It’s the first official day of summer! Let’s celebrate with a dance around the maypole!
Brain’s Better Half: “Uh, M.? This isn’t King Arthur’s court. Perhaps these lords and ladies would prefer to celebrate with something a little more timely?”
M.: OK. How about a recipe for some spicy baby potatoes that are the perfect side dish for your next cookout and a GIVEAWAY?”
Brain’s Better Half: “Sounds great!”
I just love potatoes – I really do. And spicy potatoes are even better.
These baby potatoes caught my eye, well, because they’re cute. So I decided to Hasselback them, season them up and roast the heck out of them… just delish.
In case you aren’t familiar with Hasselback potatoes, they’re simply potatoes that are prepared by making a series of deep parallel slits along the top of the potato, but not all the way through, the idea being that they’ll cook more quickly and be more open (pardon the pun) to any seasoning and/or dressing you might want to apply.
Don’t be nervous about Hasselbacking small potatoes – it just requires a sharp knife and a little concentration. In other words, you probably shouldn’t be tweeting while you’re Hasselbacking your baby potatoes. Take it from me. I tried and ended up with a big Hasselback fail on my hands. We’re talking Hasselbacking and Hasselfronting. Best to leave the tweeting to after the potatoes are in the oven.
What I really love about these potatoes is that they’re perfectly sized for each bite to contain just the right amount of crunchy, spicy roasted potato skin AND soft, golden potato insides. It’s the golden potato ratio! Everyone will applaud and dance around the maypole in your honor when you serve them alongside burgers, summer chicken salad, grilled fish, or other delightful veggies.
And just to get you even more excited about these potatoes, I’m sharing with one lucky winner a collection of goodies from Melissa’s Produce!
That’s right, the lucky winner of this giveaway will score a prize package that includes the following:
- One (1) 6 oz. package of red quinoa;
- One (1) 6 oz. package of farro;
- One (1) 6 oz. package of freekeh (naturally roasted green wheat);
- One (1) 1.5 lb. bag of ruby gold potatoes;
- One (1) 8 oz. box of baby beets;
- One (1) 17.63 box of lentils;
- And one (1) gorgeous hardcover cookbook from Melissa’s that’s chock full of delicious ideas for cooking and baking with organic produce.
So what are you waiting for?
To enter to win this prize pack from Melissa’s Produce simply leave a comment on this blog post telling me what your favorite type of produce is.
To earn extra entries to win you can follow me on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and leave separate comments telling me that you’ve done so.
To earn even more entries you can Tweet or post on Facebook the following message and leave separate comments telling me that you’ve done so:
I just entered to win a Produce Lover’s prize pack from @MelissasProduce & @ScarlettaBakes! You can enter to win here: http://tinyurl.com/cc4o6kw
This giveaway closes at 12:00 a.m. PST, Thursday, June 28, 2012. One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win one (1) Melissa’s Produce prize pack as described above. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours from notification to claim their prize. Sorry, international friends: this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Good luck! Now go make some Baby Ancho Hasselback Potatoes and then take a twirl around the maypole!
UPDATE: This giveaway has ended and Lynna H. is the lucky winner! Thank you for all of your entries!
Baby Ancho Hasselback Potatoes
1 1/2 lbs. baby Dutch yellow potatoes
1 tbsp. ancho chile, ground
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt, finely ground
1 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1 tsp. cumin, ground
2 tbsp. peanut oil (any light oil may be substituted)
shredded queso fresco to finish (Optional)
Preheat oven to 400°.
Prepare the potatoes Hasselback style by making a series of parallel slices along the top of the potato that do not go all the way through the potato. I have read tutorials on preparing baby Hasselback potatoes that suggest placing the potato in a tablespoon before you cut into it, thus preventing yourself from slicing all the way through. I did not find this technique to be necessary and, in fact, found it challenging to balance the spoon while simultaneously cutting through the potato. I recommend just holding the potato firmly and cutting carefully and slowly down into the potato.
Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl and toss with oil, ancho, salt, cumin and black pepper – don’t fret if some of the seasoning and oil settles at the bottom of the bowl. You just want each potato to be well-coated. You can also gently pull the potatoes apart at the cuts and spread a little of the leftover seasoned oil inside the potatoes.
