My Mashed Taters

I just love these mashed potatoes! They have a little extra "oomph." I loosely copied this from my husbands aunt who is the absolute bestest cook I know.

Mashed Potatoes

5-6 medium sized potatoes, boiled and peeled

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

salt

pepper

1-2 tsp garlic

The above measurements are very loose estimates. Like most of my cooking I "eyeball" it and sample for flavor and add more as needed. For an extra special occasion, wrap a head of fresh garlic in foil and roast in the oven until mushy and add a few cloves to the potatoes.

I just put all the ingredients is a big pan and hand mash with a masher then mix with a spoon. No matter how many I make, there are rarely leftovers.

These are great served with yesterdays "Chicken Noodle" recipe or served alone with an onion gravy(will share recipe tomorrow!)

ENJOY!

More Potato Dishes!

For a person on a tight budget the potato should be your best friend! It is so versatile and quite tasty, not to mention affordable!

We love to bake them and top them with a cheese sauce and broccoli, or with last nights chili. Homemade oven fries topped with chili and cheese also makes a tasty meal!

One of my favorite potluck dishes to take is this one:

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup butter

1 t. seasoned salt

1 t. garlic powder

1/2 t. pepper

about 5-6 large potatoes cooked & sliced

In sauce pan mix soups, sour cream, butter, and cheese and seasonings. Cook until smooth. Add potatoes and mix well. Add to grease baking dish and bake for 40-60 minutes at 350.

This works well as a side dish or even a main dish served with a salad and bread!

Another easy potato dish is to shred/grate your potatoes like making hash browns. Do the same to a zucchini. Press both together between paper towels to drain moisture/water. In a fry pan melt lots of butter and add the veggies in. Shape in the form of a patty and cook on both sides until crisp. Drain on paper towel and serve topped with chopped tomatoes, sliced green onion and just a touch of shredded mozzarella cheese. This is a favorite around here!

If you search this blog you will find more potato recipes for yummy soups, tasty casseroles and festive tacos. So buy a bulk bag and have a week or two of frugal, yummy, and easy to make meals!

Potato Tacos

It's been awhile....again...but we've been busy getting ready for out of town company and at the same time suffering from a little flu bug or something, UGH!!

When I used to work at my last job, one of the young girls mothers used to bring her and me lunch. One of my favorites were potato tacos. Usually I can taste a dish and know what is in it and mimic it almost perfectly at home. For some reason I couldn't this. For years I have craved it.

Recently I found a similar dish in my favorite cookbook. I am not going to copy the original recipe here, but just give simple, easy to follow directions. Again, this is one my meat eating older guys love around here!

First I boil some potato's. Sometimes right before I prepare this, sometimes if I know I will be making it later in the week and am boiling potatoes for another recipe I will make extras and keep them in the fridge until needed. For about 12 tacos I use 6 regular sized potatoes.

I also usually have on hand some of my homemade "refried" beans, if not I make them in the crock the same day(search "beans" for my recipe!)

I peel and dice the potatoes and cook in a little oil with some sliced onions. I add seasoning salt and garlic powder. I cook until slightly browned.

I warm some corn tortillas in the microwave then add a tablespoon or so of bean and a 1/4 cup or so of potatoes and fold over and fry in a little oil until just crisp. Then I add cheese and eat! You can add lettuce, avocado, or any other desired topping, but the flavor of these is so tasty, you really just want to enjoy it alone.

Man Pleasing Vegetarian Casserole

I got the original recipe for this one from the very first vegetarian cookbook I ever purchased. It is still my favorite today:

I made a few changes to the original recipe though, to suit my families preferences. Even my meat eating husband and older two boys love this one!

Casserole

About 6 medium potatoes or 3 large

6 tbs butter

salt

4-6 tomatoes

dried basil

tomato paste(sm. can)

1 lb mozzarella cheese

6 boiled eggs

1/2 cup fresh parsley(I have used dried (about 1/4 cup) and it's turned out ok, better fresh though!

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese(again, fresh is better, but I've used dried in a pinch and it was fine!

I like to slice my taters thick then boil until just tender(don't overcook or you will have a "mush" rather than a casserole layer!) Meanwhile, melt butter and put 2 tbs on bottom of casserole dish. Put potatoes on top and spread with a small can of tomato paste. Sprinkle a little dried basil over the paste and top with tomato slices. Sprinkle with a little salt to your taste.

Shred/grate your mozzarella cheese and cover tomatoes.

Peel and dice eggs, mix with remaining butter and parsley. Spread this mixture over your cheese.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake in oven for about 30 minutes at 350-400.

My grandson who otherwise refuses to eat eggs cooked in any matter, LOVES the egg mixture in this casserole! Give this one a try if you're new to going veggie, and have resistant family members, this one usually wins them over!

"Awesome!!"

Those were the words that slipped from my teens mouth when he opened the lid on the crockpot and saw we were having potato soup for dinner the other night!! That always makes a mom feel good when anyone, especially a teen has such words about her meals!

Even better is how easy(and cheap!) this one is to make

Potato Soup

6 cups diced, peeled taters

5 cups water

2 cups diced onions

1 cup carrots, diced

1/4 cup butter

4 tsp. chicken bouillon granules OR vegetable granules

2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp pepper

12 oz can evaporated milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients in crock pot except cheese and milk. Cook on low 8 hours(may need to cook on high if using a newer crock pot) just before serving add cheese and milk and mix well.

This one gets rave reviews from all! Everyone from the baby to the teen and visiting grandparents love! So easy to make!

I usually round it out with homemade whole wheat rolls. I really like the recipe I got from HERE

Download the free booklet as it is full of good and healthy recipes! I use the bread machine for the dough then shape it by hand!

I have a split pea soup recipe that gets similar reviews, I will post it next time!