Potato Boats

If you never had potato boats as a kid, you've been deprived! This recipe makes a fun meal that even adults will enjoy. There are several variations of this recipe and many different ingredients you could add, but I kept it pretty basic this time.

Potato Boats
6-8 all beef hot dogs
5-6 medium potatoes (baked)
2 T. butter
scant 3/4 c. milk
1-2 c. grated cheese
salt & pepper

If you don't have baked potatoes already, here is a quick way to "bake" them: scrub them and place them in a plastic grocery bag. Fold over the top and microwave for 5-10 minutes. Check for doneness with a fork and cook more as needed.

Cut cooked potatoes in large chunks and put in bowl. Add butter and milk and mash until sufficiently smashed (at this point you could add minced garlic, rosemary, green onions, crumbled bacon...whatever you want to make them original!) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Warm hot dogs in a skillet just until heated through.

Place warm hot dogs on a cookie sheet and split lengthwise.

Scoop some mashed potatoes on each hot dog.

Then top with grated cheese.Heat under a low broiler until cheese is melty.
These are the hot dogs that I've been buying lately. They are SO good. Oscar Mayer makes an incredible beef hot dog. If you're not a fan of this brand, shop around til you find one you like.
Anyway, I hope this recipe takes you back to when you were a kid. Enjoy!