Place the potatoes, cut-side up, on a nonstick baking pan and roast for 40 minutes. Finished potatoes will be crisp, darkened and fragrant. Remove, top with optional cheese garnish and serve immediately.
YIELD: approximately 4-6 servings
Delicious! I’m going to make some now.
So glad “Famous Idaho Potatoes shared this link – I will be making this scrumptious recipe for the 4th of July bbq!
I have to have onions~
Just liked your Facebook page, the recipes look amazing. My favorite produce is fresh tomatoes. It is a challenge to get my husband to eat healthy, so I’m looking forward to trying your recipes!! thanks.
I like you on Facebook and I love sweet potatoes/yams!!!
I’m now a fan of Scarletta Bakes on Facebook!
Fresh raspberries!
I’m a fan of Scarletta Bakes on Facebook.
My favorite depends on the season. Right now I’m loving fresh berries.
Sweet potatoes! There are so many delicious ways to cook them!
I seriously could not live without onions and garlic. Especially roasted on the grill with some oo and s&p. Mmmm!
I followed you on Twitter!
I love figs picked straight from the tree, they’re so amazing, and nothing is more satisfying than picking something off a tree and enjoying it, still warm from the sun with the breeze blowing on you.
I just became a child again typing that out.
What a great post & giveaway.
Strawberries are my absolute favorite!
Fresh Corn On The Cob — grilled
peaches!!
I just tweeted!
https://twitter.com/appleadayblog/status/217321179910897664
Only one type of produce, oh my…that’s a challenge. I suppose I’d have to say apples, but that’s a really tough one!
Right now my favorites are watermelon and jicama!
It’s virtually impossible to pick a favorite type of produce, but I really love tomatoes and berries!! And basically whatever is in season and super fresh… fresh produce = heaven.
Following you on Twitter!
Following you on FB!
I know it won’t sound original or anything, but my fav produce is potatoes. I could eat them everyday! Love your ancho hasselbacks! Something I wanted to try for a while now…
It would be too much effort to send it to me, but anyway I like your potatoes. I love potatoes for years. I’ll like you on fb, because your blog is very interesting.
I follow you on twitter!
I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/patis2000/status/216488816171687936
I like you on facebook!
I love tropical produce like mango or papaya!
I follow you on Twitter!
Spicy potatoes are awesome! I don’t trust myself enough with a knife to make these, though. And as for my favorite produce, do I have to pick just one? If I have to, it’d be fresh carrots from the farmers market.
Brussel Sprouts are my fav! So yummy raw or roasted.
Has to be spinach and lettuce! I have tried hasselbacks once and it was in our smoker. Wouldn’t recommend smoked potatoes. These, however, look quite tasty!
I TWEETED
https://twitter.com/MsCarolsueA/status/216103841874198528
I shared on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MsCarolsueA/posts/382690135121406
I follow you on Twitter.
I like you on Facebook.
I love most all veggies, but I think mushrooms and asparagus are my favorites
Avocados!
I love summer fruit!
Absolutely positively tomatoes!
I love love love garden fresh yellow tomatoes!
My favorite produce would have to be avacados!
i love golden beets and kale.ohhh don’t forget brussel sprouts with bacon heheheh. i used to hate veggies. now i eat the healthies superfoods
I shared on facebook https://www.facebook.com/meredith.montgomery.98/posts/126992267440168
tweeted https://twitter.com/mermont84/status/215982437782650881
i follow you on twitter!
I like you on facebook
I love fresh figs and basil! yeah summer!!!
Just made this with new, local spuds and they were beyond tasty! Thanks for the new approach to potatoes. My favorite produce is hard to narrow down. Like other posters I think there is a whole lot to choose from but I have more than a slight rhubarb obsession. I dream about it and never tire of that unique taste and texture.
Nothing better than a crispy potato!
Favorite produce–local and something I haven’t tried before. Some new-to-me produce …irois, red rain, Japanese eggplant…Love the farmer’s market!
I tweeted the giveaway!
I follow you on twitter
I follow you on facebook
Oh my goodness, I have SO many favorites when it comes to produce, (corn on the cob, red and yellow beets, spinach, peaches,) …..there is hardly one I don’t like. If I have to choose one, I would say sweet potatoes….just love them! I will definitely be making these Hasselbeck potatoes for sure, they look SUPERB!!!
