Melissa's "Fried" Potatoes

There aren't many things better on a cold winter morning than eggs and fried potatoes.  Traditional fried potatoes are fatty and high in calories, though, so I used to avoid them, until Melissa taught me how to make them without all the added fat.

Take one or two potatoes, and scrub them.  Cube them. Microwave in a microwave-safe dish for 3-5 minutes, until fork-tender. Put 1 teaspoon of olive oil into a frying pan over medium-high heat.  Stir fry the potatoes in the olive oil until browned on all sides. I like to finish my potatoes with 1/4 cup of water poured into the pan.  I put the lid on immediately after and allow the spuds to steam for a minute or two.  I like the consistency this gives the potatoes, but the last step isn't necessary by any means.

If you like onions in your potatoes, brown them for a minute or two in the olive oil before you add the potatoes. 

If you use one medium potato and a teaspoon of olive oil, this dish has about 200 calories; with two medium potatoes the total is about 340.  Not bad for a dish that tastes like an indulgence!

Sometimes I throw a beaten egg on top of the potatoes and let the heat of the skillet cook it, and then top that off with 1/4 cup of reduced-fat cheese.   That adds about 80 calories for the egg and perhaps 80 more for the cheese.  You can have a hearty breakfast skillet for 350 - 500 calories. 

I suppose you could do this with sweet potatoes, too, but I haven't ever tried it.  I prefer to make baked sweet potato fries out of my sweet potatoes - but that's another post!

Big Fat Greek Marathon Fund: $75 - I am going to have to start seriously contributing to this thing if I have any hope of making it in 2012!