Category Archives: Holidays

Potatoes for Papa: Perfect Recipes to Celebrate Father’s Day

By Farm Fresh Direct | Tuesday, June 11th, 2013 | Cooking, Holidays, Potatoes | 0 Comments

Festive Potato Tapas

Did Father’s Day sneak up on you? It’s coming up this Sunday, June 16th, and what better way to celebrate dad than with a delicious, hearty Father’s Day meal?

We love papas around here, and we don’t just mean dads. Papas is Spanish for potatoes, so bust out those tasty spuds and get ready to put together a mouth-watering Father’s Day feast! Cooking for dad can be a little bit tricky, but we’ve got you covered with a fancy spin on some down-home fare that’s perfect for papa.

Dad’s usually the one manning the grill, so for Father’s Day why not give him a break and show off your own grillin’ skills? If you’re new to the grill, don’t worry. Just one of the dishes below is grilled. The rest you can prep in advance, so you can spend time with dad, not in the kitchen.

Instead of a full-on, sit-down situation, we’ve picked out a menu that dad can eat with his hands, so he can munch on good food while doing what dads do best: playing with his kids. We’ve even picked out some beer pairings for you that will knock dad’s socks off!

Father’s Day Starters

Festive Papas Tapas: Think of this as potato bruschetta. Instead of slices of bread, pile your ingredients onto thin slices of potato for a gluten-free treat. And since potatoes don’t get soggy like bread slices do, you can make these a day in advance and just pull ‘em out of the fridge for an instant appetizer.

Baked Jalapenos Poppers: Jalapeno poppers are normally deep fried, and dad will devour this oven-baked version without ever missing all of that extra grease! Prep and stuff these a day or two ahead of time, so all you have to do on Father’s Day is pop ‘em in the oven.

Beer Pairing: Start things off light with a wheat beer, like Hefeweizen.

Father’s Day Main Course

Sliders: Instead of full-sized burgers, pile up a heap of miniature sliders that dad can munch with one hand. You can make the patties and prep the cheese, veggies, and buns on Saturday, so all you have to do is grill those burgers and assemble on Father’s Day.

Sweet Potato Oven Fries: Nothing goes with a burger like some fries. Just like the stuffed jalapenos, you make these fries in the oven. You can blanch and season your potatoes a day ahead, so all that’s left is baking. Pro tip: the jalapenos bake at 325F and the fries say to cook at 400F, but you can make the fries at a lower temperature, just cook them longer – check on them every few minutes until they look done. Your fries are ready when they’re a little bit browned on the edges.

Beer Pairing: Burgers and beer are the perfect match. Try a slightly bitter India pale ale (IPA) like Sierra Nevada.

Father’s Day Dessert

Potato Cake – Potato in cake might not sound too hot, but a little mashed potato makes this cake nice and moist with less fat!

Beer Pairing: Round things off with a smooth stout like Guinness, which is always a reliable choice with its creamy head and deep flavor.

To the new dads, the long-time dads, and the dads-to-be, all of us here at Farm Fresh Direct wish you a happy Father’s Day!

Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Celebrate Potato Style!

By Farm Fresh Direct | Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 | Holidays, Parties, Potatoes | 0 Comments

Cinco de Mayo Margarita

Are you planning a Cinco de Mayo shindig? Potatoes are a big part of Mexican cuisine, and they pair beautifully with traditional Mexican spices. We’ve rounded up some our favorite festive recipes to help you celebrate right!

The fifth of May is the anniversary of the Mexican army defeating the French in 1862, and it’s actually not a big holiday in Mexico. Here in the U.S., though, we love to celebrate with Mexican-themed fare, and of course plenty of frosty margaritas.

But sometimes we can overdo it on Cinco de Mayo, so balance out those margaritas with a good-for-you spread of healthy potato recipes! Check out our healthy Cinco de Mayo menu, along with a bonus recipe for our tangy (totally not healthy) margarita!

Fiesta Potato Smashers

Appetizers

Kick things off with some tasty crowd-pleasing starters! If you’re not doing a sit-down shindig, you can just serve these appetizers as finger foods, so your guests will have something festive and healthy to munch on between cocktails.

