First steps are to wash and slice your russet potatoes in half. Next, you lather both sides with olive oil. I recommend pouring some of your best olive oil in a ramekin and letting it sit with minced garlic before applying. You can sprinkle a bit of salt and put them in the oven as is for half hour (my mother-in-law taught me this quick, basic and flavorful way to bake potatoes).

We like our meat to be organic and that costs quite a bit. Our solution? We buy very little meat and when we do cook with it, we use morsels. So bacon is kept frozen in our house and when needed for a stew or something like this, I just cut a few slices widthwise. This way we always enjoy quality meat and in moderation. It works for our family– make huge holiday meals a well celebrated occasion. What do I tell the kids? We eat to live, we don’t live to eat.

If you are a vegetarian, add your grated cheese of choice and sprinkle chives or anything else herbally fragrant.

If you’re going for the kill (sorry, I couldn’t resist), top your potatoes with those prepared bacon slices). Place it in the 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes.

MMmmm. Enjoy!