By Kara Kimbrough
Columnist

For those who prefer to err on the side of caution and avoid social media, I thought this
would be a good time to share a few of the “good stuff” I’ve found:

1. Smashed, Locked and Loaded Potatoes – sure, nachos topped with ground beef,
cheese, chopped vegetables, salsa and sour cream are delicious, but let’s face it, they’ve
been around for a while. A new version – in fact, one that I took to a Super Bowl gathering
to rave reviews, is a similar dish with cooked, “smashed” potatoes as the base instead of
tortilla chips.

Boil or microwave two pounds of baby potatoes until tender, then set aside. Fry 5 slices of
bacon, drain and crumble. In a separate bowl, combine/mix 5 tablespoons olive oil,
teaspoon each of dried parsley and rosemary leaves, 1/2 teaspoon each of smoked paprika,
salt and pepper. Add potatoes to the bowl and coat well. Then pour potatoes on a foil-lined
baking sheet and using the bottom of a glass, mash (but don’t totally break apart) potatoes.
In a 425-degree oven, roast potatoes for 15 minutes, flip and roast another 15 minutes.
Watch carefully so potatoes don’t burn. Remove from oven and sprinkle with a cup of
Mexican cheese. Return to oven for another minute or two until cheese melts. Remove and
top with crumble bacon, chopped chives and sour cream.
2. 20 Minute Pasta – My love of pasta is well-documented, including in this column. So
when I find a recipe that’ll get my favorite meal on the table in no time, I have to try it.

Boil frozen or fresh ravioli (substitute another variety if you like) according to package
directions. While the pasta is boiling, coat a skillet with olive oil and brown three cloves of
chopped garlic, a diced onion, half of a chopped green pepper and a teaspoon of chili
flakes. Let this brown, then add a little oregano and basil (to taste). Finally, add a cup of
crushed tomatoes, cup of milk and 1/4 cup of ricotta cheese. Combine well and heat
through on medium-high heat. Drain and add the cooked pasta, stir and cook on medium
heat for a couple more minutes until pasta is thoroughly coated.

3. Loaded seafood bread – Nothing goes better with pasta than garlic bread. When it’s
loaded with shrimp, cheese, butter and olive oil, pasta dinner is elevated to an entirely
new hemisphere.

Boil a pound of peeled shrimp in a sauce pan with Tony Chachere’s seasoning for 3-4
minutes until pink. Drain and set aside. In another bowl, combined two sticks of room
temperature butter, two cloves of chopped garlic, a sprinkle of onion powder and chopped
fresh parsley. Stir well to combine. Cut a loaf of French bread in half lengthwise and brush both sides with olive oil. Use a knife or spatula or spread butter mixture on both sides of
the bread. Place under the oven broiler set on high until bread is crispy (just a few minutes;
watch closely so it doesn’t burn). Coarsely chop shrimp and add to both sides of the bread,
then top with shredded mozzarella or your favorite cheese. Place back under the broiler for
a couple of minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

4. Addictive snack mix – Finding a new recipe for a quick snack mix was the social media
find of the week.

Melt two sticks of butter in a skillet, then add a cup of brown sugar. stir well and cook over
low heat until butter and sugar are well blended. Bring to a boil in a large saucepan and
cook for two minutes to make a butterscotch-type sauce. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract
and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir well until mixture is well blended. Remove pan from heat and pour in a box of oyster crackers; stir to coat well. Pour mixture onto a foil-covered baking sheet and place in a 300-degree oven for 10-12 minutes. While this is baking, combine a cup of sugar with a couple of teaspoons of cinnamon and some salt (to desired taste). When crackers are removed from the oven, sprinkle with the sugar-salt-
cinnamon mixture and toss.

Last, I love homemade pizza – just not the time-consuming process of making the dough.
And store-bought crusts leave something to be desired.

Not only did I find a pizza recipe for two of my favorite things – burgers and a loaded salad with Thousand Island dressing – but I discovered that refrigerated Pillsbury Pizza Dough is easy, quick and really delicious.

And best of all, who can feel guilty about indulging in pizza when it’s topped with salad? Consider it a fun way to get your recommended vegetable serving – enjoy!

Burger and Salad Pizza
Can of Pillsbury Pizza Crust (found in the dairy case)
Olive oil
Cup of Parmesan cheese
Cup of mozzarella cheese
Pound of ground chuck, cooked, drained and crumbled
4 cups of chopped lettuce, chopped tomatoes, green peppers and other favorite salad
ingredients
Thousand Island salad dressing, to taste

Spread pizza dough into a prepared pizza pan, brush with olive oil and bake in a 400-
degree oven for 8 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of both cheeses and half of
ground beef crumbles.

Place back in oven and bake for another 6-10 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Remove and top with salad mixture, remaining ground beef and cheeses and drizzle with
Thousand Island dressing (or your favorite).

Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel columnist from Mississippi. Email her at
kkprco@yahoo.com.