Potato Tacos

The Main Event

Cinco de Mayo is on a Sunday this year, which means you can celebrate with a yummy brunch. We’ve got a few main course options for you, so whether you go brunchy or for more standard fare, we’ve got you covered!

Cinco de Mayo Margarita

Margaritas are not what we’d call health food, but it’s a holiday, so indulge a little! We’ll never tell.

Makes: 8 margaritas

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces tequila
  • 8 ounces of triple sec
  • 1 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/3 cup simple syrup (optional)
  • Ice

Directions

Pour all of the ingredients into the blender, adding enough ice so the liquid is just covering it. Blend until smooth, and serve immediately.

Image Credit: Remixed Creative Commons photo by Lee Edwin Coursey

The Truth About Potatoes: 5 Myths Debunked

By Farm Fresh Direct | Monday, April 1st, 2013 | Holidays | 0 Comments

April Fool's Potato Smiles

April Fool’s Day is here again, so we figured there’s no better time to pull back the truth on the top five potato myths that have countless people fooled—maybe even you.

After all, there’s plenty of chatter going on about how these tasty spuds aren’t all they’re cut out to be, but we bet you’ll be surprised how much of it is certifiably F.A.L.S.E.

Okay, let’s dig right in to our first slice of potato fiction, shall we?

 

Myth #1: Potatoes are high in carbs, which means they’ll make you gain weight.

First of all, carbohydrates have an unfairly bum rap. In reality, we all need carbohydrates to live. They’re the primary fuel that our muscles burn to keep us active, and they’re the ONLY source of energy utilized by our brains. And despite what advertisements or fad diets claim, carbohydrates can’t be blamed for extra inches to your waistline.

Fact is, clinical studies show there is no association between potato consumption and obesity.1 These aren’t some fat-laden, processed food. They are a nutrient rich vegetable that—yes—has carbohydrates, but that doesn’t mean they’ll up the number on your bathroom scale. Potatoes can actually be a fantastic addition to any weight management program as they’re highly satisfying and jam-packed with nutrients and filling fiber. Now there’s some food for thought.

Myth #2: Potatoes have a high glycemic index (GI).

This one’s easy because the numbers don’t lie. The GI of potatoes is highly variable, so this whole “Potatoes always have a high GI, so I’m steering clear” thing is totally unreasonable. The glycemic index is not a set property of a food but rather depends on a variety of different factors, including processing and preparation; variety, origin and maturity; and the addition of other macronutrients (protein, fat and fiber). For example, the GI for potato varieties range from a low of 56 for a boiled Pontiac potato grown in Australia to a high of 111 for a baked U.S. Russet Burbank.2 Myth disproven? Yeah, we thought so too.

Myth #3: All of potatoes’ nutrients are found in the skin.

Wrong again. There are countless potato lovers who insist that peeling a potato reduces the nutritional value to next-to-nothing. But the truth is, the only nutrient that’s significantly lost when you peel a potato is fiber (you’ll go from about 2g to 1g after peeling). The good news is that the majority of a potato’s valuable potassium and vitamin C are found in the flesh.

Myth #4: Sweet potatoes are healthier than white ones.

For this particular myth, it all comes down to prep and perception. First off, white potatoes are commonly consumed in a highly processed form, like French fries for instance, while sweet potatoes tend to be enjoyed in a more natural state. Of course this discrepancy makes a difference to the nutrition value of a dish, but we can’t credit that to the potatoes themselves, but rather the preparation method and added ingredients.

What’s more, there is very comparable nutrition between sweet and white potatoes, but it’s just focused on different things. For instance, where sweet potatoes have more fiber and vitamin A, white potatoes have more iron and magnesium. So it’s really more of a tradeoff than a competition.

Myth #5: Potatoes are just empty calories.

We’re going to keep this one short simply because this idea is just downright ridiculous. Yes, potatoes are starchy, but that doesn’t mean they have nothing more to offer than calories. The average unpeeled spud is actually incredibly nutrient dense with 3g of protein, 620mg of potassium, 2 g of fiber, 45% DV of vitamin C, 10% DV of vitamin B6, plus ZERO sodium, ZERO fat and only 110 calories. Case closed.

