Recipe and Easter Weekend Re-cap

I started a post yesterday but then decided to re-do it, because, I mean, did you really need want to read about every detail of my chaotic day on Saturday? Maybe so, but probably not. Let's just say that the plan I had laid out in tHiS pOsT, didn't quite happen. Let's just say that the guests never came, even though I had everything ready...because of various circumstances (vehicular breakdowns), they arrived to the church late, were late setting up and their concert went late and they needed to tear everything down, and several decided to drive through the night to get home thus not needing a place to stay.

So what did I do with yummy spaghetti, salad and Texas Toast...oh and semi-homemade brownie bites? I fed Kat's friends! Yep, she had went to the mall with friends and some were going to hang out before the concert, so I fed them. We also had leftovers yesterday for lunch. Hubby did show up on Saturday night at 11:00 and hauled some of the food I had purchased to the one house that would be hosting some of the people who decided to stay. Yep, it was a bit crazy. I think I did well going with the flow on that disorganized, chaotic day, but I know I was a bit snippy here and there and needed to apologize to my daughters, who thankfully, forgave me.

 Kat conversing with two friends Easter Day, and below, just a portion of our Easter meal.

On to Easter and a recipe. We had a wonderful day at my in-laws. I was up at 7:00 Sunday morning getting my Scalloped potatoes ready. I used a combination of a few recipes and the results were fantastic. I also made my Teriyaki Beans (however forgot a few ingredients at home and they didn't quite carmelize like I wanted them too...I don't do well when I'm rushed, and I was rushed). They still turned out and everyone loved them without knowing what I knew. We spent the day with family and some invited guests from church. It was laid back and it was relaxing. I don't have pictures because I never got around to taking any, but a few. I came home to a kitchen in need of tending because I was in a hurry that morning with having to get to church.

..Go here for a printable recipe of today's yummy dish.

Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:

4-5 pounds russet potatoes
4 Tbs. butter
4 c. heavy cream
1 c. milk (all I had was 1% and it was fine)
1/4 c. flour (more or less depending on how thick you want the sauce to be) 
thyme
salt
pepper
2-3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced...or minced
onion thinly sliced or chopped (as much as you care for)
2 c. shredded sharp cheddar
1 c. shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. In saucepan, melt butter. Add flour and stir for a minute.

2. Add whipping cream a little at a time whisking as you go till the flour is incorporated. Add all cream and milk. Cook on medium till it begins to thicken.


3. Add seasonings...I taste as I go till I like it!


4. Peel and thinly slice potatoes. I use my Pampered Chef Mandolin because I just cannot slice them thin with a knife.


5. Generously butter a large casserole or dutch oven.

6. Preheat oven to 375.


7. In multiple layers in this order: potatoes, onion, garlic, sauce and a little cheese, repeat until almost to the top. Finish with sauce and then majority of cheeses. I saved the parmesan cheese for the top layer with almost all the cheddar cheese.


8. Bake for an hour or until a knife can be inserted easily into the potatoes. The cheese creates a wonderful crust. These were a big hit and the flavor was wonderful.

Variations: Add bacon, dry mustard or experiment with various cheeses. I was going to try Gruyere until I saw how much it cost. 

Note: Some recipes didn't call for flour but just the heavy cream...that made me a bit nervous so I used flour.


Last night I had planned to make a ham and bean soup but time did not allow for that, so instead I made scrambled eggs with chopped ham, cheddar cheese and spinach. We had a little leftover scalloped potatoes and we ate those as well as some hash browns. What a really yummy combo!

I am linking this with Tasty Tuesday and Hearth and Soul. 

Come back more this week for posts on a handmade blanket, gardening thoughts and whatever else tickles my fancy!




With Joy UNquenchable,