Bacon & Cheese Crockpot Potatoes

Looking for a new way to prepare potatoes?  Well, look no further.  These.  Were.  GOOOOOOD.  Here is where I found them.

• 3 large potatoes
• 1/4 pound of bacon, chopped into small pieces
• 1 medium onion sliced thin
• 2 - 3 cloves of minced garlic
• salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 cup of cheese for layering
• sliced green onions  
• 1 cup of cheese for topping

 Slice potatoes in half horizontally, and then vertically. Slice quartered potatoes into approximately 1/4 inch slices. Layer potatoes, garlic, salt, pepper, onion, bacon & cheese then repeat.  Dot with 3 tablespoons of butter. Cook potatoes on high for 4 - 5 hours, or on low for 8 - 10 hours. When the cooking time is done, top with remaining 1 cup of cheese, and sliced green onions.

 

Crockpot Potato Chowder

I got a new crockpot and a Taste of Home Crockpot cookbook for my birthday recently. Yesterday was a total soup day, so I tried this since we had all the ingredients on hand. I wondered if this soup would be bland, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was sooooooo good. We of course topped it with some shredded cheddar cheese as well!

8 c diced potatoes (we left the skins on)
1/3 c chopped onion
3 (14 oz) cans chicken broth
1 can (10 oz) cream of chicken soup
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (8 oz)cream cheese (cubed)
1/2 pound bacon (cooked and crumbled)
snipped chives
shredded cheddar cheese to top, if you'd like

In a slow cooker, combine the first five ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or until potatoes are tender. Add cream cheese; stir until blended. Garnish with bacon and chives if desired. We topped our bowls with some shredded cheddar!

Chicken, Broccoli and Baby Reds

When Derek was in Vet School, we became pretty tight with Alex and Susan. When Alex would be on an internship, we'd have Susan over for dinner and when Derek would be on an internship, Alex and Susan would have me over. Susan prepared this simple and tasty one dish meal for me. Serve with some rolls and viola.

chicken breast (cut into bite sized pieces)
red potatoes (cut in half or quarters)
onion (cut into slivers)
broccoli (cut into florets)
can of cream of broccoli soup (heated in the microwave, diluted with a bit of milk)

Brown chicken
Steam potatoes, onion and broccoli until done
toss chicken, potatoes, onion and broccoli together with heated soup
season with salt and pepper

(I have a double decker steamer. I put the potatoes in the bottom basket and start them first since they take a little longer. Then I add the onion/broccoli to the top basket a few minutes later.)

Creamy Potato Soup

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe. I LOVE it.

6 medium potatoes, peeled and chunked
8 bacon slices (I cut mine into bite sized pieces with a pair of scissors)
1 onion
3 carrots
3 stalks of celery
(I throw the onion, carrots and celery into a food processor.)
3 cans of cream sauce (we use 1 mushroom, 1 celery and 1 chicken)
3 tbl parsley flakes
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper
1 1/4 c milk
shredded cheese (optional...but we top ALL soup with cheese! Hey, I was born in Wisconsin.)

Put potatoes in a pot and add just enough water to cover the potatoes. Boil until soft. Meanwhile, fry bacon in a frying pan along with the onions, carrots and celery. Cook until bacon is done and veggies are tender.

Once potatoes are done, mash the potatoes, including the water, to desired consistency. Add the soups, parsley, salt, pepper and milk. Combine. Stir in the bacon/veggie mix. Cook on low to medium low for 20 to 30 more minutes. We top ours with shredded cheese.

Grilled Pork Chops w/ Parsley Buttered Potatoes

Was making my menu/grocery list for the week and came across this recipe. Just a few ingredients, but they were really good.

1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp pepper
4 bone in pork loin chops (we actually used boneless)

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and pepper. Pour marinade into a large resealable plastic bag. Add pork chops; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

If grilling the chops, coat grill rack with cooking spray before starting the grill. Drain and discard marinade. Grill chops, covered, over medium heat OR broil 4 in. from the heat for 4-5 minutes on each side.

I served with corn on the cob and parsley buttered potatoes.

For the potatoes:

1 small bag baby red potatoes
1 stick butter
fresh parsley (about a handful chopped)
1 chicken bouillon cube or granule equivalent
1/2 c water

boil pot of water & add potatoes
meanwhile, in another pan, melt butter with water, parsley, & bouillon
boil until slightly soft
remove & quarter
add to butter sauce, cover & simmer until potatoes are completely done

Hash Brown Bundles

Ever run out of "starch" ideas. Well, here is a tasty little twist on hash browns for your next side dish.

frozen hash brown patties
butter (1 tbl)-I use about half
onion (sliced in rings)
chicken bouillon granules (1/4 tsp)-I use a little less
dill weed (1/4 tsp)-I use a little less
pepper (dash)
foil

place each hash brown on a piece of foil
add a slice or two of onion
add butter
sprinkle with bouillon, dill weed, and pepper

wrap in foil

bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes

Ham & Scalloped Potatoes

I apologize for my lack of posts lately, but I haven't been cooking much now that the girls are in swimming lessons twice a week. Also, I tried a few new recipes that ended up not being "post worthy". Such a bummer!

This recipe comes from a fundraiser cookbook. What makes these ham & scalloped potatoes extra yummy is the shredded cheddar cheese in them.

4 large potatoes, peeled and sliced (thin)
3 T butter
1 tsp salt
1 c minced onion
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 c milk
2 to 3 c ham, diced
1 med size bag cheddar cheese

Melt butter. Add onions and cook until tender.

Stir in flour, salt, pepper & milk.

Cook until thickened, stirring often. Remove from heat.

Grease casserole dish with cooking spray.

Place 1/3 of potatoes on bottom, then 1/3 ham, 1/3 sauce, & 1/3 cheese. Keep layering until all potatoes, ham, sauce, and cheese are used. Cover casserole dish with foil and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Uncover dish and bake 15 to 20 minutes longer.


*Note: be sure to take the time to slice the potatoes thin. (Well, unless you like crunchy potatoes...)

Mashed Potatoes with Ham

This recipe came from "Taste of Home's Quick Cooking Annual Recipes 2001". The gal that submitted the recipe uses it as the main dish, not as a side dish. When it is just the four of us, I use it as the main dish. When we've had oodles of company, I've used it as a side dish. This is a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. It is a nice alternative to ham and scalloped potatoes.

1/2 c finely chopped onion
2 tbls. butter or margarine (divided)
3 1/2 to 4 c hot mashed potatoes (prepared with milk & butter)
1 1/2 c cubed fully cooked ham (you can buy ham already cubed to "Keep it Simple". Today, I am just cutting up a ham steak)
1/4 tsp onion salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 c crushed cornflakes (I've left these out in the past. Still delicious even without)

In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine onion and 1 tbls of butter. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes or until tender, stirring once. Add potatoes, ham, onion salt, and pepper. Mix well. Transfer to a greased 1 1/2 qt baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and cornflakes; dot with remaining butter. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until heated through.