So, we hope that helps clear up some of the untruths surrounding spuds these days. Next time someone brings up one of these potato myths, you can tell them they’re full of sprouts! Happy April Fool’s Day!

Sources
1 Center for Disease Control, Economic Research Service, USDA, Vegetables and Specialties Situation and Outlook Yearbook, 2008; CDC 2008
2 http://bangordailynews.com/2011/06/13/health/peeling-away-potato-myths/

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by wenday :D

Potatoes in Ireland: A Tale of Intrigue, Espionage, and Dinner

By Farm Fresh Direct | Friday, March 1st, 2013 | Holidays, Potatoes | 0 Comments

Potatoes in Ireland

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, so let’s celebrate this traditional Irish holiday by paying homage to that most Irish of foods: the humble potato!

There’s a rich tradition of potatoes in Irish culture, but did you know that potatoes aren’t originally an Irish food? Spuds actually have their roots in the mountains of Peru and Bolivia, where they’ve grown for thousands of years. It wasn’t until around 500 years ago that Spanish conquistadors brought potatoes back to Europe, where they made their way up to Ireland.

Still, 500 years is plenty of time to build some rich — and delicious! — traditions. And since those tasty tubers made their way across the Atlantic and across the Continent, they’ve become an important part of Irish culture, from colcannon chowder to potato tasting contests!

Much has been written about the Great Potato Famine, so let’s get ready for St. Paddy’s day by looking at some of the less talked-about — and happier — history and traditions of Irish potatoes instead!

The Epic Journey of the Irish Potato

So, how did potatoes make it from Spain all the way over to Ireland? By many accounts, it was actually a pretty dramatic journey.

When the conquistadors returned to Spain with their bounty, some say that British spies stole potatoes from Spain and headed back to Britain with them, expecting that they’d catch on as an efficient food source. Unfortunately, the Brits weren’t as crazy about potatoes as you’d think. Their first mistake? They ate them raw. Not the greatest first impression.

Rather than try out these suspicious new veggies on their own people, the British sent potatoes to the colony of Ireland, where they were an instant hit. Not only is Ireland’s climate very similar to the potato’s home soil, but Irish farmers loved how quickly they grew and how many potatoes you could produce in a relatively small space.

It was an instant love affair, and despite experiencing the infamous potato famine in the mid-1800s, potatoes are still a staple of Irish culture today.

Irish Potatoes: Fun Facts!

  • Each year, towns across Ireland hold potato-tasting competitions, where potato growers from all over the area vie for the #1 spot. The event is called “An Spud-Off Mor.” Want to see one of these in action? Check out the video!
  • Potatoes didn’t originate in Ireland. They made their way to Europe in the 1500s after Spanish conquistadors discovered them in the Andes mountains.
  • Irish Potato Candy, a St. Patrick’s Day staple for many people, is neither Irish nor made of potatoes. It’s actually a Philadelphia-based tradition, and the candy is usually made from coconut, sugar, and other decidedly non-potato ingredients.
  • St. Patrick’s Day is when Irish farmers traditionally plant their potato crops. The legend is that St. Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland – makes planting conditions ideal on his special holiday.
  • Potatoes actually came to North America from Ireland in the 1700s, not from our neighbors in Peru, which means that they traveled across the ocean and back again to make it to your dinner plate!
  • While there are almost countless varieties of potatoes in a rainbow of colors, the Irish potato is a white potato, sometimes called an “Earth apple.”

Sources:

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by jemasmith
 

Healthy Holiday Potato Recipes

By Farm Fresh Direct | Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 | Cooking, Holidays | 0 Comments

Holiday Potatoes

The feasting season is upon us. And we are so glad, because there is lots of delicious food to look forward to.

However, it also means a lot more temptation on the eating front (the parties, the fantastic meals, the toasts, the sweets, the eggnog), and for many of us, less time in December to take care of ourselves (eat well, workout, relax and rest).

Overeating is part of December, period. But you can counter balance that, easy peasy. Here are 3 easy recipes and a snack tip for keeping your potato cooking light, but delicious and healthy this holiday season.

