How to boil potatoes in a Microwave: Recipes for the bachelor's kitchen

Today I am going to share with you the recipe for boiling potatoes. Seriously?? Boiled potatoes!! Are you actually hearing me right?

You must be thinking I have lost my mind and wondering what has come over me? Anyone can boil potatoes, right? Who in the right mind would need a recipe for a simple thing like that? 

Well!! Well!! There are some people out there in this world who do need to be taught the very basics. To elaborate better my dear hubby!! 

Sometimes you feel life just isn't fair!! We had barely settled down here in Houston when my husband got a transfer to Indianapolis to start work on a new project. He had to move alone so that both our children could continue with their education here, especially since my daughter has just finished her first semester of college. Moreover the new project is just for a year and a half, after which, most probably we would have to move again, so in everyone's best interest, me and the kids decided to stay back in Houston and poor hubby will have to so hop-scotching between here and Indianapolis. 
Like most wives, the foremost worry on my mind was about his food. Luckily the place he is staying at provides the breakfast and lunch would be at office but what about dinner? Till now he has never had to stay alone or having had to cook for himself. Sure, he has always been a good apprentice around the kitchen, cutting, chopping but never really cooked a meal all by himself. Its not that I am doubting his capabilities, he sure can whip up a mean omelet, but sadly it doesn't stretch to anything much beyond that.  And unfortunately, like most hotel rooms, there is only a microwave and a refrigerator in the room and of course 'someone' just cannot imagine an omelet can be made in it. 
Eating out everyday just did not seem a very healthy option, so while he was packing his stuff I coerced him (literally forced you can say) to take a microwave safe glass bowl and a wooden spoon so atleast some sort of a meal can be prepared. After reluctantly packing the utensils came a zillion queries of "how much of this" and "how much of that" and "how many minutes", "how will I come to know when its done"?
I thought of this easy option of putting the recipes down in a post so at least whenever he gets stuck anywhere it will be easy to look it up. As it is most of the time when one is cooking  at home you don't really keep the time and measurements in mind as most of the times you just learn to eyeball it especially after so many years of cooking.
So from now on, some of the recipes on my blog are going to be very basic, quick and easy to whip up with the minimalist of fuss and most of the cooking done in the microwave.(Somehow people have the misunderstanding that microwaves are really meant for reheating. You will be amazed at what all can be prepared in the microwave).
When you see them, you will know exactly whom these recipes are targeted at!!
I am very confident that this might be a wasted effort and most of this is actually never going to be really put into practice and know in my hearts of hearts that most of the time it is either going to be dining out or take-aways but a gal or should I say a wife got to do what she gotta do!!
So here is to my dear hubby and many others who have undertaken this brave attempt to put their first step into experiencing our wonderful world of creating magic in the kitchen!! You can do it man!!

Ingredients
4-5 potatoes (you can always boil extra and keep in the fridge handy for later use or just eat them sprinkled with salt and pepper.
A microwave safe bowl

Instructions  (I just love using this word, sounds so powerful, especially if your husband is reading it)
Wash the potatoes clean under running water in a sink until the dirt is washed off.
Place the potatoes in a microwave safe bowl. You can either put them whole or dice hem into 1 to 2 inch cubes.
Fill the bowl with water approximately 2 to 3 inches above the potatoes.
Add 1/4 tsp salt.
Spray the top with cooking spray or add 1 tsp vegetable oil to ensure the water doesn't boil over while cooking.
Do not cover. Cook the potatoes for 12-13 minutes.
You will know the potatoes are cooked when you can easily pierce them with a fork.
Remove them from hot water and they are ready to be eaten. 

Congrats!! Now that the potatoes are boiled, here are some quick and simple ideas what you can do with them.

-You can toss them with some butter, lemon juice, salt and pepper and you have a great dish on your hand.

-Toss boil potatoes with a couple of spoons of pesto(pesto paste easily available in any grocery store in the vegetable section) and a little salt to eat.

-Toss boil potatoes with a little extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, minced garlic (don't worry this too is easily available in jars in the vegetable section) and any fresh herbs of your choice like mint, coriander, dill, rosemary, thyme etc 

-Cream potatoes or mash them with a fork, add a tbsp of sour cream and chives (chopped green of spring onions) These are also great as a topping on a slice of bread or bagel.

-Cut the potatoes into 1 inch cube Take 2 Tbsp yogurt, 1 tbsp Mayonnaise, salt to taste and mix it well. Take 1/4 cup chopped onion and 1/4 cup thinly chopped celery. Now combine the potatoes, onions and celery in the mayonnaise mixture till well coated. We have a great potato salad on our hands.

Easy wasn't it?

Wow!! now that we are off to a good start, I am sure you are looking forward to many more easy peasy recipes to enjoy your culinary adventures and basically to survive in this Big, bad World!!

Here's to many more adventures....