Today we are continuing our budget friendly bulk cooking meal makers series for Rick’s Woodsman’s chili! This time around, a real budget stretcher, chili stuffed baked potatoes! This one is a family favorite in our house! We often make baked potatoes in bulk, whether in the slow cooker or in the oven. Then we have dinner using what we have on hand. In this case Rick’s chili! This makes a great, quick meal and along side a mixed salad, you have a complete meal that really doesn’t take time at all to throw together! This also works with other leftovers, but chili is one of the best!
I happened to bake my potatoes in the oven this time around. I always bake extra so that I can make oven home fries for later in the week for a breakfast dinner. This way there is always plenty to go around. I prep all the things we love to put on top of our chili for the stuffed potatoes in advance, that way everything is ready to go and everyone can just make their own potato the way they like it.
This time around we heated up a 2 quart container of chili which was more than enough for this meal. I shredded some cheddar cheese, chopped some onion and put out some sour cream. We also enjoy salsa and either chopped avocado or homemade guacamole in our stuffed potatoes as well. Depending on whether or not we have them on hand. A baked potato is great with just salsa and guac! Delicious!
You should use what you love on chili to make these. Some people like to mix in some corn or even chopped olives to their chili or have those on the side for fixins. You are the master of your stuffed potatoes and you should make them your own.
Some of you may or may not know that my first, “real world” job was working at Wendy’s Hot and Juicy Hamburgers (yes we had to answer the phone that way). I had to wear a blue and white striped smock that zipped up the front as well as a, oh, so fashionable puffy driving cap that coordinated with my smock. Those were the days! When I started in the summer of 1983 they were just introducing their “hot stuffed potatoes” The theme was “hot stuff”. They made the girls wear these silly see through visors that had a battery pack so they lit up with marquee lights across the brim. Boy I miss those! NOT! The only thing worse was having to be chosen to dress up as Wendy and stand on the street driving traffic into the store. UGH!
Anyway, the baked potatoes were a huge hit. They had a great system for getting them ready and a great system for preparing them on the line. I am one of those people who can appreciate a great line in a restaurant, after having worked in them for many years. The potatoes were available with sour cream and chives, cheese, broccoli and cheese and of course chili and cheese, with their famous chili. Later they introduced chicken a la king and beef stroganoff stuffed potatoes which were also a big hit, but they did not last more than a couple of years, food cost being what they were.
The one thing I still employ, to this day with regard to baked potatoes is the Wendy’s way of opening one up. They had a special tool, but I use a fork at home. Pierce the potato long ways using the fork all the way down the length in a straight line. The use both hands and pinch the potato open. Then use your fork gain to “fluff” the potato inside. This will get it ready to receive the toppings and have them become one with the potato. It’s a simple thing, but it can make all the difference!
So stay tuned for more “mealmakers” with Rick’s Woodsman Chili. If you missed his recipe video you can find it here on his channel: http://bit.ly/2nNVith
If you would like to get the recipe for his chili you can find it here: http://bit.ly/1xsBeMD
I hope you enjoyed this video and meal maker idea for our bulk cooking chili edition! I hope you give these ideas a try and make your budget stretch through bulk cooking!
Happy Eating!
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