How to choose!? I guess mangoes. But I want to also say kale and brussels sprouts and broccoli and blueberries…
I follow you on Facebook!
I love tomatoes!! Roast them in the winter and eat them fresh in the summer!
I’m a fan on Facebook!
There’s so many to choose from!! I would have to choose watermelon, especially during this 90 degree northeast summer! I would love to win this giveaway — how generous!
Favorite produce…..that would be like picking a favorite child….
Looks like an awesome side!
Man, that’s a hard choice! Beets? Asparagus? Kale? Peaches? Yeah, fresh peaches. Or strawberries. I’ll stop now.
I absolutely love kale! It’s so versatile and it never dies inside of my fridge. Soups, salads, quick sautés and’ chips. Just lovely!
Asparagus, hands down. Lots of butter. That’s all it takes!
Love me some tomatoes!
I follow you on FB
I like something different for every season! But I would say right now Mango, avocado, lime, strawberries and spinach I get them everytime I go to the store!!
I posted a link about the giveaway on my Facebook page.
I follow you on Facebook.
I just can’t get enough tomatoes in the summer!! I wait all winter long for those babies to come in season and then I use them in EVERYTHING. My favorite produce for sure.
already follow on fb
arugulaaa
I like you on Facebook
My favorite type of produce at the moment is spinach!
I shared your message on Facebook.
I like you on Facebook!
My favorite produce is grilled Asparagus!!!! Yummy
If i had to pick just one… kale!
i tweeted – https://twitter.com/onitnaram/status/215763330642620417
i like you on facebook
i follow you on Twitter
my favorite produce is red cabbage
My favorite produce is potatoes… and spinich…. And just about any kind of squash… Why should I be limited to just one when it’s all so good lol
I tweeted this giveaway
I follow you on twitter
I follow you on FB.
my favorite produce…lemons? potatoes? tomatoes? ONE OF THESE! I can`t choose!!
LIked you on facebook!
These little potatoes are adorable! I’ve seen potatoes prepared this way, but never had the term hasselback to with it…now I know:)
My favorite produce…that’s a tough one! Right now I’m loving blackberries! Just picked some this morning!
Absolutely love your blog! I use disposable wooden chopsticks when making a lot of these potatoes. The chopsticks are kind of square so they don’t roll around on your cutting board, once set you can just slap the potatoes in and out, and they prevent even a distracted cook from making the cuts wrong.
Like you on facebook.
Following you on twitter.
Love tomatoes! These potatoes look wonderful!
My favorite is eggplant!
I want to try hasselback, but I’m scared I lack in the concentration part.
My favorite produce? Hmm… probably avocado. Because I’ll put it on anything!
I love cucumbers and tomatoes..
love anything from a garden!!!!!
Sweet corn! No, maybe fresh peaches. Hmmm…strawberries? New potatoes. That’s it…ok. Clearly, I like fresh produce way too much.
Aaaand I tweeted about this!
Twitter stalker!
Facebook fan!
Fresh fruit. I think maybe peaches…or blueberries…no, definitely strawberries…or pineapple…………..
I follow you on Facebook.
I follow you on Twitter.
I can never have enough arugula.
I love fresh cucumbers in a sour cream dressing Scandinavian style…
Already a FB fan!
Cucumbers…. Love them!
I love fresh tomatoes and snap beans straight from the garden
Hey. I’ve got a trick that works better than the spoon. Use a pair of disposable chopsticks. Put one on either side of the potato and cut all the way til you touch the chopsticks… You can’t cut all the way through!! Enjoy.
I love potatoes too, more than chocolate!
And I follow you on Facebook.
O.M.G. Am I a stalker?
And…I already follow you on Twitter!
I think my favorite produce is asparagus. No….broccoli! Wait, no, lemons! No, that’s not right…artichokes! Dang it! I think all produce is my favorite. Being a vegematarian, it would be silly to not like something…but my LEAST favorite produce is green peppers. Too bitter. All other peppers? Perfect.
Please send me produce. I will gobble it up. I’ll even cook it first. Maybe.
I love beets ! They are so easy to roast and are always so delicious ! Extra salt please !