PotatOHs: the Perfect Antidote to Overindulgence

Pop a PotatOH into the microwave at work for a fast, healthy lunch. Or stop off at home on a busy Saturday to power up for hours more of shopping fun. In less than three minutes, you’ll have a healthy, satisfying meal that will help keep your hunger at bay. Just keep the toppings trim. Go for veggie chili, low-fat yogurt or a dash of olive oil (a healthy fat) and some salt and pepper.

Bonus tip: to keep the naughty noshing to a minimum, try a PotatOH with salsa as a pre-soiree snack. If you don’t go to the party starving, you’ll be less likely to eat the whole dang cheese platter.

Holiday Recipes

Lightened Potato Latkes
Potato Latkes

An important part of Jewish holidays, latkes are cooked in oil to remind folks of the oil that gave light in the temple for eight days.

Try this lightened up Latkes recipe that lets you enjoy tradition and taste without without extra calories. You can use any potato you like, but for crispiest results, use the starchiest (Russets.) Enjoy.

 

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

This buttermilk mashed potatoes recipe is a family favorite at our house. The garlic cloves make it super special, because they give the potato puree extra body and lots of flavor. We also like to add some chopped chives to the top because it looks great and adds even more taste.

 

Au Gratin Potatoes
Au Gratin

Richly cheesy sauce coats perfectly cooked potatoes in this classic holiday casserole we dream of all year long. Our go-to recipe for Au Gratin potatoes is healthy and omits butter, keeps the milk and low fat, and backs off a bit on the cheese. You won’t miss it.

 

What are your favorite holiday potato recipes? Let us know in the comments!

Thanksgiving With Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes

By Farm Fresh Direct | Tuesday, November 20th, 2012 | Cooking, Holidays | 0 Comments

Browned Butter Smashed Potatoes with Butternut Squash

 

Although it wasn’t a national holiday until 1863, Thanksgiving has been happening for nearly 400 years.

You probably still remember what you learned in grade school about that first celebration: it was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. A three-day party (feast plus games) to celebrate the fall harvest, it was enjoyed by about 50 Pilgrims and 90 or so members of the Wampanoag tribe.

What was on the menu? They probably ate venison, maybe some turkey, for sure some other birds. We know there was seafood, corn and pumpkins. But probably no pies or sweets—sugar was scarce. And no potatoes.

What!?

Around here, it’s not Thanksgiving without at least a 1/2 pound of mashed potatoes for every man, woman and child. Maybe, just maybe, you could get by with 1/3 of a pound, if you had some sweet potatoes—which we always do—and lots of other sides. But then again, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy are about the most delicious combination in the whole world.

So no matter how many sides we make, we serve potatoes. And we like to keep some of the dishes classic, using the same tried and true recipe every year. But we also do a little experimenting, too. Last year we had fried Brussels sprout leaves and they were awesome! This year, we’re trying a new recipe for sweet potato casserole.

So below are two classic recipes for potatoes and sweet potatoes and two more experimental but equally delicious takes. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your long weekend!

Classic Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes

These are the mashed potatoes we all remember eating as a child. Classic, creamy and delicious, you can’t go wrong with this recipe. We make these at the last minute to be sure they’re hot. And before we bring them to the table, we like to sprinkle a little paprika on the top because it looks really pretty. Enjoy!

Brown Butter Smashed Potatoes with Butternut Squash

This is a great recipe to try if you’re not already making a side of squash. It’s kind of two sides in one. We love the beautiful color and awesome fall flavor of the squash and sage. Like everything else in the world, it tastes even better with a little gravy. Try it out!

Sweet Potatoes With Maple Syrup


This recipe roasts the sweet potatoes before mashing them, bringing out a wonderfully rich taste and smooth texture. Feel free to add more or less maple syrup. If you have it, grind your nutmeg with a rasp yourself. It makes a difference in the flavor. Dig in.

Spiced Sweet Potato Gratin

Completely delicious AND gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, this recipe was originally posted by Alice Currah on her blog, Savory Sweet Life. The recipe is a little less sweet than traditional sweet potato casserole, adding in some savory and salty tones to replace it. Not only does it sound incredible, we think it looks beautiful, too. We’re going for it this year, for sure.

7 Eerie Ideas for Spooky Halloween Potatoes

By Farm Fresh Direct | Friday, October 26th, 2012 | Holidays | 0 Comments

This week, we dug around the spookiest corners of cyberspace to bring you a handful of Halloween boo-tato recipes (Cue the evil laughter)!

