Grilled Stuffed Potatoes

This month's contest for Manjula's Kitchen features a few ingredients, and I have been juggling with ideas to come with a recipe for the whole month. I just could not marry them successfully enough, hence my delay to come up with something suitable for the season, creative and yet balanced. Cooking for me is a creative process and at times the Muse is bemusing rather than inspiring, for the daylight can expose those would-be-so-good thoughts!
And sometimes it just happens- you open the fridge, have a roundabout look and BINGO! That is pretty much how I plan my menu. In fact, my kitchen motto's : "no ingredient left behind"... Not all at the same time though:)
Since it is summertime, hot in Texas and everywhere else around, I thought that the potatoes on grill would be fantastic. Just to prove it wrong that grilling is not just for meat-eaters and not boring- OH NO!
So it all starts with the "earth apple" -(pomme de terre)- the Mighty Potato. It was scrubbed, rubbed, cooked, stuffed and grilled- Poor Thing! This too- all in one day!


Here is how I did it...

Ingredients:

• 8 potatoes (about same size)
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped black olives
• 2 cloves garlic
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 15 black peppercorns
• 4 tablespoons yogurt
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon mild curry powder

Directions:

• Wash and scrub the potatoes. Using a spiral vegetable cutter (or an apple core remover), drill and remove the potato core. If you do not have these tools, first cook the potatoes, and then use a sharp knife to carve the center out).

• 
• Cook the potatoes, making sure they are not overcooked.
  
• Peel the skins off, set them aside to cool.
• Grind the garlic and peppercorns to a coarse mass.

• Add salt, oil, yogurt and mix well.

• 

• Slightly melt the cream cheese and add in the olives, bell pepper and curry powder. Mix well.

• Fill in a wide tip syringe with the cream mixture and fill in the potatoes. Again, if you do not have this tool, accurately use your finger to push the cheese stuffing in.
  

• Lay them all on a baking tray and spread the garlic sauce over the potatoes, making sure all sides are well covered in sauce.

• Grill them or broil them on high till golden- brown. Remove and serve them hot.
  
• As a final touch, lay them on a bed of red cabbage leaves, for added drama. Voila! A very simple and full of flavour and crunch potato!

Exactly one day later: my garlicky leftover hero was enjoyed for lunch, with a healthy dollop of sour cream. No regrets. The only regret I have is I have not sliced a tato lengthwise for the pic. Next time.