with fatty flavor. When the microwave finally dings its last bell, the feast should be ready.
I like to throw sour cream and butter on the potatoes, cut up the bacon and mix it together into a bacon and potato mash. Top it off with some salt and pepper and it should be good to go.
Why is this called the One-Minute Idahoan? That’s a good question. I realize this meal actually takes 10 minutes to prepare, however, for nearly all of that time the “chef” doesn’t need to be involved or even present. They simply push some buttons and flip the potatoes. They only need to pretend to cook for about one minute.
Cy Whitling can be reached at [email protected]