With a just a little pre-plotting, this boonanza of paranormal potatoes is guaranteed to make All-Hallows-Eve an evil-ing to remember. But in truth, these tasty treasures would be to-die-for on any dark, gloomy night when there’s a full moon and an empty belly growling in the kitchen.

We had a frightfully good time hunting down all these fang-tastic creations. Our research revealed that the world is filled with creative potato makers. So heads off to all you clever devils out there!

Whether you’re a kid or a grownup, you’ll have a scary fun playing with your food on Halloween with these spooky potato creations.

Jack-o-Lantern Sweet Potatoes

1) Jack-O-Lantern Sweet Potato Fries


These super cool sweet potato fries look just like miniature pumpkins. It’s neat that you can “carve” each one to be as friendly or fierce at you like. We also love that this recipe is kid-friendly, meaning school-aged kids will love helping you “carve” them and everyone will love eating them. We can’t wait to try these.

Image Source: Babble

Wicked Witch Stuffed Potatoes

2) Wicked Witch Stuffed Potatoes


This recipe is great because, if you wanted, you could use PotatOHs to speed the meal along. Just do the first bake in the microwave according to the directions on the PotatOH package and the second in the oven. Don’t limit yourself to the design here, either. You can use anything edible you have on hand to make the mouth, nose and eyes. Have fun and be creative.

Image Source: Taste of Home

Potato Ghosts

3) Potato Ghosts


These are GREAT. And, like the article suggests, you can follow the recipe from the Gourmet website or you can just whip up a batch of your favorite mashers and let your creativity run wild. If you wanted to mix things up a bit, it would be easy to add some sweet potatoes to your recipe and make these into Jack-O-Lantern Boo-tatoes, too. Go for it!

Image Source: Gourmet

Beef Stew Potato Ghost

4) Beef Stew with Ghoulish Mashed Potatoes

Here’s another take on mashed potato ghosts. We love the green pea eyes on this one, as well as the idea of a slow cook beef stew on Halloween night. Not only is there likely to be a chill in the air, you’ve probably got places to go and doorbells to ring. Right?

Image Source: Taste of Home

Mummified Potatoes

5) Mummified Mashed Potatoes

What we like about this one is even the littlest ghoul in your house can get in on the fun, if you prep the features. Again, anything you have on hand is fair game. In addition to the list of optional decorations, we can see a wicked wig of shredded cheese. Yum.

Image Source: Fabulous Foods

Kitty Cat Potatoes

6) Kitty Cat Potatoes

So cute it’s scary, these would be dead easy to make any day of the week. And using PotatOHs here would be a snap. Let your creativity run wild. If you’d like to make them more gruesome, BBQ sauce would work well for little palettes; hot sauce or buffalo chicken sauce would be great, too.

Image Source: Serenity Now Blog

Shrunken Potato Heads

7) 
Shrunken Potato Heads

We don’t think you’re meant to eat these. And they look like they’d take some serious carving skills. But this might be our favorite looking project of the whole bunch. Forget shrunken apple heads. Grab a knife and go potato. These would be cool as decorations for a Halloween buffet table. And it’s neat that they might even last for a couple years. The author of this blog says they have some still in their Halloween box. Cool!

Image Source: Chez Larsson

If you possess a menacing, gruesome, ghastly or otherwise fun potato recipe, don’t be invisible. Give us a shriek and we’ll share the link.

Happy Halloween!

Patriotic Potato Salad Recipes for 4th of July

By Farm Fresh Direct | Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 | Holidays | 0 Comments

Red White Blue Potato Salad

We’ve got purple mountains majesty, fruited plains, shining seas and much, much more. So it makes sense that we like to celebrate America’s birthday outside. In fact, the 4th of July is probably one of the biggest alfresco dining days of the year. And definitely one of our favorites!

Whether your plans include packing a picnic basket or hosting a happening BBQ, make sure to put potatoes on the menu. They’re great served hot, cold or room temperature, which makes them perfect for summer. They go well with other foods, so you won’t have to fuss too much with your menu. And, last but not least, everyone loves them.

