Recipe(tried): Page's Baked Potato Pileup / Micha's Baked Potato Bar (repost)

Sonya --

The idea of baked potato buffet dinners has been posted a number of times here on the Recipe Link. I think this is a great party idea. It is one of my favorites.

Your presentation can be as fancy or as casual as you wish. It is not only FUN but it also allows people with special dietary needs (weight-loss diets, vegetarians, diabetics, gluten-free, etc.) to make up their own plate according to their wishes.

You can also serve your own salad bar with chopped greens and a variety of dressings. Guests can embellish their salads as they wish using the same condiments you provide for the potatoes.

You can serve what you want for dessert. If you decide to stay with the "build you own" theme, you might consider ice cream with lots of nuts, fruits, and syrups available.
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BAKED POTATO PILE UP
Originally posted by Page/MI

Bake enough russett potatoes for everyone in your crowd.. plus a few extra. Serve these baked potatoes on a good-looking platter, piled high AND

serve many condiments with which your guests can embelish their own taters... including

chopped onions
shredded cheeses (many varieties)
include some vegetarian cheese
chopped ham
chopped cooked chicken
bacon bits
chopped veggie burger (for vegetarians)
sour cream
butter
chili
any other chopped veggies you want
use your imagination... no limits

Each guest can create their own masterpiece. Also, this can be a complete meal for any vegetarians who might attend your event.

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Posted by Micha in AZ 12/29/2004

Last night we did our first real entertaining since September. It felt so good to set a pretty holiday table and cook for friends! With my new dietary restrictions along with one of our friends being a vegetarian I chose to serve a Bake Potato Bar.

I washed large white baking potatoes (and a couple sweet taters) and sprayed them lightly with Pam, sprinkling them with salt. I baked them for about 1 1/4 hours at 400 degrees F. and served them on a pretty platter surrounded with bowls of warm:

Garbanzo beans
Baked Beans
Taco flavored TVP (textured vegetable protein)
Slivered shallots sauted in homemade veggie broth
Roasted garlic cloves
Steamed broccoli
Mushrooms sauted in homemade veggie broth

And bowls of:
Slived raw spinach
Fat Free Sour Cream
Fat Free plain yogurt
Sliced green onions
Canned French Fried Onion Rings
Soy Bacon Bits
Fat Free shredded Mozarella
Low Fat shredded Sharp Cheddar
Diced red and green bell pepper
Purchased Red Pepper tapenade
Butter