LOADED MICROWAVE [BAKED] POTATOES Recipe; Castle Rock-WA

We ate light tonight … a microwaved potato with yummy toppings 🥔🧈🍃🥓🧀; simple, but satisfying.

Loaded Microwave [Baked] Potato

And I worked up a light weight microwave hot pad mitt, to handle the baking potatoes:

MOD Microwave Hot Pad Mitt: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/07/mod-crochet-microwave-hot-pad-mitt.html)

Loaded Microwaved [Baked] Potatoes ~2 servings

2 lrg. Russet Potatoes, same size = washed & pricked with fork tines * Butter * 3/8 tsp. Pink Himalayan Salt * 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper, grnd * 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder * 1/4 c. Red Bell Pepper, diced * 1/4 c. Yellow Onion, diced * 4 slices Bacon, cooked & chopped * 1/2 c. Cheddar Cheese, grated * Parsley flakes (opt.)

Microwave Oven * Measuring Cups & Spoons * Press & Seal Glad Wrap * Hot Pad Mittens (MOD Pattern: see above) * Lrg. Soup Bowls & Silverware

1) Mix together the butter & spices - whip thoroughly to blend; add the parsley & set aside.

Mix tog the butter & spices - whip; add the parsley & set aside.

2) Slice & dice the Bell pepper, onion & pre-cooked bacon; set aside.

3) With a spaghetti cheese grater, prepare cheese; set aside.

4) Thoroughly wash potatoes; blot dry with paper towels. Poke some holes all over the potatoes with a fork so that the steam can escape. Individually, wrap each potato semi-tight in a sufficient piece of Press & Seal Glad Wrap & place both wrapped potatoes in a 800-watt microwave:

Individually, wrap each potato semi-tight in a sufficient piece of Press & Seal Glad Wrap - this is the way my husband likes them.

Cook wrapped potatoes in the microwave, for 10 to 12 minutes ⏲️ … with hot pad covered hands, check their doneness by gently squeezing potato sides when timer goes off. The potatoes should be very soft - if not, resume baking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes; periodically checking on them throughout the additional cooking time: DO NOT OVERCOOK because the microwave heat will suck the juice out of the potatoes, hardening the flesh.

5) When potatoes are cooked to satisfaction, carefully remove them from the microwave - slice them open & fluff up the insides. Spread with flavored butter.

Top with Bell pepper, onion, bacon & cheese. You can eat your loaded potato as is … or you can melt the cheese by popping it back into the microwave for 30 seconds.

Spread potatoes with butter & add toppings.

Enjoy!

My microwave mitt worked wonderfully 👍, & the potato was delish 😊

MOD CROCHET MICROWAVE HOT PAD MITT; Castle Rock-WA

MOD Microwave Hot Pad Mitt; Castle Rock-WA

This mitt is NOT FOR REGULAR OVEN USE!

This hot pad mitt was designed out of necessity - the cloth ones I had purchased, are nice; but they are pretty stiff and awkward to use. I want something more pliable for microwave use.

So, this morning, I designed & whipped a pair up for myself: and if I can talk Holland into using one, I'll make 1 for his hand.

I made traced hand tracings for pattern guides - but really didn't need to use them.

I used an acrylic worsted weight yarn, single thickness … and it works just fine. I don't want anything heavy - just something to guard against the generated heat of testing a microwaved 'baked' potato.

I'm a small woman, so my hands are small: 

MOD Crochet Microwave Hot Pad Mitt

Materials: Worsted Yarn, chosen color = make a separate small ball of yarn from this skein before commencing work (this ball will be used for the thumb work); a 12" length of Scrap Yarn for a marker #H/8 crochet Hook; Scissors;  Tapestry needle

Terms Used:

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

sc = single crochet

inc = increase

dec = decrease

sl st = slip st

beg = beginning

EA = each

x = repeat sequence

EO = end off

This pattern is worked from the top, down.

Oven Mitten Portion: With hook & yarn, ch 3 - and work 9 dc in circle; jn (10 dc's) and begin working in rounds from this point on.

Row 1: Holding scrap yarn in place, work a row of sc, inc'g in EA sts around - 20 sc; do not turn work, just keep working in rounds - moving marker yarn upwards each row.

Row 2: Inc in 1st st, then *1 sc in next st, 2 sc in following st *; rpt * to * around - end sc x1: 30 sc

Row 3: Inc in 1st st, then sc x7, inc, sc x6, inc, sc x7, inc, sc x6: 34 sc

Rows 4 thru 22: Sc evenly around: 36 sc; ch 6 … skip 6 sts & sc about 5 sts ahead - loosely tie off (you will return to this row later to finish mitt).

Sc evenly around.

Ch 6 … skip 6 sts & sc about 5 sts ahead = for thumb placement.

Checking for pliability & correct thumb opening placement.

Thumb Portion: Attach separate ball of yarn at corner of thumb & work 1 sc in same space, 1 sc in EA ch, 1 sc in corner st (the beg st of ch 6), & in EA skipped st: 14 sc.

Rows 2 thru 8: Work in rounds.

Row 9: Work a round of dc; EO with a length long enough to thread through tapestry needle & draw through sts, pulling tight and securing on back end.

Dc around thumb portion.

Run tapestry needle around tops of dc & pull tight, for closure.

Finished thumb portion.

Finishing: Return to the tied off portion of the mitt body & continue working in rounds for an additional 5 more rows (count these rows from bottom of thumb portion). EO and weave in loose end.

Trim (opt.): The mitt will be closer to your wrist without the trim; but I like trim on everything … so, my mitt, got trimmed.

Pattern: *Slip hook through the backside of next st & pull yarn backwards through st, yo and make a sc, ch 1*; rpt * to * around

Slip hook through the backside of next st

Pull yarn backwards through st ...

Yo, and make a sc

Ch 1, & rpt sequence around mitt bottom edge.

Mitt finished: 7-3/4" length - 6-1/2" width, including thumb portion, 4-1/2" width (without including thumb)