After the chocolate cake article, perhaps faithful readers think that my article will dry up.
Well, never fear, because sour cream is here.
This article is really about baked potatoes, but first I must share my sour cream enthusiasm. For the past 19 months, I have dreamt of all the fantastic things I could make with sour cream. My dreams have come partially true. Now, I can make cheesecake, tastier Mexican food, sultry topped baked potatoes, and many other delicious delicacies.
No, this is not a joke. Sour cream has been discovered, thanks to my faithful friend Danielle Moscou in Varna. She has corrupted me with Kentucky Fried Chicken, but I still love her.
Here’s how I found sour cream. Danielle’s Bulgarian friend tried it and told her, then Danielle interrogated him until she was satisfied with his answers.
After the lengthy interrogation, Danielle and I investigated the big Picadilly grocery store in Varna, where sour cream was sighted. Upon going to the nice Blockville store in Balchik, I also spotted it there (they didn’t have chicken though). Therefore, the investigation ended and the evidence stated that sour cream can be found in Bulgaria.
Sour cream is made by Danone, and is called zakvasena smetana. It is a red checkered label, and in Balchik my package had a Santa on the side.
I do not want to hear sob stories about how you can’t find sour cream. If my beautiful town of 12,574 has it, you should be able to find it in your town, or somewhere nearby.
Enough about sour cream, and back to baked potatoes. Baked potatoes are a great food that are wonderful year round. They are easy to make, and require very little cooking experience. If you can make a sandwich, then you can make baked potatoes.
For toppings, one may use sour cream, salt, pepper, butter, green onions, ranch dressing, shredded kashkaval, and many other interesting options.
One warning about baked potatoes. There is a possibility that potatos skins in Bulgaria can give you diseases. There is also a possibility that homemade rakia can cause blindness, lukanka may be made primarily from donkey meat, and that Black Sea fish are disease infested. Since you only live once, I drink homemade rakia, eat vegetable skins, and Black Sea fish, but shy away from lukanka. Sorry, I am not a big fan of donkey meat.
If your Bulgarian skills are not fantastic (possible), or you live in a town of 30,000 that does not even have milk (impossible), then try a combination of yoghurt, cirene, and spices. This mixture is a nice tangy sauce that is great with baked potatoes.
The morals of this article are that Bulgarians have another dairy product, potato skins will not kill you, rakia does not cause blindness, do not be corrupted by Kentucky Fried Chicken, and that some people unknowingly eat donkey meat. Oh, do not forget to enjoy sour cream.
Baked Potatoes
3-4 potatoes
Aluminum foil
Directions: Rinse and clean potatoes thoroughly with water. Then, wrap potatoes in aluminum foil. Bake at 200 C for about 60-90 minutes, or until potatoes are soft. Take out of oven, unwrap potatoes, cut potatoes open with a knife, and add your choice of toppings.
Tangy Yogurt/Sirene Sauce
100ml or 1/2 cup yogurt
50g or 1/4 cup sirene
1-2 cloves garlic, pressed (optional)
1 small spoonful lemon juice
Basil, parsley, or rosemary to taste (optional)
Directions: Mix ingredients with handheld mixer. If you do not have a handheld mixer, get out of your cave and buy one.
Joseph Herr is a US Peace Corps volunteer currently working in Balchik. His column appears weekly and he can be contacted at jdherr75@sabreshockey.com.
Well, never fear, because sour cream is here.
This article is really about baked potatoes, but first I must share my sour cream enthusiasm. For the past 19 months, I have dreamt of all the fantastic things I could make with sour cream. My dreams have come partially true. Now, I can make cheesecake, tastier Mexican food, sultry topped baked potatoes, and many other delicious delicacies.
No, this is not a joke. Sour cream has been discovered, thanks to my faithful friend Danielle Moscou in Varna. She has corrupted me with Kentucky Fried Chicken, but I still love her.
Here’s how I found sour cream. Danielle’s Bulgarian friend tried it and told her, then Danielle interrogated him until she was satisfied with his answers.
After the lengthy interrogation, Danielle and I investigated the big Picadilly grocery store in Varna, where sour cream was sighted. Upon going to the nice Blockville store in Balchik, I also spotted it there (they didn’t have chicken though). Therefore, the investigation ended and the evidence stated that sour cream can be found in Bulgaria.
Sour cream is made by Danone, and is called zakvasena smetana. It is a red checkered label, and in Balchik my package had a Santa on the side.
I do not want to hear sob stories about how you can’t find sour cream. If my beautiful town of 12,574 has it, you should be able to find it in your town, or somewhere nearby.
Enough about sour cream, and back to baked potatoes. Baked potatoes are a great food that are wonderful year round. They are easy to make, and require very little cooking experience. If you can make a sandwich, then you can make baked potatoes.
For toppings, one may use sour cream, salt, pepper, butter, green onions, ranch dressing, shredded kashkaval, and many other interesting options.
One warning about baked potatoes. There is a possibility that potatos skins in Bulgaria can give you diseases. There is also a possibility that homemade rakia can cause blindness, lukanka may be made primarily from donkey meat, and that Black Sea fish are disease infested. Since you only live once, I drink homemade rakia, eat vegetable skins, and Black Sea fish, but shy away from lukanka. Sorry, I am not a big fan of donkey meat.
If your Bulgarian skills are not fantastic (possible), or you live in a town of 30,000 that does not even have milk (impossible), then try a combination of yoghurt, cirene, and spices. This mixture is a nice tangy sauce that is great with baked potatoes.
The morals of this article are that Bulgarians have another dairy product, potato skins will not kill you, rakia does not cause blindness, do not be corrupted by Kentucky Fried Chicken, and that some people unknowingly eat donkey meat. Oh, do not forget to enjoy sour cream.
Baked Potatoes
3-4 potatoes
Aluminum foil
Directions: Rinse and clean potatoes thoroughly with water. Then, wrap potatoes in aluminum foil. Bake at 200 C for about 60-90 minutes, or until potatoes are soft. Take out of oven, unwrap potatoes, cut potatoes open with a knife, and add your choice of toppings.
Tangy Yogurt/Sirene Sauce
100ml or 1/2 cup yogurt
50g or 1/4 cup sirene
1-2 cloves garlic, pressed (optional)
1 small spoonful lemon juice
Basil, parsley, or rosemary to taste (optional)
Directions: Mix ingredients with handheld mixer. If you do not have a handheld mixer, get out of your cave and buy one.
Joseph Herr is a US Peace Corps volunteer currently working in Balchik. His column appears weekly and he can be contacted at jdherr75@sabreshockey.com.
