HASSELBACK POTATOES

Ingredients:

• 2 large Yukon Gold potatoes
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Scrub the potatoes and pat them dry.
• Place 2 chopsticks along either long side of a potato. Using a long paring or chef's knife, score the potato down to the chopsticks (the chopsticks act as a stopgap, keeping you from cutting all the way through the potato). Cut slits 1/8 inch apart all the way down the length of the potato. Repeat with the second potato.
• Place the potatoes on a baking dish and brush with half the butter and sprinkle with some of the thyme and salt and pepper.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, brush with the remaining butter and continue baking until cooked through, about 30 minutes more. Sprinkle with more thyme and the Parmesan and bake for 5 minutes more before serving.

HASSELBACK POTATOES

Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup finely chopped chives
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Stir together the butter, olive oil, chives and some salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Place a potato between the handles of 2 wooden spoons or 2 chopsticks. Slice the potato into thin slices, leaving 1/4 inch at the bottom unsliced; the spoon handles will prevent you from slicing the potato all the way through. Repeat with the remaining potatoes.
• Put the potatoes on a baking sheet and brush on the butter mixture, making sure to get in between all the slices. Bake until tender and crisp, 55 to 60 minutes.

HASSELBACK SWEET POTATOES

Ingredients:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated on a microplane
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup nonfat Greek-style yogurt
• 1 scallion, white and green parts chopped

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Make a series of 1/8-inch slices along each potato, slicing 2/3 of the way through.
• Stir together the butter, oil, thyme, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the potatoes all over with the mixture, getting in between the slices.
• Place on the baking sheet and roast until the center of the potatoes are tender and the outside is crisp, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Halfway through the roasting time, remove the potatoes from the oven and run a fork gently across the tops of the potatoes, using light pressure, to fan the slices and separate them from one another.
• Meanwhile, stir the yogurt and scallions with a pinch salt and a pinch pepper. Serve the sauce with the potatoes.
• Per serving: Calories: 150; Total Fat 4 grams; Saturated Fat: 2 grams; Protein: 4 grams; Total carbohydrates: 24 grams; Sugar: 8 grams; Fiber: 4 grams; Cholesterol: 10 milligrams; Sodium: 260 milligrams