This year, we want you to reach beyond your grandma’s potato salad. Or, maybe, just make room on your plate beside it. So here are four 4th of July favorites that have become summer traditions for our families. Enjoy!

 

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad

It might not be a summer party without potato salad, and it’s not a 4th of July celebration without the red, white and blue. That’s why we’ve picked out this colorful and tasty recipe that features three types of potatoes. The delicious flavors of garlic, onions, bell peppers and ham make it exciting, and a touch of walnut oil and your choice of sherry or white balsamic vinegar round it out to perfection. We promise you’ve never had a potato salad quite like this, and each bite will feel like a celebration of flavor in your mouth!

 

Quick & Healthy Potato Salad

Here’s a modern, mayo-removing remake on the classic potato salad. With the help of a little non-fat yogurt, you get all the great flavor, but a lot less guilt. What’s more, we leave the skins on, which adds a nice subtle earthy flavor, boosts the nutritional value and provides a more sophisticated texture. We also let you cook your potatoes in the microwave, perfect for when it’s hot and/or when you’re in a rush. Which, in this day and age and the current heat index, may be always.

 

Red, White and Blue Potatoes

This vegan recipe is picnic-perfect, because it’s a German-style potato salad. That means it gets its great flavor from herbs and vinegar instead of mayo, make it easier to bring along and safe to make ahead, even on the hottest days. Two things to note about this recipe: (1) you’ll want to bake or microwave the potatoes instead of boiling them, which will help them retain their color. And (2) even if you cook the potatoes ahead of time, you’ll want to “dress” them with the vinegar while their warm, so they absorb more flavor.

 

Quick and Healthy Microwave Baked Potato Salad

Every potluck party has at least one “classic” potato salad, so it can be hard to create a standout dish. Until now. This modern potato salad remake takes its flavor cues from baked potatoes, so it’s a very original dish for a potluck party. What’s more, it doesn’t take long to make, you can serve it hot or cold, and it goes well with anything and everything else. Just beware: at our parties, it also goes fast.

Perfect Potato Recipes for Memorial Day Celebrations

By Farm Fresh Direct | Thursday, May 24th, 2012 | Holidays | 0 Comments

Memorial Day Cookout

On Memorial Day, we take time to honor the brave men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. We also welcome warm weather as the summer season begins, and for those us lucky enough to have the day off from work, it’s a perfect day to get together with family and friends and enjoy a good meal or two.

Whether you’re going to a park for a barbecue or a picnic, heading outdoors and camping, or staying indoors, here are great potato recipes perfect for your Memorial Day celebrations, including potato meals, potato pairings, side dishes and potato salads.
 

BBQ At The Park or Camping

What better way to bring in summertime than with a BBQ at the park? You can throw some potatoes on the grill for a delicious toasted and smokey flavor, bake them in foil, or bring along a potato salad as a side dish to meat and chicken. And if you’re going camping, just because you’re roughin’ it doesn’t mean you have to eat rough. Cook some of these at home and bring them with you, or pack up the ingredients and heat them up on a campfire.

Recipes


BBQ Potatoes

Grilled Spud Dogs

Southwest Potatoes and Chicken

Quick & Healthy Microwave Baked Potato Salad

 

Hosting Indoors

When you lead a busy life, sometimes the best thing to do on a day off is enjoy the comfort of your own home. If you’re planning to relax at home and invite friends and family for dinner instead of spending the day outdoors, these recipes are for you. There’s something for everyone, including vegetable and meat dishes, a fun and spicy twist on mashed potatoes, and a pesto salad with plenty of zing.

Recipes

Tuscan Potatoes and Vegetables

Meatloaf-Stuffed Microwave Potato

Chipotle Mashed Potatoes

Grilled Pesto Potato Salad

 

If You Have To Work

Getting stuck working on Memorial Day isn’t fun, but we’ve got some easy recipes to cheer you up just in case. You’ll still get the taste of cookout potatoes, but without the need for a grill. Simply pack up your ingredients before you leave work, throw them in the microwave at lunchtime, and treat yourself to a delicious cooked lunch.

Recipes

Cheesy Broccoli Baked Potato

Microwave-Roasted Potatoes

Roasted-Style Microwave Cajun Potatoes