These smashed potatoes are easy and so good you need to be sure to have at least 4 per person.  The recipe below serves 2 people – maybe!!  We found this “Hot Steve” salt at William-Sonoma in the Ponce de Leon Market on the belt line in Atlanta.  It has a spicy chili flavor and was made right in Atlanta.  The garlic olive oil is from the Kalamazoo Olive Oil Shop located in our hometown, St. Petersburg, FL.  Purchasing a few local ingredients while you travel turns a normal recipe into something special!

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Garlic and Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 298kcal

Ingredients

• 8 small honey gold potatoes
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• spicy salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425°.
• Place potatoes in a pot and cover with salted cold water.
• Boil potatoes until done, about 20 minutes.
• Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Place cooked potatoes on parchment paper and smash with the bottom of a juice glass.
• Mix garlic and olive oil (if not using garlic oil) and brush the tops of each potato.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes, until crunchy.
• Remove from oven and sprinkle grated cheese over each potato. Serve warm.

Have you ever bought fresh herbs for a recipe and you have some left over, but aren’t sure what to do with them?  This recipe is a simple, fresh, and tasty solution to using herbs before they go to waste.

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Penne Pasta with Fresh Herbs

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 12 ounces penne pasta plain, spinach, any flavor
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tsp olive oil
• 4 large cloves of garlic minced
• 1 cup minced fresh herbs - any combination such as dill and basil
• kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Cook penne according to package directions and drain.  Place in a large pasta bowl.
• While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil over medium heat.     
• When warm, add garlic and stir for 2 minutes.
• Finally, add the fresh herbs and stir until slightly wilted, about 30 seconds.
• Pour sauce over pasta and season with salt and pepper.
• Add parmesan cheese and stir.
• Place additional grated parmesan cheese on table to pass around.

Notes

You can add sliced sundried tomatoes or poached chicken to this dish for a little variety.

Serve with a simple salad and a sliced baguette.